Forever Devoted

by Kathleen Brooks

“I’m a SEAL’s wife and sister. Of course I do,” she said, taking it and doing a quick check to see if it was loaded. “But don’t you need it?”

  Layne grinned as she reached behind her and pulled out Sophie’s gun so small she could palm it. “I have my own. Let’s go.”

  Layne took the lead, and Edie followed close behind. Silently they closed the door and pressed themselves to the rough cold wall as she slowly turned off the lanterns to allow them to hide in the shadows. It seemed to take hours as they quietly made their way toward the exit. Layne held up her hand and Edie stopped walking. She wasn’t sure how to pull this next one off. There was a man sitting against the wall where the door to their freedom was securely latched. The distance was questionable on whether the bullet would kill him, but right now she didn’t see any other option.

  Layne looked down at the gun and hoped Sophie was right. It needed power to take him out from twenty-five yards. She motioned for Edie to lie on the ground. As soon as Edie was down, Layne lined up her shot. It was different from the targets at home, and Layne wrestled with killing the man. That thought probably made her shot go an inch too high.

  The bullet slammed into the man’s collarbone, knocking him into the wall. Layne cursed as she took off running toward the man. She needed a clear shot as he pulled his gun. Layne didn’t give him a chance to fire it. Instead, she slid to a stop, raised her gun, and fired off three more shots. The man dropped to the ground and Layne rushed toward the door ready to battle whoever came through it.

  “Come on, Edie!” Layne called as she bent down and retrieved the man’s gun. She shoved it in her waistband as Edie caught up. She was breathing heavily after two weeks of captivity but showed no signs of giving up. “Okay, you open it, and I’ll go through first.”

  “Do you think there’re more people outside?” Edie asked as she took a deep breath.

  “I have no idea, but now isn’t the time to quit.” Layne moved against the wall next to the door as Edie prepared to unlock it and then flung it open. It was now or never. “Go!”

  26

  “Are you sure you know what to do?” Walker asked the Rose sisters one more time.

  “Are you kidding?” Miss Lily asked.

  “Yeah, we’ve been doing more than this way before you were an itch in your father’s pants,” Miss Daisy snorted.

  “It’s a shame my arthritis is acting up. I would feel better if I had my crepe pan with me,” Miss Violet said to no one in particular as she rummaged through her purse.

  Walker’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “Why would you need a crepe pan?”

  “One good thwack with a crepe pan to the head, and they’re down for the count. It’s a tried-and-true method. Ah, here it is.”

  Walker jumped back as Miss Violet pulled out a Sig P238 micro-compact gun. “It’s purple,” he said with astonishment.

  “Oh, Vi, you remembered your gun. I have mine in here somewhere,” Miss Lily said before digging out a similar pink gun.

  “I got one too!” Aniyah called out as everyone dropped to the floor or ducked behind a desk except for Walker.

  “If she shoots toes, isn’t the ground the least safe place to be?” Walker asked as he stepped behind a desk to shield his toes.

  “Hey, I’ve been practicing, and last week I shot the shin of the dummy.” Aniyah set her hands on her curvy hips. Walker shook his head and looked to where the Rose sisters were standing off to the side.

  “Do you know how to use those?” Walker asked the Rose sisters.

  “Better than she does, bless her heart,” Miss Violet answered with a nod to Aniyah.

  “Baby, who gave you a gun?” DeAndre asked, holding out his hand.

  “I bought it from a nice man on the corner of the street in Lexington. He said it was his mama’s, and you’re not taking it. I’ve been practicing, and I’m hitting shins now,” Aniyah said proudly as she shoved the gun back into her purse.

  “That’s real good, baby. But maybe this time don’t try to help by shooting someone,” DeAndre said as he held out his hand for the gun and motioned with his fingers for her to give it to him.

  “The door is opening,” Reagan said, cutting into the conversation. “I’m getting video up. And by all that is holy, take the gun away from Aniyah.”

  Aniyah huffed as the video came onto the screen. Walker and everyone else leaned forward as the open door cast a small glow in the darkness of the night. He saw a figure appear and then disappear into the darkness.

