Forever Devoted

by Kathleen Brooks

  “Condom?” Walker asked as her heat had him practically begging for entrance.

  Layne froze. “Don’t you have one?”

  “Um, no. I don’t have anything, not even the clothes now on the floor. Don’t you have one?” Walker asked now, saying a prayer to every saint he could think of. Was there a patron saint of safe sex?

  Layne groaned and rolled off him. “No. I hardly ever get this far with my boyfriends. My dad usually scares them off by the second date.”

  Walker sat up and looked at Layne. Her black hair was spread out on the pillowcase, her hazel eyes sad with disappointment and frustration. “Layne,” Walker started to say as he brushed back her hair from her cheek. There were plenty of ways to pleasure her without making love to her. “I think I’m fall—”

  Knock, knock, knock.

  Walker and Layne both shot out of bed and grabbed a gun. “Are you expecting anyone?” Walker whispered.

  Layne shook her head as she reached for a robe and tossed it to Walker before wrapping a blanket around herself. They didn’t need to communicate. They worked effortlessly together, quietly making their way down the hallway and separating in the living room. Layne went to the door, Walker hid behind a chair with his gun pointed at the door. He nodded and Layne reached across the door, yanking it open and jumping back with her gun raised.

  Walker had her in his gun’s sight. The most curvaceous African-American woman he’d ever seen. She couldn’t be more than five feet, except for the fact she was in five-inch spiked heels. Her short, straight black hair was highlighted red and perfectly swooped over her forehead and behind her ears, which had the largest hoop earrings Walker had ever seen.

  “Lordy! What are you doing with that gun pointed at me?” the woman cried as Layne lowered her gun, and the woman strutted into the house with hips swinging. “That’s a nice one, though. Do you have another? DeAndre took mine after I shot the mailman. In my defense, he was nosing around my mailbox, and it’s not like he needs all his toes.”

  Layne grinned and Walker stood up. The woman’s hand fluttered against her chest as she caught sight of him. “It’s true! You do have a man. And look at that gun!”

  Layne’s mouth dropped and Walker looked at the rifle he held out in his hands. “It’s the same gun those Delta Force guys use.”

  “Honey, I’m not talking about that gun,” Aniyah said as she began to fan herself. Then what was she looking at? Oh crap.

  Walker hadn’t closed the robe. He was flashing yet another woman. He put the rifle over his shoulder and hurriedly tied the amethyst colored silk robe that barely covered his gun and ammo.

  “It’s not that impressive.” Walker looked up from tying the robe to see a man in a state trooper uniform standing with his hand on the woman’s shoulder. His dark brown eyes were filled with amusement as the woman swatted him.

  “Not everyone is packing what you are, Sugarbear, but it’s impressive nonetheless.” She turned her smile on Walker, even if her eyes still hadn’t moved up to his. “I’m Aniyah, and this is DeAndre. Welcome to Keeneston.”

  “Sorry it has to be under these circumstances,” DeAndre said, holding out his hand to shake Walker’s. “We stopped by to see if we could help. Sorry for, um, interrupting.”

  Walker had DeAndre’s number in a glance. He was an intelligence operator if he’d ever seen one. He was tall, lean, and strong, but the way he took in every aspect of a room had intelligence written all over him. No wonder he was good at gossip.

  “I didn’t send out the text yet,” Layne said. DeAndre just smiled and Walker shook his head. This man was completely underutilized as a state trooper.

  “You ever think of going to work for Naval Intelligence?”

  “Nah, I like it right here in Keeneston. But tell me how I can help.”

  Walker and DeAndre walked into the living room as Aniyah grabbed Layne and dragged her into the kitchen. Walker took a seat and DeAndre grabbed the blanket from the couch and tossed it at him. “I’m sorry, man, but I just can’t talk to you with your equipment just hanging there like that.”

  Walker put the blanket over his legs and DeAndre took a seat. “Fill me in,” DeAndre requested as they got to work.

  By the time Aniyah was done with Layne, Walker had filled DeAndre in . . . well, as much as he needed to. The man would make a fortune working for the CIA. He already knew way more than Walker thought anyone could.

