by Mia Knight
Gavin released Kody as Janice appeared. Janice looked from the gagging movie star to the paparazzi and then Gavin who was as composed as ever.
“What happened?” Janice demanded while she tried to shoo away the paparazzi.
“Misunderstanding,” Gavin said as he hauled Kody to his feet and clapped him on the back. “You’re okay, right?”
Kody looked terrified until he saw the paparazzi. He was an A list movie actor for a reason. His face smoothed into a world-class smile and the paparazzi lowered their cameras, clearly disappointed. As soon as Janice shooed the paparazzi away, Kody jerked away from Gavin as though he were a serial killer. Lyla tried to make amends, but Kody backed away as if she had a contagious disease.
“He’s my husband,” Lyla told Kody in an apologetic tone.
“We’re leaving,” Gavin decreed and dragged her out of the club.
“God, you’re such a psycho,” Lyla grumbled while Blade followed, chuckling. “You can’t kill someone for talking to me.”
“Did that asshole not see my hands on you? My ring on your finger?” Gavin growled.
“He wanted to talk to me to get info on Carmen.”
Gavin boosted her into the back of the SUV and got in beside her.
“First Marcus and now that asshole. What the fuck? Carmen just lost her husband. Maybe it’s the way she’s dressed,” Gavin said sourly.
“What about Marcus? He’s interested in her?”
“I don’t know what he is. I told him to lay off and he told me to butt out of it.”
“He told you that?” Go, Marcus, she thought.
Gavin ran a hand through his hair. “The freaking world is tilting sideways. Shit.”
CHAPTER TEN
Lyla
“You’re so beautiful.”
A man in a black suit and white mask hovered over her. He brushed his gloved thumb, slick with some warm liquid over her lips. The iron tang of blood touched her tongue. Lyla tried to spit it out, but the man clamped a hand over her mouth. Lyla gagged as Manny’s blood slid down her throat. Fathomless black eyes stared at her through the slits in the mask.
“It’s a shame I have to do this to you. You’re at the wrong place at the wrong time, baby.”
She saw the glint of metal out of the corner of her eye and knew what was coming. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t defend herself. Pain ripped through her abdomen as the knife sliced through skin and muscle. She felt a gush of blood and then her attacker slashed down again and again and again. There was no reprieve.
***
Lyla screamed and sat up in bed, fingers curled into claws as she tried to gouge out the eyes of the crime lord. Lyla stared at her surroundings through a haze of tears before she realized she wasn’t in Manny’s mansion but the master suite of her home with Gavin. Lyla rocked back and forth, trying to banish the vivid memories of the attack and the taste of Manny’s blood. She was shaking uncontrollably and covered in a layer of cold sweat. The memories came without warning, slamming into her with such force that she curled into a protective ball.
Lyla was grateful Gavin was already gone for the day. A text from Carmen drew her out of the past and into the present. Today she was supposed to help Alice at the dog shelter. She didn’t want to leave the house, but Gavin would know something was wrong if she didn’t go. Lyla forced herself to dress, put on makeup and go downstairs.
“Lyla,” Blade said and gestured to the waiting SUV.
“I want to drive myself,” she said, glad for the shield of sunglasses. Her eyes were still a little swollen. Blade would have reported that small detail to Gavin.
Blade hesitated and then, “Security-wise, this is the safer choice.”
She held up the keys to Gavin’s Aston Martin. “Can you have one of the guy’s bring the car around?”
“Lyla...”
“Blade, not today,” she said shortly.
Blade tossed the keys to one of the men and pulled out his phone. Lyla glared as he spoke to Gavin.
“Lyla wants to drive herself,” Blade said without preamble and then extended the phone to her.
Lyla snatched it. “I’m driving myself.”
“Why?” Gavin asked.
“Because I want to.”
“It’s safer to—”
“I need some space today, Gavin,” she said and her voice shook.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just want to drive myself.”
Gavin didn’t say anything for a moment and then, “Give the phone back to Blade.”
