My fists clenched at her words, and I took a heavy breath, trying to calm down. “I’m gonna go get her. First, I need you to tell me what we’re dealing with,” I ordered.
She didn’t hesitate, telling us everything she could about their ordeal.
“You didn’t see a woman?” Gunner asked her as he carefully swept a damp cloth over her face to clear the dirt away. His eyes hadn’t left her face since he’d set her down. Surprisingly, though he remained close by, Cal was letting Gunner take the lead in caring for his daughter.
“No. Just Marty and the guy who helped him. Layla got him pretty good on the head. But I don’t think she killed him.”
I didn’t want to wait a second longer to get my girl. I looked to Thorn and Max, knowing Gunner and Cal would want to stay with Emmie. “You two ready?”
“Cash, brother.”
I turned to Gunner, noting the uncertainty on his face. He was torn between his loyalty to me and wanting to see to Emmie. “I’m straight, Gun. See to your girl,” I assured him.
After another moment, he nodded. “Go bring her home.”
I shot a chin lift his way before stalking to my truck, Thorn and Max on my heels.
I pulled off the road a quarter of a mile before the turn up the gravel drive that would lead to the cabin in the woods. Though Emmie had only seen two men, we needed to be prepared for anything, and the element of surprise was critical.
We’d be on foot from here.
My training kicked in on this, my most critical mission. An occasional bird chirping was the only sound as we made our way through the pines toward the cabin and shed where Emmie had explained they’d been held.
I held my gun at the ready, Max and Thorn doing the same. I was prepared to shoot to kill, and after what they’d done to Layla, welcomed the opportunity.
I held up a hand when the run-down shed came into view. The house wasn’t in sight, but I knew from the map that it was roughly two hundred yards north of where we stood, just over the small hill in the distance.
There was no sound except for birds chirping and the wind rustling the trees above as we approached the shed as soundlessly as possible. When the form of a man lying on the ground came into view, I wondered if Layla had in fact killed him. A closer look revealed a bullet to the back.
Marty had finished the job.
The fact he’d murdered his accomplice said a lot about his state of mind and what he was willing to do. If I had been underestimating him before, I certainly wasn’t now.
The shed door lay open, and my heart sank to see that it was empty. They’d either moved Layla to the house or had already moved her somewhere else. We needed to act quickly.
“We need to get up to the house,” I told Thorn and Max. “Marty’s not hesitating to kill; we shouldn’t be either.”
At their nods of agreement, the three of us took off at a steady jog toward the main cabin.
The one-story structure came into view moments later. Years of neglect had made the place look ready to be torn down, with its faded paint, evident cracks in the shutters, and several winters’ worth of foliage on the deck.
I made a signal for the three of us to split up. Thorn and Max took the left and right respectively while I approached head-on.
I approached the cabin silently, and in two long strides that avoided any creaks in the wood, crossed the deck, pressing against the wall next to the front window. A quick glance inside had my heart hammering.
Layla.
She was sitting on the couch, her hands and feet bound as Marty rushed around packing a duffle.
We’d arrived in time. Thank Christ.
“Don’t even think about it.” He pointed a finger at Layla before leaving the room, likely headed for one of the bedrooms.
I stepped in full view of the window, wanting her to see me. As soon as she spotted me, her eyes popped wide with surprise before filling with tears. Despite looking exhausted, she didn’t seem to have been harmed.
I pressed a finger to my lips, and she nodded readily.
Bound as she was, she couldn’t come to me; I’d need to go to her. I moved around the side of the house, looking for an access point that would be more covert than the front door, and found an open window on the side. I hoisted myself up and dropped soundlessly into a small den.
Marty was back in the living room where Layla was, pacing in agitation. “No fucking money has been transferred,” he snarled. “Guess your man doesn’t care as much about you as he thought. Or maybe,” he leaned menacingly in her face, “he’s not taking me seriously. Maybe it’s time you lost a digit or two.”