  “Sure, man. No problem. I’ll let you know if I hear anything. And now I know who to look for around town. Once Layne sends out the town text, you’ll be covered. It’s hard for anyone to sneak into town without someone seeing them. I’m impressed you did. But then again, you had the help of a local, which is a completely different situation.”

  * * *

  Layne looked to where the men were standing. Aniyah had grilled her about Walker and about their lack of a sex life. Layne bit her lip as Aniyah started to turn to leave the kitchen. Oh, screw it. “Aniyah,” she hissed out on a whisper.

  Aniyah stopped and turned on the spike of her heel. “What is it, sugar?”

  Layne felt her face flush red. “I know by tomorrow there’ll be bets placed at the café, but I do want to keep this as private as possible.”

  “I’m a freaking vault, sug. You can tell me anything.” Layne tried not to roll her eyes. Aniyah was anything but a vault. But right now she was experiencing something stronger than common sense—lust.

  “Do you have any condoms in your purse?”

  Aniyah didn’t blink as she opened up her purse and began to dig around. “Of course I do. And after seeing what that fine man is packing, I know he can handle these.” Aniyah pulled out a box of extra large condoms. “And I have these oils somewhere in here. I always have something with me at all times. You never know when you want to get freaky-deaky. Be careful, the oils are flammable.” Aniyah pulled out a feather and a pair of cheetah print fur lined cuffs and offered them to Layne.

  “No,” Layne squeaked. “The condoms are fine. Thank you. And if you value Walker’s, um, package, you may not want to mention giving these to me or I’m afraid my dad might—”

  Aniyah nodded. “I understand. It’d be a damn shame to lose such a prime example of God’s work. My lips are sealed. Oh, speaking of sealed, I have a blindfold that can also be used as—”

  “No! This is perfect,” Layne said, feeling her face flush. She didn’t know if it was from embarrassment or the idea of being blindfolded with Walker’s hands running down her body. Either way, she was pretty sure an important line in the sand had been crossed with Aniyah.

  “Are you ready to go, baby?” DeAndre called out as he and Walker stood up.

  “At least take the cuffs,” Aniyah whispered.

  “I have my own, thank you.” Layne didn’t mention they were actually zip ties her father had given her in a college care package he’d sent years ago. She just didn’t seem to need to hogtie intruders as much as her father assumed she did.

  “You go, girl.” Aniyah shoved the cuffs back into her purse. “I’m ready, Sugarbear. I’m suddenly in the mood to get home quickly.”

  After DeAndre shut the door, Walker and Layne were shell-shocked. Until Walker turned to her and she held up the box of condoms. Then a slow smile spread across his face as he dropped the robe to the ground.

  16

  Finally! Layne was panting. Her body was squirming with need. The front door was locked against unwanted guests, the condom fit perfectly, and Walker’s mouth had just finished doing wonderful things to every inch of her body. Walker flipped her so he was lying on the bed and she was straddling him once again. She enjoyed the power and the ability to make Walker groan with desire. Walker smiled seductively as he ground against her, urging her to take him inside.

  Layne’s heart beat wildly and not just from foreplay. When she looked at Walker, she saw someone who really wanted to be her partner. He wasn’t intimidated by her. He thought she was sexy when she killed the dummy with a spoon
. Plus he hadn’t run screaming after meeting her family. Instead, he’d been so kind to her grandmother. Layne might have been looking for a one-night stand back in Charleston, but Walker was so much more. Her heart was telling her what her mind already knew. Walker Greene was someone worth going to battle for. But right now he was all hers, and she couldn’t wait another second to feel him inside her.

  Layne rose to her knees and a shadow moved on the wall above the headboard. This shadow didn’t have breasts. This shadow grew larger as it came closer to the partially open bedroom door.

  Layne dove forward, her breasts smashing against Walker’s face as she reached for the gun on the nightstand. She rolled off Walker and aimed the gun at the door the same time the barest creak came from the hallway. Walker reacted instantly, rolling away from her as she leapt silently from the bed and pressed herself against the wall with the gun aimed at the door.

