“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.
