“I need you to get a couple of the guys together.” I start to explain the situation when I spot Layla stepping out of a beat-up Honda a few spaces down. “Hey—wait. I’ll call you right back. I need to take care of something.”
“Okay,” he says, and I end the call.
I jump out of my car and jog toward Layla. “Hey,” I call out.
She looks back, startled, her hand frozen on her car door. Then recognition hits, and she smiles. “Hey,” she says, though her cheerfulness sounds forced. “What’s up?”
“It’s about Tessa.” I keep my voice low even though we’re alone in the parking lot.
She gives me a knowing look, her smile fading into something more serious. “Okay.”
“Do you know what’s going on with her and Preston?”
“I know enough.” She crosses her arms, her expression hardening. “I don’t know details. She refuses to share that part of her life with me, but if you’re asking, I’m assuming you know, too.”
I nod and fill her in on everything that’s happened today.
With each detail, Layla’s expression grows more troubled, her jaw tightening. When I finish, she blows out a breath and drops her chin in a nod.
“Yes,” she says firmly. “Absolutely yes. I’m on board. Whatever you need.”
I smile, some of the tension in my chest loosening. “Good. Because I’m getting her away from him today.”
“Music to my ears,” she says, and for the first time, I see hope flash across her face. “What do you need me to do?”
“When I text you, keep Preston distracted. Keep him inside. I’m going to wait out back in the alley. Send Tessa out with the trash or something. Give us a few minutes alone.”
Layla nods. “I can do that.” She hesitates, then adds, “Logan, you need to understand—he’s not going to let her go easily. He’s going to come looking for her.”
“I know.” My hands curl into fists at my sides. “But I’m not letting her go back to him. Please know that you’ll be safe, too. I’m going to send some of the guys to keep you company. If Preston gets hostile, they’ll handle it. They’ll stay there until you close up, make it to your car, and drive away safely. Just play dumb. If Preston asks where she is, you have no idea. You’re just as surprised that she didn’t return after she took out the trash. Hopefully, he won’t suspect you had anything to do with it.”
“I don’t care if he does,” she huffs out.
“While that may be true, it will be easier for everyone, Tessa included, if he doesn’t suspect you. I fear she’s going to have a difficult enough time as it is leaving him. Worrying about you will just make it harder.”
She studies me for a long moment, like she’s trying to decide whether I’m serious. Then she pulls out her phone. “Okay, you’re right. Give me your number.”
We exchange contact information, and she saves mine under a fake name—just in case Preston ever gets his hands on her phone.
“Thank you, Logan,” she says softly, her voice thick with emotion. “Until now, she hasn’t had anyone but me. Thank you for caring about my girl.”
I nod, my throat tight. “Back at you.”
Layla heads inside, and I watch until the door swings shut behind her. Then I pull my phone back out and call Jaden again.
He answers on the first ring. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry about that. I needed to coordinate with someone.” I lean against my car, exhaustion suddenly hitting me. “Look, I need your help with something serious.”
“I’m listening.”
I take a deep breath and tell him everything. About Tessa. About Preston. About the plan to get her out tonight.
Jaden doesn’t interrupt. He just listens, and when I’m done, he’s quiet for a beat.
“You’re doing the right thing,” he says finally. “And yeah, I’ll help. I’ll get some of the guys together. I’m thinking we call Penny, and of course Anna will help. I think it’s a good idea to have some of the girls meet Tessa at your place, make her feel comfortable.”
Relief crashes over me so hard I have to close my eyes. “Yeah, good point. Thank you, man. Seriously.”