  “Don’t move, Walker,” the voice said from the hallway. He would have seen Layne roll off Walker, but he wouldn’t be able to see her now. However, Walker would be clearly in his sights. “Drop the gun and I won’t hurt your lady friend.”

  Walker’s eyes shot to hers and she nodded as she crept closer to the door. “Fine. I’m putting it down. Who are you, and what do you want from me?”

  “It’s not what I want. It’s what a mutual acquaintance wants.”

  “How much is Jud paying you? I’ll double it.”

  The man laughed as he stepped into the room. Layne hid the gun behind her back and huddled in the corner as he cast a quick, appreciative glance at her before ignoring her. Now that was stupid. Never underestimate a woman, especially a naked one.

  More importantly, in that one moment with the moonlight highlighting his face, she knew him. Darrel Snyder. He’d found them. And if he found them, that meant Jud knew exactly where they were.

  “There’s no way you’ll be able to do that. You have no idea what was on that ship, do you?” He laughed. “And you never will. This is from Jud.”

  Layne didn’t wait. She didn’t think. She reacted. Her muscles knew what to do before her mind could register it. Why? Because her father had made her practice so often she’d simply reacted. She raised her gun and fired two quick shots to the head.

  The man fell. The room was quiet. And Layne began to shake so hard she slid to the ground. She may have been taught how to kill, but that didn’t mean she’d ever taken a life before. And certainly not someone in her bedroom. Someone whose blood was now pooling on the area rug at the foot of her bed.

  “Shh, it’s okay.” Walker checked to make sure Darrel was dead before wrapping his arms around her. In seconds, he had her safe in his arms with his hand holding her head against his chest. “Thank you for saving my life. I know the first one is so hard. Do you need to throw up? I threw up when I killed for the first time.”

  Layne could barely nod, but Walker had her. He pulled her up and was half-carrying her toward the bathroom. Layne fell to her knees and Walker draped a towel over her shoulders before disappearing. Layne flushed the toilet and took deep breaths as she tried to stop the tears.

  “Sir, it’s Walker. I’m at Layne’s, and there’s been an incident. They found me.” She heard Walker talking from the bedroom. “No, sir. She’s fine. She shot him though. Yes, sir. I’ll take care of her.”

  “Who was that?” Layne asked as Walker hurried back into the bathroom and handed her a cup of water.

  “Your father. He’s on his way over.”

  Layne almost choked. “You called my dad?!”

  “Of course I did. We need to get this cleaned up and decide on how to act. I respect the hell out of your dad and family. They’re my new team. When something like this happens, you turn to your team for help.”

  Layne gave a slow nod. “Well, if you don’t want your new team to castrate you, you better get us some clothes.”

  * * *

  Walker had Layne in sweats and he was in jeans and a T-shirt by the time the first car arrived. Walker had helped Layne to the couch in the living room after he had helped her dress. They’d found Fluffy Puppy lying by the door with a tranquilizer dart in him. Layne had lost it then. Big fat tears fell as she cradled her dog.

  “He’ll be okay,” Walker said as he held them both. The little dog was breathing well, which was the only thing keeping Layne from shooting Darrel again.

  The front door flew open as Miles and Morgan rushed in. Streams of headlights could be seen down the road coming toward them. “Did you call the whole town?” Walker asked as he reluctantly let go of Layne so her parents could hug her.

  “They found out somehow even though Layne hadn’t sent out the text yet.”

  “DeAndre or John must have told them,” Morgan said, handing Layne a tissue and sitting next to her, wrapping her in a motherly hug.

  Miles stopped and looked at FP. “The bastard killed my dog?”

  “Tranquilizer. He’ll be fine in a couple hours,” Walker reassured him.

  “What happened?” Cy asked as he, Cade, and Annie ran into the house.

  “What is it?” Ryan and Cole yelled from the porch as they pushed their way in.

  “There is a dead man in the bedroom,” a stone-cold smooth voice said from behind Walker. Walker turned and found a man with tanned skin, dark eyes, black hair with a sliver of silver in it, and a woman standing next to him armed to the teeth.

  “Thanks for coming, Ahmed,” Miles said, standing up from where he was kneeling in front of Layne.

