Chapter 19
Nineteen
I wake up early in the morning and carefully place my feet on the floor.
Kyler is sprawled on his back behind me in the bed.
His left hand rests on his chest and the right hangs beside the bed.
The sheets fall to just below his navel.
I tiptoe to the bathroom where I dress as quietly as I can and brush my teeth.
Upon entering the living room, I immediately see Rebel peacefully asleep on the couch.
A cascade of hair, spread across the pillow, partially obscures her face, and only the tip of her nose is visible from beneath the blanket.
A smile appears on my face. On a stray piece of paper, I write a note to her.
Carefully, I place it on the coffee table. At the outer door, I put on my shoes and open the locks as gently as I can. Then I step outside.
Once I’m on the walkway, I close my eyes and breathe in deeply.
I hop down the stairs and walk around the bar, deeper onto the property of the Renegades.
It’s almost exactly the same as I remember it.
The terrain is gently rolling and covered in grass, which is quite barren at the moment because of the drought.
First, I visit my parents’ grave, which is in the small cemetery at the back of the property.
It’s been ten years or more since I’ve been here, as I haven’t set foot on this property since I left.
I wipe some dry sand off the graves and sigh.
“They took good care of you,” I say as I sit my butt down in the grass and start telling them about Rebel, my life over the past ten years, and what happened a few months ago.
When I have nothing more to say, I get up and leave the cemetery. When I pass through the imposing cast-iron gate, I turn left, eager to see if Kai and Abby’s house was exactly as I remember it.
While walking over, one memory after another comes to mind. How we used to play soccer here as kids; Kyler, Paxton, and me. Sometimes Jack and Lizzy were there too, but after their father died, they moved away. We never saw them again after that.
“Layne.”
I startle at the voice and with a jolt I look up at the house, which in fact hasn’t changed a bit. The same oak shingles with the black roof tiles and on the porch, Abby’s sitting in one of the two rocking chairs. I wave at her and step closer to the porch.
“Hi,” I say as I stand in front of her and hop from one leg to the other.
“I heard you were back.” She takes a drag from her cigarette and tosses her long, dark-blond hair over her shoulder. I give her a small smile. “Although Kai hasn’t told me the reason you’re here. You know how it works.” She shrugs and taps the ashes on the ground.
A subtle way of indirectly getting information.
Except I don’t see the point in keeping her in the dark about what’s going on.
“My husband was murdered, but his body disappeared, and the police classified it as a missing person’s case.
” I offer the same comment to her with the same shrug.
The silence that follows is uncomfortable.
After my mother died, Abby took care of me and when I left with Connor, I cut off all contact with the Youngs or anyone else in the MC. I hop back on my other leg.
Abby rolls her eyes and then bursts into laughter.
The sound finally breaks the tension and I laugh along with her.
“Oh, girl, all the shit those men make us put up with…” She gestures with her arm.
“Come here.” She spreads her arms wide and I step onto the porch to hug her and it’s a wonderful feeling.
“It’s been a long time. I didn’t expect to see you back here ever again.
” After letting go of me, she sits back down in the rocking chair.
I take a seat in the other one. “Honestly, I didn’t think so either.”
“Did Kyler bring you here?” Abby folds her legs under her and looks at me out of the corner of her eye.
“Sort of. They tried to kidnap me. Ky and Pax showed up at the exact right time and saved me.”
Recalling that afternoon still gives me the chills. My hands tremble slightly and I put them between my legs in an attempt to hide it.
“Kidnap? Who killed your husband, Layne?” Abby sits up straight and squints. “I thought you married that Hayes kid? That accountant?” She raises her eyebrow. “Who would kill that nice boy?”
I shrug. “I have no idea, but I suspect the MC knows more,” I say and sigh deeply.
“But obviously, they keep that from us gals.” It comes out a little bitter and the only response I give is a head shake. “And what about Kyler?”
“What about Kyler?” Shocked, I look up at her and swallow. Shit. The silence is enough for Abby to carry on.
“You know, Layne…” Abby exhales deeply. “You’re a nice girl, always have been, but last time you left and we never heard from you again.
” Staring at the barren fields, she sighs profoundly.