  “Mo, doesn’t this fancy helicopter have any night-vision binoculars in it?” Reagan asked as she obviously was feeling the same frustration as Walker.

  “They’re in the bag behind the copilot’s chair,” Nabi responded. Walker heard some rustling and then the phone moved as Reagan set it down.

  “I’ll be damned,” Reagan said with a lightness to her voice that gave Walker hope. She moved the phone to the binoculars. “Let’s see if this works. Can you see?”

  “Yes,” Walker said as the screen turned to a green hue and images he couldn’t see before became visible, one woman with long hair moving back toward the door. He’d know that body anywhere.

  “Layne,” Miles said with relief.

  They watched as Layne motioned to the door and another woman appeared. “She has Edie,” Walker said, filled with awe and pride in Layne.

  “I’m not seeing anyone else,” Reagan said, removing the night vision and setting the phone up on the dash. “I’m going to land and bring them home. If I hurry, we might beat Jud and his men back to Keeneston.”

  Morgan grabbed Walker’s hand. When he looked to his left, he saw her in the middle of himself and Miles, holding tightly onto both of them as Reagan began to fly closer to the caves.

  “They’re running for the woods,” Reagan reported as she turned the helicopter toward the woods and hit the interior and exterior lights.

  Walker saw Layne holding Edie’s hand and running with a gun in her other hand as she looked back at the now illuminated helicopter. Layne slid to a stop and stared as the helicopter landed before breaking out into a grin that everyone cheered to see.

  “Layne!” Reagan shouted as Layne sprinted for her cousin. In the video, they watched as Layne and Reagan wrapped each other up in a tight hug. Walker’s heart broke as Edie came into view with a tentative smile on her grimy face.

  Reagan pointed to the helicopter, and Layne waved as Edie looked to Reagan who nodded her head. Edie rushed toward the helicopter before going outside of the camera’s view. “Walker?”

  “I’m here, Edie!” Walker called out with relief and joy. Morgan tightened her hand on his before letting it go so he could rush to Nabi’s phone as Edie reversed the camera. Her face filled the large screen and he heard some people in the room sniff as they watched the reunion.

  “You really are alive,” Edie cried as she covered her mouth with her hand and sobbed.

  “I am. I’m so sorry I couldn’t tell you, Edie. I should have been there when you learned about Shane. I’m so damn sorry, Edie.” All the guilt, the worry, and the pain Walker had been carrying around poured out as he saw his sister’s thin, dirty face.

  “I knew you weren’t dead. I knew it. This woman, Layne, saved me. She told me you were alive. I can’t wait to see you and pinch you to see that you’re real. Oh, Walker, how could Jud do this? Why did he do this?”

  “Money and fame. Don’t worry, he’ll never hurt you again.”

  “Come on, Edie. Let me take you to your brother,” Walker heard Reagan say gently. Edie nodded and wiped the tears from her face.

  “Edie, can I talk to Layne for just a minute? We’ll be together before you know it,” Walker asked his sister.

  “I love you, Walker,” Edie said before handing the phone to Layne as Miles and Morgan rushed to join Walker at the computer.

  “Now don’t be mad, Walker—” Layne started to say, but Walker was so happy to see her that being mad hadn’t entered his mind.

  “You sav
ed my sister. I’ll never be able to repay you,” Walker said before Morgan hurried past him to grab the phone.

  “Layne,” her mother gasped. “You’re hurt!”

  “I’m fine. It was a ruse. How are you? I’m so sorry I didn’t stop Jud from hitting you.” Walker saw her break then. A single tear fell down her cheek as she turned away from the camera and took a deep breath.

  “I’m stronger than that, and so are you. I’m perfectly fine. Better now that I know you’re safe,” Morgan replied before stepping back from the camera and letting Walker and Miles take over the screen.

  “Your cousins are on the way. They’ll get here when you do, and shortly after we expect Jud and eight other men. How did you get out?” Miles asked.

  “Luckily they underestimated me. I had Sophie’s weapons on me. Dad, I’m sorry. I killed two men.”

  Walker knew how this upset her and wanted to be there to comfort her.