Lyla did as she was told and hurried to the Aston Martin. The guard blinked when she got behind the wheel. Blade rushed to an SUV and got into the driver’s seat. She blew out a breath. Gavin wasn’t going to push the issue, thank God.
Two SUVs flanked her as she made her way to Aunt Isabel’s house. After she parked in the driveway, she went in and chatted with her aunt before Carmen came downstairs in Uggs, ripped designer jeans and a crop top.
“Why are you driving yourself?” Carmen asked when they walked outside.
“Because I feel like it,” Lyla snapped.
Carmen’s brows went up. “What’s up with you?”
“Bad dreams.” Lyla rolled her shoulders to relieve the itch between her shoulder blades as she turned the key in the ignition.
“Are you fighting with Gavin?”
“No.”
“Is it because he was a prick at Incognito?”
Lyla glanced at Carmen as she backed out of the driveway. “No. Why?”
“Gavin and Kody were all over the papers.”
“That’s your fault,” Lyla said sourly. “I think Kody wanted to ask me about you. Gavin got pissed when he tried to pull me to the side.”
“I'm telling you, Kody’s an idiot.”
“What about you?”
Carmen laughed. “Alice turned out to be good company after five shots.”
“What? Carmen, you didn't corrupt her, did you?”
“Just a little bit. I took care of her when she puked her guts out. Alice couldn't go into work the next day and vowed never to party with me again. Can we get coffee?”
Lyla navigated through the neighborhood and rolled her eyes when Blade changed lanes, nearly running someone off the road.
“Poor Alice. What kind of coffee do you want?” Lyla asked as she pulled up to a Starbucks drive-thru.
“Get me a triple tall latte and a maple scone. What do you want?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you sick?”
“No.” She sucked in a fortifying breath and shoved down the tears just beneath the surface. “I’m just bitchy and nothing tastes good.”
Carmen settled in her seat, humming happily as she drank coffee and nibbled on her scone. Lyla followed the GPS instructions to the dog shelter. There was a bus of casino workers in front of the shelter along with Alice and a photographer. Everyone wore bright orange T-shirts with the Pyre Casino logo. Alice clapped her hands as Lyla approached and gave Carmen a frosty smile before she introduced them to the other volunteers. There was a low murmur of surprise when Alice introduced her as Gavin's wife. Blade and the other guards joined the group and were forced to wear matching T-shirts. Alice gave a rundown of tasks that they were going to do, which included baths, cleaning kennels and walking the dogs.
“This place looks like a prison,” Carmen said under her breath to Lyla.
Lyla agreed and listened to a staff member as she led them through the building. Lyla’s heart wrenched as the dogs pressed against their cages, yipping and crying out for attention. Lyla stopped and pressed her hands against a gate. A large gray Pit bull went up on its hind legs and licked her hand.
“Hi, boy,” she whispered. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Gavin might get a new bed buddy,” Carmen said with a wicked grin. “Serves him right.”
Lyla forced herself to walk away from the Pit bull named Beau and finished the tour of the dog shelter. Lyla opted t
o walk the dogs while Carmen decided to help at the bathing station. The first dog Lyla took out of a cage was a small Yorkie that barked at the other dogs as he pranced by. Lyla actually found the walking path soothing, but the Yorkie didn't have the stamina to make it halfway along the trail. Lyla carried the dog back to the kennel and made a mark on the dog’s sheet to let the other staff know that she had been walked. Lyla took dog after dog and didn't seem to be getting anywhere. There were too many dogs and not enough volunteers. It warmed her heart to see Blade cleaning kennels. He didn't have to participate, but did so because he was a good guy. That made her feel like a bitch since she threw a fit this morning and made his job difficult.
Hours passed. When everyone else took a break to eat lunch, Lyla made her way over to Beau. She talked to the Pit bull until he calmed. She scratched him behind the ears and smiled when he closed his eyes in delight. Lyla opened the kennel and even though Beau pulled at his leash, he eased up once they were outside. He sniffed the air and hopped playfully before he fell into step beside her.
