Chapter 7
Seven
The moment I open my bedroom curtains, a chill runs through me.
That creep is back; he’s sitting in that gray car.
I saw that man for the first time last week at Pete’s, and now he seems to be everywhere.
Both at the post office to mail my application and the supermarket.
And now he’s sitting in a car right outside my door.
When he turns his head, I snap out of it and duck away.
I wake up Rebel and make my way downstairs.
With shaking hands I make her breakfast. It’s hard to concentrate on my task.
For the first time, I’m glad there’s no window above my kitchen counter.
This way, I can’t keep looking at the creep, which, in turn, doesn’t distract me.
When I pour milk over Rebels cereal, I spill the contents.
As soon as my daughter walks through the door, she talks. “Don’t forget I’m going to Piper’s after school?” She shimmies onto the dining chair and pulls the bowl toward her.
“No, I won’t, honey. Will you go with her and her mother after school?”
“Yep.” She continues eating and finishes the bowl. “Can you pick me up at her place?” She gets up and puts the bowl into the sink.
“Pick up?” I rinse the bowl. “Sure, tell them I’ll be there around four-thirty.” I grab my keys, and pull open the front door. My gaze immediately slides to the silver sedan, but nobody’s in it.
Hastily, I send Rebel to our car, which earns me a surprised look. “Since when do we drive to school?”
“I have to go somewhere, so it’s easier,” I mumble. As soon as she sits, I open the driver’s side door, start the car as fast as I can and push the button to lock the doors from the inside. Within seconds, I’m tearing out of the driveway.
“Mom, take it easy, will you? You’re about to crash into another car.”
I decide to say nothing, ‘cause she’ll know something is off. It’s a miracle she doesn’t already suspect it after locking the doors.
As expected, the car stays put. It seems like the creep’s gone. Which is perfect, because I’ve lost him now. I drive the couple of streets to school, maneuver the car into the kiss-and-ride lane and press a kiss to Rebel’s forehead.
“Be careful. Have fun at Piper’s and I’ll see you this afternoon.” Rebel gets out of the car and waves. With a fake smile on my face, I wave back, but as soon as she’s out of sight, I wriggle from the line and drive to Kyler’s.
The whole ride I’m on the edge of my seat, drumming on my steering wheel.
Of fucking course there’s this dinosaur in front of me, who drives sluggish as hell to wherever he’s gotta go.
Gnawing on my lip, I twitch in my seat until I can finally put on the blinker for the exit.
I steer the car onto the short road, which leads to the compound.
Until yesterday I was convinced I would never step foot in here again.
In the distance looms the large, rolling iron gate that, to my relief, is open. I park my car next to it and jump out. Before I’ve even properly taken three steps through the opening, three members appear in front of me.
Shit, shit, shit.
My eyes roam over the men until they find Ash; him, I recognize. As fast as I can, I go to him. “Ash, where’s Ky?”
A frown appears on his face, and he sighs. “What do you want from Ky, Layne?” He pronounces my name louder than necessary, and a couple of minutes later, I know exactly why.
Paxton exits the clubhouse annex bar. Without hesitation, he steps toward me and drags me back to the fence by my arm.
I push hard against his chest. “Let go of me.”
“You gotta go,” Kyler’s little brother says to me. Well, little… “If anyone sees you here…”
I roll my eyes. “Not here for the MC, I’m here for Kyler,” I exclaim.
“Exactly the reason you gotta go. I told him to leave you the fuck alone,” he all but tells me in a flat, bored tone, which makes me wonder why he’s making a fuss about this.
I punch him in the chest, but he doesn’t even flinch, so I punch him in the jaw. He lets me go with a growl and I run away from him as fast as I can. I run up the iron staircase which leads to the apartment. Hopefully Ky still lives there.
I bang my flat hand against the wooden door.
“Ky, open up. I need to talk to you.” Footsteps resound on the stairs behind me, and it’s clear I don’t have a lot of time.
“Come on, Kyler.” My gut tightens as I slam my fists against the door.
Please. Quick, quick, quick. Why doesn’t he open the fucking door? Doesn’t he live here anymore after all?
Paxton’s arms close around my waist. “Time to go, Layne.” He swivels me toward the stairs and at that moment the door flies open.
“What’s going on here?” Kyler stands in the doorway with a towel around his hips and wet hair. His gaze falls on me. “Layne?”
Relief washes over me, and I breathe out a sigh. “I need to talk to you.” With a pleading look, I look at him.