  “We’ll take care of it, honey. I’m so proud of you. You used your brain and saved Walker’s sister. We’ll see you shortly. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Dad. And Walker, I love you.”

  “I love you too, sweetheart. Now make Reagan get my two girls back to me ASAP.”

  Layne smiled and Walker finally exhaled.

  “See you soon,” Reagan called out a second before the screen went black.

  Walker took a deep breath and turned to face Miles, currently buried on his phone. “You’re not going to hit me again?” Walker asked.

  “Not unless you break my daughter’s heart. Then you won’t have to worry about me hitting you because I’ll kill you,” Miles answered as Morgan looked over at his phone.

  “Oh good, you put twenty on tonight. I’m putting twenty on tomorrow.”

  “Tonight?” Walker asked as he looked around at everyone frantically texting. “You all know a baby can’t be born tonight, right?”

  “Oh, we’re not betting on that. We’re betting on when you’ll propose.” Nash grinned.

  “Don’t you think we should worry about coming out of tonight alive?” Walker asked as he shook his head.

  “Pfft,” Miss Lily said with a wave of her hand. “That’s at one to two odds right now. And the baby in nine months bet has shot up to three to one.”

  “Psst,” Aniyah whispered as she nudged him. “Just in case you haven’t put a bun in that oven, I brought you some more condoms.”

  Aniyah slipped a mega-sized box from her purse that was almost the size of a shoebox. “Here, just put it under your shirt. I know how passionate my Sugarbear and I get after I shoot someone,” she said with a wink, leaving Walker standing next to Miles, holding a massive box of condoms in his hands.

  “Oh!” Miss Violet exclaimed. Her head perked up from her phone as Miles took a deep breath and flexed his hand into a fist. “The odds of Walker living just went down from one to two to two to one.”

  “Um, let’s get ready for Jud’s arrival,” Walker said, shooing the Rose sisters from the room and getting as far away from his future father-in-law as he could.

  * * *

  Layne and Edie sat in the luxurious cabin of the Mercedes helicopter Reagan was flying and used the last bottle of water and some paper towels to clean up. Edie had already chugged two bottles. They hadn’t talked as they worked, but Edie opened up the second Layne leaned back and took a deep breath.

  “So, you disobeyed my brother to come rescue me, and then he tells you he loves you. I think you may have misrepresented your relationship a little.”

  Layne opened her eyes and saw Edie grinning as if the harm of two weeks of captivity had simply fallen to the wayside. Of course, Layne knew better. Edie would need help recovering but being able to smile was a good sign.

  “Maybe just a little,” Layne said with a smirk.

  “Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on between you two?” Edie drank the rest of the bottle of water and consumed a bag of peanuts they found in the storage compartment.

  “Well, it all started when I met my cousin for the first time.” Layne started. By the time they landed at Desert Sun Farm, the story was complete, and Layne was pretty sure she’d gained a sister.

  Walker was opening the door before the blades had turned off. Layne stayed in the helicopter as Edie launched herself into her brother’s arms. Edie was crying, and Layne felt tears pushing for escape. She smiled happily as she watched brother and sister reunite.

  Walker finally set Edie down. She looked at her brother and smacked him on the shoulder. “You better marry this woman or I’ll kick your ass.”

  Layne laughed in surprise. They hadn’t talked about marriage. They hadn’t talked about their relationship at all until they told each other they loved one another.

  “I believe you’re right, Edie. I may have to do that,” Walker said as he reached for Layne with a smile that reminded her of someone who knew something she didn’t. What had happened while she was gone?

  Layne’s breath caught as he pulled her from the helicopter and into his arms. His lips met hers with reverence as she lost track of how long he kissed her. “I love you, Layne,” Walker said softly after reluctantly ending the kiss.

  “I love you too,” Layne whispered before placing one last kiss on his lips. She slid down his body and her brow knit. “Um, what do you have shoved in your waistband?”

  “A little gift from Aniyah.” He chuckled.

  “Oh no. It’s not her fur-covered handcuffs, is it?”