Lyla could relate to the Beau’s joy at being out of his cage. She was slowly learning how to live again. These dogs had been abandoned and were hoping someone would take them home. They needed a second chance, like her. Flashbacks hit her at the strangest times. She could be swimming or watching TV and all of a sudden she would be covered in cold sweat, unable to breathe as she remembered being stabbed or bombarded by the sound of Manny’s tortured screams. Carmen reassured her that the panic attacks were normal considering all she’d been through. Lyla didn't want tell Gavin because there was nothing he could do and he had his own demons to battle.
Lyla glanced down at Beau and wondered what his story was. Had he been abused or had his family decided that they couldn't take care of him? Maybe he’d been found on the side of the road? Beau trotted along, marking shrubs and trees as they went. No matter what happened in his past, it wasn't stopping him from enjoying the moment. Lyla tipped her head up to the sun, took a deep breath and everything went black.
***
Something wet and slimy slid over her face. Lyla turned her face to the side and moaned. She heard a scream and then the sound of someone running over gravel. Lyla shielded her eyes against the sunlight and blinked at Beau who stood over her, tongue lolling. She grimaced when she caught a whiff of his doggy breath.
“Oh my God! What happened? Did the dog attack you? Mr. Pyre is going to kill me!” Alice shouted as she grabbed Beau’s leash and pulled him away from Lyla who lay flat on her back on the walking path.
“He didn’t attack me. I think I passed out,” Lyla said and put a hand to her forehead as she sat up. She dropped her face between her knees and tried to think straight.
“Did you take a break?” Alice asked.
“No.”
“Oh my God, I overworked the CEO’s wife,” Alice said, wringing her hands.
“No, I’m fine. I’m just not feeling like myself today. I was going to walk this dog before I got a drink.”
“Phil! Phil! Come over here, will ya? She fainted!” Alice said, bouncing up and down in well-used sneakers.
An attractive man wearing worn jeans and a gray T-shirt ambled over. He pet the dog before he hunkered down beside Lyla. Phil fixed her with an unsettling, piercing look.
“How ya feeling?” Phil asked.
“Crappy,” Lyla admitted.
“This heat isn’t helping,” he said and hauled her up.
Lyla swayed on her feet and tried to blink away the black spots marring her vision. Phil tightened his hold.
“Come, let’s get you in air conditioning,” he said and helped her inside.
Alice followed with Beau who nudged the back of Lyla’s leg as if he were worried about her. While Phil led her one way, Alice walked Beau back to his kennel. Lyla silently promised Beau that she’d come back and give him a decent walk. It wasn’t his fault that she fainted on the path. Shit. How long would it be before he saw daylight?
Phil led her to an office not much bigger than a closet. The walls were covered in pictures of dogs and cats. Phil uncapped a water bottle and handed it to her. Lyla took a healthy gulp.
“Here.”
Phil held out a handful of Wheat Thins. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t take crackers from his questionably clean hands, but she was desperate. Lyla nodded to him in thanks and once she began to munch, instantly began to feel better. Phil gave her that direct look again.
“What?” Lyla asked defensively.
“People don’t just pass out. It’s not that hot.”
“I know. I’ve been feeling strange all day.”
Phil cocked his head to the side. “Are you pregnant?”
Even as her body went cold, she shook her head. “No.”
“How do you know?”
She glared at him. “Why do you want to know?”
“I don’t want you to sue me.”
“What?”
“I run this place. Volunteers passing out aren’t good advertisement.”
“Oh. Well, I’m fine now.” But she didn’t get up because her legs were still trembling.
“Maybe you should go to the hospital.”
“No.”
“I insist. If you’re not pregnant it could be something else. You don’t want to take chances. Plus, you look like shit.”
Before Lyla could respond to that, Carmen appeared in the doorway. Her cousin looked as if she'd been in a wet T-shirt contest. Her crop top was nearly transparent, her jeans were covered in fur and her Uggs squelched with each step. Phil perked up.