And then I was on him, coming up from behind, my hand wrapping around his mouth, my gun pressed to his temple. “Think again, asshole,” I warned.
“Fuck.” He grunted, trying to fight against me just as Thorn appeared, having likely entered from somewhere in the back of the house.
“Thorn!” I hollered a warning when suddenly a woman appeared behind him, a gun raised in her hand.
He whirled just as she got a shot off, sending him reeling backwards. Responding gunfire cracked the air, hitting her square in the shoulder of her shooting hand as Max stepped into the room, his gun smoking.
She collapsed, groaning as her weapon clattered to the ground.
Thorn crouched down and picked it up, clutching his arm where he’d been shot.
“You good?” I demanded.
He nodded, gritting his teeth as blood seeped through his fingers. “She must’ve been in the bathroom, ’cause the rest of the house was clear. That was the only room I couldn’t get line of sight to.”
I pressed my gun firmly into Marty’s temple. “Any other surprises?” I growled.
“There’s no one else here.” His voice was low, full of defeat.
I turned eyes to Layla, who had shrunk back into the couch cushions as far as she could, her eyes wide with terror. “It’s okay, baby,” I assured her, wanting more than anything to wrap my arms around her.
Soon.
Chapter 28
LAYLA
My ears were ringing from gunfire, my heart hammering in terror as I watched Cash shove Marty in front of him, his gun aimed at his chest.
He nodded toward Max, the two sharing a silent conversation I didn’t understand before he returned his full attention to Marty. “You killed Palmer?” he demanded.
“Yep,” Marty replied proudly, his hands raised defensively.
“For her?” Cash nodded toward Teresa, who was sitting with her back against the wall, blood seeping from her shoulder. “Or to keep all the blackmail money to yourself?”
“Both,” Marty sneered. “Palmer was worthless. It may have been his idea to blackmail the Riders but it was mine to expand things here in Hawthorne,” he boasted. “Teresa was tired of his shit. I figured I’d help her out and dispose of him.”
“How romantic,” Max muttered dryly.
Marty’s eyes swung toward him, hate shining in them, just as the sound of sirens wailing pierced the air.
“Fuck,” Cash growled, clearly not pleased. “Really didn’t want the cops in our business on this one.”
“They figured it out quick,” Max commented, sounding surprised.
“Probably wasn’t hard, like it wasn’t for us,” Cash replied. “Once they found Palmer’s body, his wife probably became the prime suspect, and this property isn’t hard to find.”
“Couple of dipshits,” Thorn grumbled to himself as the sound of sirens grew closer.
“Layla, I want you to stay right where you are,” Cash commanded. “It’s gonna get crazy for a bit but it’s gonna be fine. Layla,” he pressed when my eyes darted around the room, focusing on Thorn. I was worried about him. At Cash’s tone, I looked back at him. “Baby, it’s gonna be fine,” he repeated.
He was so self-assured, so steady that despite the impending chaos, I took a deep breath, and like I did with everything else, I trusted him completely.
Seconds later, the f
ront door burst open and heavily armed police stormed the room, all shouting commands, guns drawn. Cash remained calm, holstering his weapon and putting his hands up. “Who’s in command?” he demanded. “Brenner?” he guessed, his gaze toward one of the officers.
At the man’s nod, Cash began to share what had happened—in detail. “Have the confession recorded,” he concluded, pointing toward Max. Now I understood what the two of them had shared a look about. “Now, I need to see to my wife. You got this piece of shit?” he asked, shoving Marty toward the nearest officer. “And let the paramedics look at my pop. He’s been shot.”
“We’re not done, Walker,” Brenner warned, but Cash was already striding toward me. He dropped to his knees in front of me and pulled out the Swiss Army knife he kept on his key chain. “Let’s get you untied,” he murmured, getting to work on the electrical tape binding my wrists and my ankles.