When she lifts her gaze from the view and focuses on me, I see nothing but concern in her gaze.
“There’s a reason Paxton is so rude to you.
Besides all the shit he’s dealing with himself…
” Her gaze fills with sadness, “…which, by the way, he doesn’t mention.
He’s got a good reason he’s acting like this to you. Maybe you should ask him.” She winks.
It’s a strange comment and one I don’t quite know how to react to. “Pax?” I ask, a bit dumbfounded.
Abby nods, but doesn’t elaborate.
How does she know Pax is being rude to me? And why’s his reason legitimate? I understand that as his mother, she knows her son best, but now I wonder if he’s ever talked about me.
“It was good to see you, Abby.”
“You too. Take care of that little girl of yours and come by with her sometime.” She winks at me.
I nod and step off the porch to walk away from her. Her gaze burns into my back for a long time and the unease still clings to me.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m almost back at the clubhouse when I hear a big commotion. I start running and immediately see where the noise is coming from. My best friend’s sitting behind the wheel of her Grand Cherokee. Pax’s leaning against the car door.
“Go home, Teagan.” It looks like Pax’s putting his full weight against the door, so she can’t open it. Gaby sits opposite her mother, her eyes wide.
“Shut up, petty child.” With all her might, Teagan pushes against the door, but it’s obviously in vain.
Briefly, I squeeze my eyes shut and then walk over to Pax. I put my hand on Pax’s arm and look up at him. “You’re scaring Gaby. What’s going on?” “We can’t just have all kinds of people over, Layne.” His narrowed eyes are fixed on Teagan, but meanwhile, he twists his arm to make my hand drop.
“All kinds of people? It’s Teagan,” I mutter.
Finally, Pax turns to me. His eyes bulge. “I can see it’s Teagan. Do you think I’m blind? But we’re in the middle of a fucking war because of you.”
“Oh… so that’s the problem?” I cross my arms in front of my chest. “Everything’s my fault, so my daughter and I should just waste away here on our own?
That’s your fucking problem with Teagan, Pax?
” I move closer to him, hoping it’ll make him uncomfortable, but my five-foot-five is totally dwarfed by his six-foot-six.
With a shake of his head and eyes fixed on the heavens, he mutters something to the effect of “women”.
“Fuck, no, Layne. The problem is, I’m not sure whose side she’s on.
Who knows what she’s carrying underneath that shirt of hers?
” Meanwhile, his grip on the door slackens, giving Teagan a chance to open it.
Before Paxton realizes it, she’s in front of him and a flat hand pops against his cheek.
In reflex, he grabs her wrist and presses her against her truck.
“Crazy bitch,” he growls.
My gaze slides back to Teagan’s daughter for a moment. “Think of Gaby,” I say between clenched jaws, but I have no idea if I’m talking to Paxton or Teagan.
“Crazy bitch? Crazy bitch? Fucking asshole, you’ll mean.
How long have you known me? I think you were still pissing your pants when we met.
You think I’d fuck my best friend over with people who want her dead?
Are you that thick, you fucking moron? I would’ve expected you to know better.
Get the fuck off me, asshole.” They stand nose to nose, her body pressed against his.
“Who says they didn’t threaten you, Teag?” Pax raises an eyebrow.
“Me. Besides, I know that leading them here will destroy them. On this property, none of you get whacked. So, dear Paxton, if I were threatened, I would have doomed them by now.” Then she walks around the truck to let Gaby out.
“Now my daughter and I would like to have tea with my best friend Layne. Do you mind?”
Pax closes his eyes and pinches his nose. “Yeah, damn it, but I don’t think I have much of a say in it.” He sighs.
Teagan slaps him on his shoulder. “Glad you understand that, biker boy.”
He puts up a finger at her in a belligerent manner. “If you say that again, I’ll throw you off the lot. You know damn well that if I don’t want it to happen, it won’t happen, Teagan. So shut up and hurry up before I lift you up and kick you off the grounds.”
My best friend bows to him and clenches her jaws together like she’s a rabid dog trying to bite at him. They’re like two toddlers.
“Hey Gaby,” I exclaim enthusiastically when Teagan let her daughter exit the car. “Will you join me for a drink? Rebel’s upstairs.”
