Chapter 68
BLAIZE
Kadence was still sleeping peacefully when I woke up. As much as I wanted to wake up with her, I had to get back and figure things out. I wouldn’t let fear win anymore, but I was still terrified of this. Five years was a long time to be dormant of emotional ties, and now I was embracing it.
I kissed her temple before I crawled out of her bed.
Annika was in her living room, her arms folded across her chest as she glared daggers into my soul. I knew I was in trouble.
“You better not hurt her anymore,” she said flatly.
I opened my mouth to retort, but she stopped me.
“Don’t. I’ve watched the way she reacted.
How she cried when it came to you. I am a big supporter of love, but I will kill you.
I don’t know how, but I will find a way to make you hurt if you ever harm her again. ”
My jaw tightened. Annika didn’t know anything between us, but then again she was Kadence’s best friend, so she knew everything. “Look. I was an idiot. I—”
She laughed. “More than an idiot.”
“I’m working on my issues and I want to make things work with Kadence.”
“Well make sure your issues don’t hurt her,” she deadpanned. “I love her, and I am hesitant with her choosing this, but it’s her choice. Don’t make her regret that choice.”
“I won’t.”
And I wouldn’t.
There was no reason to keep myself from this woman when it was inevitable. There would be trial and error, but I would do everything in my power to make sure I didn’t fuck this up. Kadence made me feel something, and there would be no more suppressing it.
I pulled my phone out as I walked back to my car.
ME
Sleep well, princess. I’ll see you soon. Thank you for last night.
She would wake up with a smile. We would plan something else and move at her pace. We might've slept together already, but she didn’t want to do anything else until she knew it was serious. I was serious about her even if I knew I would make mistakes.
Kadence responded to my text around one in the afternoon.
KADENCE
Thank you for finally giving me a chance and not playing with my heart. Last night felt like a dream. I’ll see you tonight, and we can talk more.
A chance. She was giving me a chance. One I didn’t deserve.
God, I was going to kick Hunter’s ass.
I finally rolled out of bed around four, and I had some things to finish before we opened the club tonight. I dressed in slacks and a crimson button up before stepping into my office. Hunter was sitting in my chair with her legs kicked up on my desk.
“So? How was your date? Did you go to pound town?”
I rolled my eyes walking to my desk. “No, we didn't have sex. We talked. We’re going to…date and see where things go.”
“How does it feel dating in your thirties? And that age gap?”
“Go away. I am seeing where this is going because I haven’t felt like this in years, and it’s mortifying. If you tell anyone, I will kill you.”
Hunter beamed from ear to ear. “So am I expecting wedding bells soon?”
“Stop. This might not work, so don’t plan anything you can’t return. And if this back fires, I am blaming you.”
“It won’t. I think Kadence will be good for you.”
“I still want to know who she is.”
“And when she wants to tell you what happened to her, she will. You need to stop being paranoid and thinking everyone is out to get you. Enjoy this moment with her and bask in the feeling.”
I rolled my eyes as my phone chimed. I opened the text from Sin and grimaced. He was one of the men I scarcely communicated with via text unless Hawke was out of town with Fallon. It was short and cryptic.
SIN
Clubhouse. Now.
I glanced at Hunter, her expression now serious as she waited for me to speak.
I didn’t know what was going on, but it seemed we couldn’t breathe for even a minute before something happened.
I grabbed my keys and jacket, Hunter following behind me.
“Something happened at the clubhouse. We’re both going. ”
Hunter was a few steps behind me as we walked to the clubhouse.
She was not fully involved in the motorcycle club’s business, but she helped kill sick fuckers and gave advice on certain operations we did.
It was good to have a second opinion from someone not involved fully.
Once inside, the aura shifted, and small sobs filled my ears.
I looked at Hunter, who had her brow cocked, waiting for me to say something.
In the foyer, the girls were clinging onto their chosen partner crying while others looked ready to kill someone.
A few of my men were missing, but Sin walked out of the infirmary before I could question it. He was crying.
“Who’s hurt?”
He sighed, looking at me with anger and loss in his eyes. “Layla’s dead.”
I was taken aback. Hunter gripped my arm, reassuring me, as Sin directed us to follow him.
I was sure he was taking us to her body.
Layla was a sweet girl trying to get her life back on track after losing her parents.
I didn’t care what it took; I would kill the motherfucker who took her away from this family.
“Where’s Hawke?”
“The asshole who murdered Layla shot Fallon in the chest. She’s at the hospital. It’s not good.”
I looked at Hunter, and she had the same shocked look on her face as I did. Sin took us to the infirmary where Ranger was bent over the table, crying into Layla’s neck. Doc made eye contact with me and nodded.
He tapped Ranger’s shoulder, and the man straightened his back, looking at me with anger laced in his eyes. “I want him dead,” he growled. “He took our girl from us. I want him to pay.”
“I’ll make sure he burns in hell.” Doc stepped forward, uncovering her fully.
I stepped to take a full look at her body.
Her throat was an ugly shade of purple with deep lacerations, like someone choked her with thin wire.
There was a single bullet—a kill shot in the center of her forehead between her eyes.
Doc had her eyes closed so we wouldn’t look into dead, lifeless eyes that once were filled with happiness and love.
My hand lightly caresses her soft, cold cheek. I failed as a leader, and it cost an innocent life. “Where were they?”
“Fallon and Layla went to a sex shop in Bellevue and the mall for some date night clothes,” Sin grinded out. “Fallon was shot first, and when Layla tried running, that’s when the bastard did it. Fallon tried protecting our girl.”
Ranger grasped his shoulder comfortingly. “Her death won’t be in vain. I want a piece when we find the asshole pretending to be Elijah.” Ranger lifted the sheet from her leg revealing a thick, cauterized brand. His fucking symbol again.
“Was she…?”
“No,” Doc said, and I could breathe a little better, but she was still dead and two of my men were heartbroken. “The copycat isn’t following his MO fully.”
“If they were attacked in Bellevue, I take it Damon knows?”
“Yes. He is looking into it. He is pissed that someone hurt our people in his town.”
“And Fallon? Is she here or in Bellevue?”
“Westhaven has the best trauma center. They air-lifted her to the ER, Hawke is there now.”
“Hunter, I need you back at the club. Make sure we are on high alert. I don’t want to freak anyone out, but I’m not letting my guard down.” She nodded, her eyes lingering on the marks in Layla’s skin. “I need to go see Hawke, and I’m going to Bellevue.”
Sin let out a long sigh, brushing Layla’s hair away from her face.
“We have to tell her sister and brother.” I grimaced.
After Elijah was killed, Layla’s family left Westhaven and the surrounding areas.
Her sister wanted her to go with them. Her brother understood why she wanted to stay.
Her sister wasn’t a fan of Sin or Ranger, but Layla loved them both.
I already knew Ashtin was going to blame me for this.
Zachary was going to be heart broken and angry, but he wouldn’t blame me, not fully.
It was my fault, though, and I was going to avenge her.
Playing a dead man could only get someone so far before it came back to haunt them.