I bit my lip, trying not to show how much ripping it off hurt as my hair and some skin came off along with the tape.
“Baby.” His voice was pained. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m okay, get this shit off,” I replied firmly. He did what I asked, getting to the rest of the binding at my ankles. The moment he was done, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, burying my face in his neck. “Riley?” I demanded.
“She’s fine,” he soothed, rubbing my back in soothing circles. “I’m gonna get you home to her. But first, I wanna have you checked out.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted. I just wanted to see Riley and to go home.
He pressed his forehead to mine. “Baby, I don’t know what he drugged you with, and you could be pregnant. I’m not taking any chances.”
When he put it that way, I couldn’t argue. “You called me your wife,” I pointed out as he held me close. The chaos continued to swirl around us as Marty was handcuffed and carried out to a cruiser, but in that moment it was as though it was only us.
“Far as I’m concerned, you already are, and after this shit? Took ten years off my fucking life. You’re getting my name and a band on your finger before the week is out.”
Despite myself, I grinned. “I’m okay with that. And,” I glanced over at Thorn, who was arguing with the paramedics as they attempted to get him on a stretcher, “I have an idea.”
Chapter 29
CASH
After being checked out at the hospital, where it was determined that Layla was free to go home, we pulled up in front of our house at close to midnight.
“Are you disappointed?” she murmured.
I turned to her in the dim light of the cab. “Disappointed? About what?”
She turned to face me, looking tired but beautiful. “That the pregnancy test was negative.”
I reached over, cupping her face, sliding my thumb across her cheek and relishing its softness. “No, baby. We have time. And after what you went through, who knows what might have happened had you been newly pregnant. Things happen for a reason,” I replied, and I meant it. I might not be disappointed that she wasn’t pregnant now, but it didn’t mean I wouldn’t be working to change that in the very near future.
“She’ll be asleep.” Layla sighed in disappointment, her gaze to the house as I cut the engine. “I can’t wait to wrap my arms around her.”
“She’ll be up before we know it, and you need your rest.” She’d been so incredible, so strong through this whole ordeal, but I knew she was exhausted.
She nodded. “I am pretty tired. But I want to get back to the hospital first thing.”
We’d visited with Thorn, who, despite his adamant arguments, was being kept overnight for observation. Roxy had arrived looking frantic, and we’d given the two their space, knowing they needed it.
I nodded in agreement, eager to check back in with him as well. Seeing Thorn shot was a shock the system and a wake-up call of how much he really meant to me and to our family. Which made Layla’s idea all the more perfect.
“Wait for me,” I commanded quietly, opening my door and moving to her side.
“I can walk,” she protested.
“I know you can,” I assured her, lifting her into my arms and holding her close to my body as I carried her inside.
Grace opened the door for us, Wren and Tatum behind her. I reluctantly set Layla on her feet so she could receive the hugs I knew her girls were wanting to give.
“Have you talked to Emmie?” Layla asked Grace, who nodded.
“She’s staying with her folks for the night. She’s acting a little weird, so I’m gonna go over there in the morning and see what’s going on.”
“Let’s get you to bed, chief,” I murmured in her ear, my hand pressed to her lower back. I looked up at our friends. “Thank you,” I added sincerely.
“Not a thing,” Tatum replied. “We’ll let ourselves out.”
I guided Layla up the stairs and into our room. I sat her on the edge of the bed, crouching to remove her shoes. She placed her hand on my head as the reality of what we’d just been through hit me like a brick wall.
I dropped to my knees, burying my face in her lap and wrapping my arms around her waist. Everything up until this point had felt like a nightmare that I’d worked methodically through, remaining as unfeeling as possible, knowing I had to go into battle mode to survive it.
Now, in the quiet of our bedroom, finally having her back in my arms, I wondered if I’d ever be able to let her go.
She curved her body toward mine, dropping a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m okay,” she murmured quietly.
I looked up at her tear-filled eyes. “I could have lost you.”
