God, I hope she’s right.
She enters the hallway; after a few seconds, Kyler and Brooks’ voices become audible. Relief rushes through me. Abby was right. Of course she was right. She’s lived this life for so long and all the arguments she gave me make sense. Kai and Abby’s house is hidden away on the property and you can’t just walk in unnoticed. The odds of it being anyone other than a club member were nil.
I breathe out deeply, and a few seconds later, Kyler kisses me on the head. “Are you coming home?”
“Rebel wants to stay with Brandon,” I whisper. “I can’t leave her alone.”
Brooks lifts his son off the couch. “He’ll sleep with me tonight.” Without saying a word, he walks back to where he came from.
I turn my attention back to Kyler.
“Isobel and Norah can stay with my mom. The kids’ guest room is free tonight, and we’ll figure something out tomorrow. Is that okay?” He looks at them with his gray eyes.
Norah nods wordlessly, but Bel gasps for breath before saying, “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Kyler walks to the front of the couch and lifts Rebel into his arms. I put a fleece blanket over her and put on my coat.
“See you tomorrow,” I whisper, and follow Kyler outside.
His truck’s parked in front of the house, and I slide into the passenger seat. Ky puts Rebel next to me, and she immediately snuggles up against me. He then walks around to the driver’s side and gets in.
Half an hour later, Rebel is curled up on the familiar sofa in Kyler’s apartment and I’m sitting next to her.
“Come on,” Kyler whispers, but I don’t get up. Instead, I shake my head. “Layne, you need to sleep. Let her sleep. You know nothing’s going to happen here.” He grabs my hands and pulls me to my feet.
It hits me like a wave—sudden, brutal. My heart lurches into overdrive, and air won’t come, no matter how hard I try to pull it in. Shit. Shit. What the hell is happening? One trembling hand claws free, presses against my throat. I can’t breathe.
Kyler’s gone in a flash, darting into the kitchen, while I double over, gasping like a fish out of water. My fingers scrape across my neck, desperate and useless. Oxygen. I just need oxygen.
Come on, Layne. Breathe. Just breathe.
Suddenly, a paper bag fills my blurry vision.
“Here—breathe into this,” Kyler says, his voice tight with fear. He’s trying to stay calm, but I hear it too. The panic. Not just mine. His.
I take the bag with shaking hands and do as he says, drawing in each breath like it might save me. It feels endless—like I’m trapped in a tunnel with no exit—but slowly, the grip loosens. The air comes easier. My lungs remember what to do.
As soon as I lower the bag, Kyler is there, scooping me into his arms like I weigh nothing. He’s taking me to the bedroom, but the moment I realize what’s happening, panic surges again.
I slam the bag back over my mouth.
“Stop!” I cry out, my voice raw and tight with fear.
Kyler sinks to one knee. “I’m here. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you. You’re safe.” His hands slide over his face and then he tucks a strand of my black hair behind my ear. “Layne, it’s over. You’re safe.”
The moment those words sink in, my shoulders begin to tremble, and then the tears come, silent and unstoppable..
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Let it all out.” He takes off his shoes and lies down behind me on the bed. A gentle tug on my shoulder tells me to turn around, and I do. I slide toward him, press my nose into his shirt, and cry.
After a while, the crying turns into sobbing. His arms enveloped me, the only sound his gentle humming. “Do you wanna talk about it?” he finally asks softly.
I shake my head. “Not right now. I don’t think I can…” I don’t finish my sentence. I can’t get the words out.
“Just know that I’m here for you. If you want to, I mean.” His lips press against my forehead and I close my eyes.
A little while later, Kyler’s asleep. I carefully extricate myself from his embrace and sneak to the French doors that lead to the small balcony at the back. I open them as quietly as possible and pull a fleece blanket from the chair in the bedroom. Outside, two wicker chairs wait on the deck. I sink into one, pulling my knees to my chest as I wrap the blanket around me and tug it up to my chin. The night air is cool, quiet. Above me, the sky stretches wide, endless and glittering with stars. It’s a clear night with a new moon, which makes them stand out even more.
It’s beautiful.
