Page 17 of Layne Closure Ahead

Layne lifted a brow. “For what?”

Her bestie gave a warm smile. “Not that I need a reason, but the way you?—”

Whatever it was that Rebecca was going to say was cut off by the sound of a man yelling from a passing car. “Your time is almost up, you Irish cunt!” Followed by shots ringing out, shattering the front glass window of the restaurant.

Before her brain had time to process the words, Layne heard the firing of bullets. Dropping everything in her hands, Layne reached over and grabbed Rebecca’s arm pulling her down onto the ground. Protectively, Layne lay on top of her, flinching at the sound of each pop.

When the only sounds left were people screaming in a panic, Layne pushed up onto her feet to try and get a look at the vehicle as it took off down the street. The only thing she could make out was the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag on a sticker in the back window.

Now that the threat had passed, she leaned down and helped a shaken-up Rebecca to her feet. “Are you okay?” Her friend gave a slow nod.

Layne stood there breathing heavily as the harsh reminder of the O’Reilly family’s standing in this city was plummeting. Today was just a warning, if they had meant to take her out, they could have. But, if she didn’t do something soon, Liam and she were going to be at the top of every criminal organization’s hit list.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Mr. Ellis is right this way.” The host led the way through the hall down to a private box suite there inside Madison Square Garden. The space could have easily hosted ten or twelve people, but instead, it was just going to be the two of them.

Eric had been insistent that they continue to be seen together, for appearances’ sake. It was always about appearances, wasn’t it? Money and power, and what you did with it. This was especially true among people in their line of illegal dealings.

Originally, he had tried to convince her to go to the New York Ballet, which was a hard pass for Layne. She had nothing against seeing people in tights and tutus weightlessly glide across a stage, but it was far too stuffy of a way to spend a night out.

His alternative suggestion of seeing a rock music concert at the Garden seemed far more appealing, and it was a bonus that she wouldn’t have to get dressed up. Instead, she opted for a set of flattering and snug jeans fashionably torn in a few places across her thighs and a small black tank that had multiple straps crossing over her back and a glimpse of her smooth stomach depending on which way she moved.

Layne’s hair was styled into a few edgy braids that fed into a teased ponytail for additional volume and sass. The makeup she opted for matched the rest of her, dark and edgy. Since she didn’t anticipate kicking anyone’s ass tonight, she had put in a pair of gold hoop earrings in each ear. Under normal circumstances, they just weren’t practical when there was a risk of getting them caught up and torn from her lobes. Not something she wanted to experience; she would rather take a bullet to the shoulder. Oh, wait…

When she arrived in the suite, every beverage she could order was available for consumption. Multiple hot trays of food were on display along with various cold platters. She’d never have to worry about eating for the rest of the week given the sheer amount of food laid out for just the two of them. If nothing else, Eric was excessive in everything he did.

Eric greeted her immediately, wrapping his arms around her in a hug before pulling back to take in the sight of her with a smile. His right hand gently drifted over her shoulder, his fingers caressing along the shiny scar from where Mick’s bullet had entered her body last year.

Self-consciousness caused her to draw her shoulder back from his touch over that grim physical reminder that would never disappear.

He spoke with words filled with awe. “I will never stop being amazed at how much you take my breath away.”

At least he was making the effort to stay in her good graces, or maybe he was just hoping that it would help sway her decision in his favor.

She noticed he was dressed down the most she had ever seen him, yet there was still an air of sophistication wrapped around him from the designer jeans to the plain long-sleeved tee that was sure to cling to the fit outline of his upper body.

His hand dropped down to the small of her back as he guided her over to the bar. “I wasn’t sure what you’d feel like drinking, so I made sure there would be a little of everything.” If this was his definition of a ‘little bit,’ she was scared to see him go all out.

Setting her small black purse on the countertop, her eyes scanned the beverage collection before she selected the tall can of Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn Lager from the mini-fridge. “I see that.” Her finger popped the tab, prompting the smooth sound of the metal opening up and the quick fizz of the pressure release.

After taking an initial taste of the brewery’s flagship beer, she offered him a light smile. She should have felt a sense of awkwardness, but instead, he somehow managed to keep things on the lighter side.

The lights dimmed inside the suite as the remainder of the venue darkened in anticipation of the opening act taking the stage.

Layne walked over to the two nearest seats with Eric following behind her. Expectedly, he took the seat to her left after she sat down.

Continuing to indulge in a couple of beers over idle conversation, Layne propped her booted foot up against the empty seat in front of her while the band she hadn’t ever heard of continued its opening set. What had started as light topics of conversation began to take a turn into more serious things she had been avoiding.

“Layne, I need to know how things are business-wise,” he urged her.

“Until you’re on a need-to-know basis, Eric, I can’t get into it with you.” She shook her head hoping he would leave well enough alone.

“I can’t help buy you time if you don’t let me.” The weight of his arctic blue eyes were on her, even though she was avoiding looking at them. His hand reached over and turned her face toward him. “Let me help, as a show of good faith that I’m serious about investing in all of you.”

Briefly, she met his eyes but was quick to find another reason to escape. “I need another drink.” She left her seat, tossing the empty can into a trash bin on the way back to the fridge. After pulling out the next beverage for herself, she reached into her purse that had been sitting there on the counter since she arrived and pulled out her emotional support pill bottle.

Beer was not going to numb her nearly enough to deal with Eric’s probing. Just like it was nothing more than popping an aspirin for a headache, she swallowed down the tablet, chasing it with the freshly opened lager.

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