“But you didn’t,” she insisted. “I’m right here.”
“Yeah, you are,” I murmured hoarsely. “For so long I’ve had my brothers, I’ve had a life I thought I was happy with. But I didn’t realize I’d been alone until the first time I saw you. You and Riley, you gave me the life I didn’t know I needed and now can’t live without.” A tear slid down her cheek, and I reached up to wipe it away. “Marry me.”
She smiled. “I will.”
“Tomorrow.”
She laughed through tears. “I don’t think we can do it that fast, but as soon as possible, I’ll be there,” she agreed.
“Mama?” Riley’s incredulous voice sounded from the doorway a second before she was running toward Layla, who sat up straight, opening her arms for her.
“Hi, baby,” Layla crooned, holding her close, kissing her head.
“You were gone!” Riley wailed. “Daddy said he was going to get you, but it took a really long time!”
“I’m here now,” Layla soothed. “Everything is fine. I missed you, my sweet girl.”
“I missed you too.” Riley sniffled. “Grandma stayed with me. She did my nails.” Riley held out her hands so they could see the bright red nail polish.
Layla smiled affectionately. “That looks like Roxy’s work. Baby, it’s so late. We all need to get some rest. Do you want to sleep with us tonight?”
At Riley’s nod, I took over, lifting her up and tucking her in the middle of our bed, giving Layla a chance to get herself ready for bed.
Layla and I wrapped our arms around Riley, snuggling her in between us, and with my arms around my girls, for the first time since this nightmare began, I breathed a sigh of relief.
I had my woman. I had my daughter. We were a family. Which meant I had everything.
****
“Can you talk some sense into him?” Roxy growled impatiently the next morning as we visited Thorn in his hospital room. We’d brought coffee and donuts, which Riley was enthusiastically eating from her perch at the side of Thorn’s bed.
“I have plenty of sense,” Thorn grumbled irritably. “I’m fine and ready to get the hell out of here.”
“They’re getting your discharge papers now,” Layla announced as she walked into the room after checking with the nurses.
“Finally,” Thorn sighed.
Layla and I shared a look, and I spoke up. “We wan
ted to share some news. We’re going to get married in three days. We can do a bigger celebration later, but after what happened, we want things official. And we want you to be there.”
“I get to wear a pretty dress!” Riley put in excitedly.
Roxy stroked a hand over her hair. “You’ll look beautiful, darling girl.” She turned eyes to me. “And we would love to. Name the time and place and we’ll be there.”
Thorn smiled at Layla. “You’re gonna be a Walker then?”
“No, an Archer!” Riley exclaimed.
For a moment, a shocked silence fell over the room. I cleared my throat. “That’s actually more of what we wanted to tell you. You know I never had much in the way of family. The last name I had doesn’t mean much—if anything, it’s part of my life I’ve done everything to move past. Layla and I talked about it, and if it’s okay by you, we’d all like to take your name.”
Roxy clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes filling with tears as Thorn looked at me with eyes that matched my own. For a moment he appeared too shocked to speak.
“We’d be honored, son,” he said finally.
Roxy came to me and cupped my face in her hands. “You are such a gift,” she rasped before wrapping me in a hug that she pulled a teary-eyed Layla into. “Riley, come here, sweetie.”
Riley hopped down to the ground and wrapped her arms around our legs. “Why is everyone crying?” she demanded in confusion.
I stooped down, picking her up in my arms.
“We’re happy, baby,” Layla assured her.
She rolled her eyes. “Adults are so confusing.”
****
“Gun,” I greeted, walking into the club the next day. Riley and Layla were off shopping for the wedding, and I wanted to check in on him. He hadn’t answered my texts, and I’d had a feeling this was where I’d find him.
He looked up from the pool table, his hands braced on its edge, looking like he hadn’t slept in days.
“What’s up?” I asked, striding closer. “You look like shit.”
Cash Page 16