“She’s gotta go. If she’s seen…” Paxton grounds out the words. He’s put me down, but his grip on my arm is firm, I’ll probably feel it tomorrow.
“When you go on a rampage like this, she surely gets seen by all the wrong people.” Kyler roars with a force I’ve never seen him use. His vice president’s voice. “She’s already here. Let her in and I’ll make sure she disappears.”
“Kyler,” Pax starts, but Kyler pulls me into his apartment by my upper arm and slams the door behind us. Another muffled “damn” sounds.
With a thud, I land on the chair Kyler pushes me onto, and I rub my arm furiously.
“Fuck, Layne. You can’t just come barging in like that.” He rubs his face with his palms. “If you’re seen… Pax is right. This isn’t safe.”
“Fuck you, Ky. Everyone here knows me. Every member, every woman around here. And if you’re honest with me, you’ll never have to see me again.” Squinting, I blow a dislodged strand of hair out of my face and put my left over my right leg.
Apparently, he’s rather annoyed to see me. Well, that feeling is mutual, because, frankly, his behavior is getting on my nerves.
He raises a finger at me, and walks to the bedroom.
Immediately I get up, and chase after him.
I stop a few feet in front of the open door.
It looks the same as I remember, gray walls and all.
He turns to the bed and drops his towel.
My eyes go wide, my mouth dropping open.
That ass is as muscular as it was when I was in love with him. Holy shit.
Every reason that had driven me here fades into the background. He pulls a pair of boxer briefs out of a drawer and puts them on. He turns to me again.
“I can’t tell you everything. If I do, Rebel and you will have a target on your backs.” Slowly, he sits down on the edge of his bed. “It’s complicated, and honestly, I don’t know how everything fits together either.” With a sigh, he leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees.
“Why do you know about it?” I walk further into his bedroom. Not that I really have any idea what I’m going to do except sit down next to him. It’s also the easiest way to keep my gaze from wandering to areas other than his face. Even though I know fully well what’s in those black boxer briefs.
“Because it was a fucking gang murder. The Knights got the job and…” He stops talking.
“The Knights?”
“Damn it, Layne. Don’t put your nose where it doesn’t belong. I’m trying to keep you safe.” He throws his arms in the air and growls.
I snort. “Then why did you come and ask what I knew? That doesn’t come across as if you’re trying to protect me.” I cross my arms as my gaze slides eagerly over his muscular chest.
“I was just checking to see what you already knew, if you could be a target already.” His fingers fold around the edge of the bed, squeezing so hard his knuckles turn white. “You and Rebel are still safe, but the more you dig, Layne, the slimmer that chance gets.”
“What do you care?” I cock my head and squint at him. I need answers. “Why was my husband murdered? Why must my daughter grow up without a father?” The questions burned my mind. “And why, why is that man following me?”
He gives me a pointed look. “What? Guy? What guy?”
I roll my eyes, the heat rising in my chest as I try to appear unaffected by his words.
“Some biker with a bandana and sunglasses. Although he was in a silver-gray sedan this morning.” I shrug to keep up appearances.
Please, tell me you know who it is, if not, that means that guy does have something to do with Connor.
And right now, I’m scared to death he really was a target.
That it wasn’t a mistake, like he suggested himself.
“Layne, I don’t have someone tailing you,” he slowly says.
His gray eyes pass over me worriedly. His muscles twitch when he rises and make his tattoos stand out. He walks in front of me in just his boxers, pulls open the door and gestures for me to get out.
“It’s not safe if they know you’ve got connections with us.”
“Kyler…” I have no idea what to say, so I don’t finish that sentence.
A feeling of discomfort comes over me. He didn’t send that man.
Then who is it? Why was he standing in front of my house?
His presence bothered me a whole lot when I’d thought it was Kyler’s doing, but now?
My stomach churns and my chest feels as if it’s being crushed, overwhelming me.
Still, I step onto the landing, because what do I say to him?
That I now think Connor’s killers are after me and my daughter?
Should I beg for his help? He doesn’t owe Connor or me anything.
Without looking at me, he closes the door.
I gasp for air, but straighten myself, causing the anxiety to subside a tiny bit.
Damn. I suppress the urge to knock on his door again. But I’m not his problem and I know it. This is my problem. I’m the one who has to make sure my daughter is safe and maybe, just maybe, I’ll manage to get justice for Connor.