I thought I’d never see this again. Well, not like this, anyway. I thought I might see it while I was in someone’s ownership. Sold.
I never allowed myself to hope I’d escape. Never imagined I’d be sitting here, that I needed to tell Brooks his wife is gone. Jen… I shake my head, fighting to banish that image from my mind.
I never believed I’d see Rebel again. Never thought I’d watch her grow. And Kyler…
My thoughts drift back to us—how it once was.
We were reckless kids, teenagers wrapped up in a first love. But now? What are we now?
Kyler was clear about what he wants, but I destroyed his trust when I left. And now I’ve done it again, albeit for very different reasons than before.
I know one thing for sure, and it’s that I feel safe when I’m in his arms. But am I still enough for him? Or did I ruin everything?
I drop the blanket, get up, and go back inside. I quietly crawl into bed next to him and snuggle up against him.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” he murmurs in my ear.
A shiver runs through me. “I’m not looking for anything,” I whisper back. “I’m just afraid I’ve broken something.”
Suddenly, the door creaks open. Rebel tiptoes quietly into the bedroom, slipping under the covers beside me. She curls up close, pressing into my side. I wrap my arm around her waist—just like Kyler’s arm rests around mine—and that settles our conversation. For now.
I know the talk with him is inevitable when the time comes. But for the moment, it’s clear we can’t go anywhere. We’re not safe yet. The MC’s fences offer a rare pocket of freedom, a place where we can breathe without fear. So for now, this is where we stay.
I haven’t seen that man in the suit again, nor heard anyone mention him. I’ll ask about it tomorrow.
And when he’s gone… then we’ll see what comes next.
Thirty-Four
Broken.
What is it she’s afraid she’s broken? Herself?
The only thing I’m worried about is whether those bastards broke her. Whether I’ve lost my Layne to something other than another man. What the fuck did she see in there? What the hell happened? That place killed Jen, but what did it do to Layne?
Before the sun’s fully up, I get out of bed. I couldn’t sleep at all after Rebel lay down beside us. The bed seemed too small, which it probably was for the three of us.
In the meantime, I’ve sorted out a few things. I take a sip of my coffee and write a note to Layne asking her to stay on the property and to let me know if she leaves the apartment. Maybe she’s going to my mom’s. After all, those two women are stillthere. I release a guttural sigh. I really don’t know what to do with them, but right now I’ve got other priorities.
Well, one: Brooks.
A glance at my watch tells me it’s just after seven, which means it’s a reasonable time to show up.
I put the note on the breakfast bar and place a cup on top of it. After one last look at the bedroom door, I walk to the hallway.
I step into the reasonably cool morning. The advantage of this time of day is that the temperature’s still bearable for California.
A few minutes later, I turn down the road toward Brooks’ house. The wind slips past me as I ride through the quiet streets of Folsom. The drive to Brooks’s place is short, and before long, I’m pulling up and killing the engine. The kitchen light is already glowing through the window, so I make my way up to the porch without a second thought.
I draw in a steadying breath and let my knuckles tap against the wooden door.
“Hey, Kyler,” Brandon mumbles as he opens the door. He struggles to pull up the corners of his mouth.
Hmm. Why did Brandon open the door? My stomach sinks into my shoes. I follow him into the house and to the kitchen. There’s a bowl of cereal and a carton of milk on the table. Brandon slides onto a chair, grabs the milk, and pours it into the bowl.
“Where’s your dad?” I ask him.
“The garage.” Brandon’s voice is soft, and my heart aches for him. I ruffle his hair and walk to the door leading to the garage.