“I heard you fainted,” Carmen said. “Are you sick?”
“I'm not sick, I just feel queasy,” Lyla said and gave Phil a dirty look.
“Who are you?” Carmen asked, getting right to the point.
“I’m Phil, a vet.”
Carmen raised a brow. “And you’re examining Lyla?”
Apparently, Carmen thought this was hilarious because she grinned. Phil’s head kicked back as if Carmen’s beauty had a physical impact on him. Lyla didn’t know whether to be amused or irritated.
“In your professional opinion, what’s wrong with her? You think she has fleas or she’s in heat?” Carmen asked with mock seriousness.
“I assumed she was pregnant, but she says it’s not possible,” Phil said.
Carmen’s head whipped towards Lyla. “Pregnant?”
“I’m not,” Lyla said.
“What? How do you know? Are you on something?”
Lyla gave Phil a pointed look, but he didn’t budge. He was fascinated by the exotic creature in his shitty office. Lyla wiped her clammy brow.
“I had my period recently,” Lyla said.
Carmen looked at Phil. “She can still spot if she’s pregnant, right?”
Phil blinked. “I really don’t know much about human women who are breeding.”
“Right,” Lyla drawled and forced herself up. “I think I’m done for the day. I’ll come back again to walk Beau and the others.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Carmen said and winked at Phil before she followed Lyla into the hallway. “Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”
“Positive.”
Carmen didn’t say anything as Blade jogged up to them. He stopped and they got a whiff of a very distinct poop smell. Carmen and Lyla took a step back.
“What happened? Alice said you fainted,” Blade said.
“I’m fine,” Lyla said and bounced to show that she was fine and instantly regretted it when another wave of nausea hit her. “You know, I think I really need something to eat.”
“Let me get you a sandwich.”
She nearly gagged when she caught a whiff of bologna earlier. “No, I need something...” She waved her hand. “Light and fresh.”
“Like what?”
“Some noodle salad or something,” Lyla said, knowing she sounded nuts and not caring. She wanted some light, fluffy meal from the deli section in a supermarket. She didn’t know ex
actly what she wanted but...
“Okay,” Blade said and pulled out his phone. “I have to call Gavin.”
“About me? Blade, nothing happened!”
“Do you want me to die?” Blade asked as he dialed.
“I’m—” She ground her teeth and then snatched Blade’s phone before he could speak.
“Blade? What is it?” Gavin asked brusquely on the other end.
“Hey, baby,” Lyla said and slapped Blade’s hand away.
“Lyla?”
“Yeah, something happened at the dog shelter and Blade’s overreacting,” Lyla said and ignored Blade’s glare.
“What happened?”
Lyla winced. Gavin sounded calm, but she knew better. “I’m just not feeling well, that’s all. I’m fine, though. We’re leaving now.”
“Are you sick? Should I call the doctor?”
“No, I’m fine. Too much sun,” Lyla said.
“You’re going home?”
“I want to get something to eat first, but after that, yeah.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Okay. Love you,” Lyla said and hung up. She handed the phone back to Blade. “I’m fine.”
He shook his head, but didn’t push it. Lyla apologized to Alice who told her to get some rest. Her first “job” and she passed out within a couple hours. What the hell? If Gavin heard that she fainted, he would see it as a sign that she shouldn't volunteer, which was bullshit. Maybe she shouldn’t have volunteered after her episode this morning.
Blade wouldn’t let her drive, which was probably a good thing. He gave the keys to the Aston Martin to one of the guards who was going to stay to finish their tasks. Carmen was unusually quiet as they climbed into the SUV. Lyla belted herself in, leaned back and closed her eyes. She told Blade which supermarket to go to and rolled down the windows since they were all pretty smelly.
“Before I ruined everything, how did you do bathing the dogs?” Lyla asked.
“I don't think some of those dogs have ever had baths. They fought me like crazy but they looked fab afterwards. One of the dogs howled when I tried to blow dry him. I want to go back. They need a lot of help.”