She comes running toward me. “Up the stairs?” she asks and points to Kyler’s apartment. I nod and she runs up.
‘Hey, Pax?’ Teagan waits until he looks at her. “You desperately need to stick your dick in something.” Then she raises her middle finger and runs after Gaby as fast as she can.
“Damn it, Layne. Put that bitch on a leash or something.” He shakes his head and walks away, though he’s still muttering to himself.
“I’m heading downstairs,” Kyler says, pulling his cut over his shirt.
Nodding, I hand a cup of tea to Teagan. The girls are setting up the craft supplies Gaby brought on the table.
“I’ll see you later,” I respond, and sit down next to Teagan on the couch.
The door opens and closes again, and then Kyler’s gone.
“Are you stuck here all week with that whiny kid?” Teagan is obviously referring to Pax.
“He doesn’t bother me. Honestly, I barely see him.” I think about Abby’s words again. Maybe I should go see him and ask what she meant by that?
“What a weirdo he’s become. He used to be such a sweet kid.”
I chuckle. “Kids grow up.”
“Well, tell me what’s going on.” Teagan blows into her tea and turns to me.
I cast a quick glance at the girls and then softly tell the whole story.
“What the fuck?” is all Teagan can utter when I finish.
I take a sip of my now lukewarm tea and shrug. “I have no idea, and nobody tells me a damn thing. You know how it is. Club members don’t share club business with outsiders.
“Okay, I’ve always thought that rule was bullshit, but this time it’s revolving around you. You need to demand that he tells you something, Layne. What if Rebel is in danger?” Her voice rises, panicked at the last sentence.
“Shh,” I urge her to silence and look at the children. Thankfully, they’re still doing crafts. “I trust him. I truly believe he keeps us safe.”
“Oh, come on Layne. You know as well as I do the club comes first. It always has.” Shaking her head, she settles against the back of the couch.
“I do know that, but besides that, I can pretty much trust Kyler.”
A grin appears on her face. “Oh, shit.”
“What?” I look at the girls again, but they’re still busy and chatting away.
“You guys have…” She moves her hips from front to back and wiggles her eyebrows.
I wave my hands at her. “Teag, cut it out.” My cheeks burn and I rub my nose frantically.
“Bingo,” she exclaims.
The girls both turn around. “Bingo?”
“Oh, something on TV,” Teagan says smoothly, and she waves a bit at the screen that isn’t even on. Thank God the girls only shrug and continue with what they’re doing. With twinkling eyes, Teagan looks at me. “Was it good?”
“Seriously? Get real. I will not tell you if it was good.” Meanwhile, my entire face appears to be on fire and I rub my thighs together.
“It was so good,” Teagan chuckles.
“Shut up,” I just hum, because there’s no point in denying it.
Suddenly my best friend becomes serious. “Layne, please think carefully about what you’re doing.”
Rolling my eyes, I turn to her. “Do you really think I don’t? I have a daughter to think about,” I snarl.
“Yeah, but Kyler and you—”
“Last time, I was also perfectly capable of thinking and making a different choice. Remember? And then I ended up in this shit. So please don’t tell me to think. I know perfectly well what I’m doing, Teagan.” I cross my arms.
After a nod from Teagan, we lapse into small talk.
When I finally close the door behind them, I send a message to Kyler.
Me: Are you eating with us?
It doesn’t take long for him to respond.
Ky: Nah, don’t count on me. Home late. X
I turn to Rebel. “How about pizza and a movie?”
A broad smile appears on her delicate face, so I send Paxton a message.
Me: Can I order pizza? Or will you shoot the delivery guy in the head?
With the remote in my hand, I sit down on the couch and pat next to me.
Paxton: Ha ha. Just send me your order and I’ll let the prospect handle it. He knocks on the door 3x, understood? Only open at 3x.
That last sentence gives me a shiver.
Me: Thank you, Pax. I will.
Paxton: Glad you can listen, after all.
Me: *hand kiss* 1 pizza Hawaii and 1 pizza quattro stagioni.
Paxton: Will take care of it.
I start up Netflix and let Rebel pick a movie while I wait for the three knocks.