Page 10 of Incoming Layne Shift

Liam had been radio silent since their blowout, likely licking his wounds and having a pity party for himself between Kristill’s legs. After he puked all over her office floor, she had to toss the maid a little extra money to come in on her day off to clean up the mess he had left behind. Layne could handle some bloody violence, but vomit? Hard pass on the sour smell alone.

Before Layne could let the first drop of caffeine hit her lips, the doorbell echoed throughout the house. She set the mug back down on the center island in the kitchen before leaving to answer the door.

When she swung open the front door, an unexpected face greeted her on the other side of it. She blinked a few times at the scruffy-jawed man with eerily similar brown eyes as Joey.

Gage stood there with a broad smile at the sight of Layne answering the door in her pajama set and her long brown locks of hair in wild waves indicating she had gotten out of bed not too long ago. “Well,” he licked his lips as his eyes wandered, “good morning, love.”

Layne stared at him in both surprise and confusion as to why he was standing there on her front step. “Gage? What are you doing here?”

His hands were tucked in the front pockets of his dark blue jeans, and a pale green shirt that seemed one size too small for the ripped lines of his upper body. A long chain hung from his neck. At the very end of the chain was a small coin-like charm with the spread wings of an eagle and the letters SPQR at its base and a laurel wreath curved around the outer edges.

The short, dark blonde hair on his head was styled casually to appear as though very little effort and thought had been put into it. His smile reflected how at ease he was feeling, enough that he attempted to step inside without an invitation.

Having gotten used to the soft brace on her right hand, she immediately put her left hand against his chest to put a halt to his advance into her home. He didn’t press onward, but he did look down at her hand and grin. Taking his hands from his pockets, he wrapped one around her fingers and examined the platinum and black rhodium diamond ring on her slender finger.

“My brother give this to you?” He lifted a far too curious brow.

She ignored his question. It was none of his damn business. “You haven’t told me why you’re here. How did you even know where I live?”

Finally releasing her hand, he raised a finger to her while a hand slid into his back pocket. When he pulled it back out again, he held her credit card between his middle and pointer fingers. “You dropped this the other night at the club. A few online searches, a few questions asked of chatty ex-neighbors, and here I am.”

Despite that he was now smiling oh-so-proudly, Layne plucked her credit card from his hold and kept her eyes full of suspicion. “Thanks.”

Gage leaned over to attempt to catch a glimpse of what lay just past the front door of her home. “Nice lookin’ spot. Looks like Joey traded up.”

She stepped to the side to try and block his view of the interior of her home. Though it was a moot point given how he easily saw right over the top of her head given his towering height that matched Joey’s. “Why are you still here?”

He chuckled and raised both hands in front of him innocently. “Settle down, sweetheart, I’m just being friendly.”

“The fuck you are.” She leaned over and slapped her credit card down on the thin side table to the left of the door before she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Amusement sparked in his eyes as he leaned one forearm against the doorframe. His eyes noticed the way her arms pushed her breasts together in that cute little camisole she had on. “Oh, there’s a bit of a brat in you. Now, I get it.” It seemed his brother’s taste in women hadn’t changed much.

“Get what?” Her patience was quickly running out as she released a sigh of frustration. “I swear to God, is there a gene in your family that causes you to be irritatingly arrogant and cocky?”

He laughed in response to her observation. The way he did so had a deep and rich tone to it that seeped in past her barriers. It made something inside of her flutter with excitement.Layne quickly tried to pitch those feelings to the side and focus on how he had interrupted her morning coffee.

His charming smile didn’t leave his face as he rubbed his hand over his jaw in thought. The sunlight glinted off of a few silver rings decorating his fingers and also highlighted the inked letters ‘WRATH’ just above his knuckles on the back of his hand.

The way he was now staring at her while he did it was getting her even more flustered. Layne shook her head. “Alright, congrats, you’ve found me and returned my card. Either move along or I will?—”

Gage shoved his way inside, firm hands catching her off guard when they grabbed just below her shoulders and moved her to the side. “Hey!” She squawked. His foot kicked the door shut behind him.

After his hands released her, he began to wander deeper into the house. His head nodded to himself as if he was impressed with what he was seeing. He stopped right outside the dining room which was currently a mess with plastic liners, buckets of paint, ladders, and various other tools. The memory of Mick’s death there needed to be erased along with the outdated decor.

Gage motioned at all the hardware. “Doing some renovations? You know, I’m pretty good with my hands, or so I’m told.” He smirked at her.

Layne strode after him, her bare feet padding quietly against the tiled floor of the main hall. Fuck the pain in her right hand, she shoved his shoulder with it to turn him partially to face her as her left hook came at that smug face of his. If he wanted to invade her home, he was going to get an unwanted visitor’s welcome.

He gave a brief look of surprise as he pulled his face back before she could make contact. Gage’s grip wrapped around her left forearm, twisting her around until he had her back pulled up against the front of him with her left arm twisted behind her back. The strength of his other arm wrapped across her and squeezed tightly.

“Take it easy, killer.” He chuckled.

Layne wriggled in his hold. “You have no idea.” She wouldn’t mind adding him to her body count at that moment, even if he did smell like an intoxicating combination of spices and soothing vanilla.

Gage leaned over and gave her a quick peck to her cheek before letting go of her, nudging her forward away from him. “So, where is Joey? I was hoping to catch up, make amends and all that shit, then maybe even bring him into a business deal I’m working on.”

She took a few steps forward when he released her, then spun around to glare at him. “What makes you think I know where he is?”

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