  Walker smile grew as he shook his head. “No. Remember I’m a Navy man. I don’t need handcuffs. I’m rather talented with knots.” Walker winked and stepped back at the sound of someone running toward them.

  “Honey!” Her mother and father tightly embraced Layne before she introduced everyone to Edie.

  “Abigail!” Layne cried as Ahmed’s daughter moved to hug her. “What are you doing here?”

  “Piper sent out the alarm, but it looks like you took care of it yourself.”

  Layne shrugged. “I had a good teacher.”

  Abby winked at her and dropped her voice. “We’ll let your father pretend you’re talking about him.”

  “Don’t forget your favorite cousin,” Jackson joked as he casually rested his arm on Abby’s shoulder. Two giant men with sniper rifles hung across FBI bulletproof vests flanked him. “How you doing, man?” he asked Walker who shook his hand.

  “Edie, this is my cousin, Jackson. And Walker, you haven’t met his teammates, Talon Bainbridge and Lucas Sharp.”

  Edie and Walker shook hands with them all, and then Edie’s arms widened. “I thought you were big,” she whispered to her brother as a man stepped from the shadows to join them. He rested his arm on Abby’s other shoulder and nodded over Abby’s head to Jackson.

  “The three amigos ride again.” He smirked.

  “He’s not even wearing a vest, and he’s that big,” Edie whispered to Walker, who rolled his eyes.

  “Hey,” he said to Walker. “Nice shirt. I have one just like it.”

  “That’s because it’s yours, genius,” Piper teased. “Walker, Edie, meet my other brother, Dylan Davies.”

  Walker held out his hand and shook it. “Nice to see you again.”

  Dylan’s hard face split into a grin, completely changing the way his tough face looked. Suddenly Layne saw the handsome man women drooled over. Apparently Edie did too, since her mouth was hanging open. “Wait, you two know each other?” Layne asked.

  “No,” they both answered with a glint of mischief in their eyes.

  Piper looked between them as if she were trying to figure it out. “You know, I give up. I know you do something dangerous, so it may be best if you just don’t tell me.”

  “So, what’s going on?” Jackson asked as they moved to the security building.

  Walker had slipped his hand into hers and so far hadn’t let Layne go as he explained what happened with Jud, Edie, Layne, and now the nine men coming for him.

  “You asked the
Rose sisters for help?” Dylan asked with one raised eyebrow.

  “Yeah, they’re more likely to break a broom over Jud’s head and capture him at the café than to follow the plan,” Jackson added.

  “Aniyah is with them,” Walker said as Dylan, Abby, and Jackson shook their heads.

  “That’s not making it any better,” Abby said, trying not to laugh. “But what do you want us to do?”

  “I want Jud alive,” Miles said, prowling toward them with his brothers behind him.

  “I think it may be best to keep as many alive as possible,” Ahmed said, joining the group. “Not that I can’t bury a body or ten if need be. But we may want to find out exactly what Jud took and where it ended up. Walker has come up with a plan.” Ahmed rolled out a map of the farm for the newcomers to hear their parts.

  27

  The Blossom Café was still full as Reagan and Piper sat with Aniyah at the table next to the Rose sisters. It had been decided the café was too crucial a place to leave Aniyah in charge. The entire Main Street was closed down and half the town was in the café, awaiting the life-and-death battle about to occur as if it were a theater production.

  “With all this action going on, I bet we’ll have another panty dropper incident,” Aniyah said with a nod. “You know how a little shoot-out gets the blood pumping.”

  “I wish,” Piper said with a huff and then looked to where Reagan was suddenly very interested in her glass of sweet tea. “You and your mystery man are the panty droppers, aren’t you?”

  “What? No!” Reagan shouted. “What man? I don’t have a man.”

  Aniyah gave a yeah right look to her. “For your father being a spy, you are a horrible liar. Everyone knows you’re getting some. The only question is from whom.”

  “Shouldn’t we be looking out for Jud or his men?” Reagan deflected.

  “You know it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. Secrets have a shelf life in Keeneston,” Piper reminded her.

  “Why don’t you date someone?” Aniyah asked Piper. “You’re pretty, smart, and your father is the only Davies brother that’s not scary.”