“At Kyler’s?” She snorts. “Quite a coincidence that he came by just in time.”
And off again.
“They pointed guns at me and threatened me, Teagan. Yesterday, while Kyler and I were getting clothes, someone firedshots at us. They wanted me and if he hadn’t been there, I don’t know if I’d still be breathing.” A deep sigh escapes me, but miraculously I keep the tears at bay. I click the pen back on.
“Weapons?”
“Yes. Two men, a black Escalade, and guns.” Then the sob comes, and the first tear falls down my cheek.
“Jesus, Layne. Kyler would never—”
“Kyler had nothing to do with it. I’m so glad he drove by when he did. If that hadn’t happened…” Another tear falls. “I don’t even want to think about what would’ve happened then.” Slowly, I sit down on the couch and let go of the pen.
“I’ll be with you as soon as possible.”
“Not today, Teagan. I can’t handle that today.” I shake my head and wipe the tears from my face.
“Okay, okay. Are you alright?”
“Miraculously I am.” I startle when the door opens and Kyler walks in.
“Hey, Lay.” His voice is soft, almost cautious, as if he doesn’t know how I’m going to react.
“Hey, Teag, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Take care of yourself. I’ll see you as soon as I can.”
“Okay. Will do. Talk to you soon.” I end the call and put my phone on the coffee table. I look at Kyler and let my breath escape. “Where were you?”
“Business.” It’s a hum deep in his chest, a sign that I shouldn’t ask more because it’s club business. Frankly, I’m starting to get less and less annoyed by that. I know that’s how it works, and by now I understand that sometimes it’s really better not to know. Ky comes over and sits next to me on the couch, taking my chin in his hand. “You okay?”
Damn, I don’t want to let him know that yesterday’s incident bothers me more than I said, but my eyes are probably red. “Fine.”
“Bullshit, but okay.” He narrows his gaze at me and sees straight through my lie. My cheeks get hot.
I decide to be honest. “Yeah, but I don’t feel like replaying last night.”
“You don’t?” A playful look appears in his eyes.
“Not everything. Not the talk about old choices, about the club,” I sigh. “When you ask how I’m doing, you mean—”
“How are you doing? And not just because you got into a gunfight last night, but in general. It’s not nothing. They killed your husband, you’re in danger, and Rebel’s caught in the middle.
He casually puts his arms on the back of the sofa, but his gaze doesn’t participate. That is directed at me with an intense look. The gray seems to swirl and causes me to shift uncomfortably across the leather. Something tells me he wants to know if I’ve changed my mind, but I can’t answer him. I haven’t decided what to do yet, even though I’ve told him I’m staying. It’s not that simple to decide over Rebel’s life, especially so soon after everything that’s happened in the last few days.
And as if I’m speaking of the devil, she comes running into the apartment. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey honey, how was school?” I open my arms, and Rebel hugs me. As soon as she’s sitting next to me on the couch, we lapse into an easy conversation about school. Kyler’s making jokes.
And for now, all seems forgotten.
Sixteen
Ipressakissto Rebel’s head and get up. “Dad sent a message about a meeting at eight, so I’m going downstairs. Let the girls have their evening ritual.” I wiggle my eyebrows and Rebel laughs.
“We don’t have a ritual, silly.” She wrinkles her nose.
My mouth drops open, as if in shock, and I put my hand on my chest. “You don’t? I was under the impression you put on face masks and all that girlie sh—stuff before you went to sleep.”