  “Is this the boy?” Ahmed asked, looking Walker over with cold eyes.

  “Yeah,” Miles said, not sounding too happy about it.

  “He tapped him twice in the head. Almost on top of each other. Very impressive.”

  Walker stood up and held out his hand. “Walker Greene; it’s an honor to meet you. But it was Layne who shot him.”

  “Then what were you doing?” the woman asked. “I’m Bridget, Ahmed’s wife, by the way.”

  “Nice to meet you, ma’am. I was distracting him so Layne could get the shot off.”

  Bridget nodded and headed over to talk to Annie as Marshall skidded to a stop at the front door.

  “Walk us through it,” Miles ordered as he strode down the hall. Walker hurried to follow with Ryan, Cole, Cy, Cade, Annie, Bridget, Ahmed, and newly arrived Deacon following close behind. He gave one look over his shoulder and saw Katelyn and Wyatt, the mother/son veterinary duo working on FP with Morgan. Walker felt his forehead crease with confusion as to why three old ladies had just hobbled up the stairs. The one with big bosoms looked up at him and winked.

  When Walker made it into the bedroom, he found Nash already back there. The window to the bedroom was open. That explained how Ahmed, Bridget, and Nash got in.

  “Badass,” he heard Cade whisper to Miles.

  “Who is he?” Ahmed asked.

  “Darrel Snyder. Jud Melville hired him to kill me.”

  Ahmed didn’t respond but sent a text to someone instead.

  “So, what were you doing when he came in? How did he get this far into the house?” Miles asked.

  “We were in bed.” Walker hoped they thought he meant sleeping. The quick punch to the face from Miles told him otherwise. Damn, his jaw was going to be even sorer now.

  Annie snickered, and it was then Walker realized they forgot to move the box of XL condoms from the nightstand. That was it. He was a dead man. Miles’s jaw worked as he flexed his hand into a fist over and over again and counted to ten.

  “Miles, breathe,” Cy hissed.

  “Oh my. Does that say extra large?” an old voice said from behind him.

  “I don’t know, Lily. I don’t have my glasses on, but I see three X’s,” another old voice said as the three elderly ladies completely ignored the dead body and zeroed in on the box of condoms.

  “I have my binoculars, hold on,” the one with the big bosom said as she pulled a pair of binoculars from her suitcase of a purse. “Yup. EXXXtra large, with three
X’s. My oh my.” She winked at him again.

  Walker was starting to look forward to Miles taking him out.

  “So, before my brother kills you, tell us about the dead man,” Marshall said, literally blocking Miles from coming after him.

  “Nabi tells me he owns a security company of former special ops guys. All of whom were kicked out of the service for bad conduct. Darrel here was kicked out fifteen years ago for selling drugs on the base. They never found any on him, but the circumstantial evidence was enough to have him dishonorably discharged.”

  “Which base?” Walker asked as things began to click together.

  “Afghanistan. He was a SEAL,” Ahmed answered.

  “Jud Melville has been a SEAL for sixteen years. His first deployment was a two-year stint in Afghanistan.”

  Ahmed typed something and a second later nodded. “They were stationed together.”

  “Okay,” Miles said, taking a deep breath. “So we know why Jud has him doing his dirty work. But does Jud know Darrel was in Keeneston?”

  Cade bent down and began to go through the clothes on the body. “Here, use these,” Ryan said, handing a pair of latex gloves to Cade.

  “I see I’m late,” Matt Walz said, dressed in his sheriff’s uniform. “I had an idea I needed to be on duty for this.” He pulled out gloves himself and knelt down on the other side of Cade. They removed a secondary gun and a knife that they handed to Ryan, who put them in evidence bags.

  “Here it is,” Cade said, pulling a cell phone from the front pocket after they rolled Darrel’s body over. Cade used Darrel’s thumb to unlock the cell phone and began to pull up the text messages. “Jud knows. Darrel sent a picture of you and Layne to Jud to confirm your identity. Jud then asked for the woman’s identity.”

  “Did he get it?” Walker asked.

  “Yes.”

  Miles and Walker looked at each other. “Get her out of here,” Walker ordered to Miles who only nodded.