Page 39 of Incoming Layne Shift

He smirked as he took note of the masked guards behind Layne. “Two lap dogs?”

She didn’t need to hear the light rumble from Joey to know he was irritated at the dig, the prickling heat of his anger perking up could be felt in the air.

“I wouldn’t worry about them. It’s the bitch who bites.” If Russ wanted to draw parallels, she would be more than happy to fire verbal shots right back at him.

Russ chuckled as he approached her. “I quite remember that spirited bark of yours, Layne. Tell me, is that why we’re here tonight? Our interactions in the past would have me believing you’re returning to yap at me. Have you come here to disrespect my livelihood?” He tilted his head curiously at her.

“Depends, have you been disrespecting mine?” Her eyes stared threatening daggers at him.

A mild smirk pulled at his mouth. “Let’s take a walk.” Seeing the uneasy shift Gage made, he held a hand up in his direction while looking at Layne. “Tell your pack to stay, I would prefer we be out of earshot for such sensitive discussions. One can’t be too careful these days.”

Layne looked back at the two masked men at her back and gave a small gesture for them to hang back for now. Turning her attention back to Russ, she gave him the all-clear, “Lead the way.”

He gestured to the other side of the large fountain where the spilling of water into its base pool made sure that no one could overhear their conversation. She walked with him to his chosen spot, still within sight of both their sets of security detail.

“You must think I don’t have ears on the streets, Russ. You haven’t been particularly quiet about whatever problems you have with my family.” She got straight to the point.

Russ nodded in agreement. “Liam couldn’t pick up the slack and this isn’t the line of work where a woman should be left in charge.”

“Someone stepped foot in my territory and left me with a hell of a threat, Russ.” Her eyes assessed every movement he made from how often he drew a breath to how he blinked his eyes.

“I’d tread very carefully, Layne. It almost sounds like you’re insinuating I had something to do with it. That would be in poor taste to come here and start hinting at something that could start a war.”

She gave an indifferent shrug. “From the tone of your voice, it sounds like you wouldn’t mind if there was one.”

Russ grinned and reached out to touch her arm. She drew it back from him not caring for him to so much as trace a finger on her jacket. He got the hint and dropped his hand away from her. “I won’t argue that I have had my eyes on your territory for some time but don’t be mistaken in believing I’m the only one.”

They stood there talking for another twenty minutes before returning to their initial meeting spot. Most of the conversation was full of useless back and forth with Russ trying to come off as innocently not having his hands in the pot of shit this time.

“Oh, Layne?” Russ called out to her before she turned to leave.

She turned to look at Russ. “Yeah?”

“This business is cruel and unforgiving. I wouldn’t want to see you or anyone you care about end up beaten to near death and then dumped at the nearest animal clinic in hopes of quick euthanizing.”

Gage had been prepared to leave, but as Russ gave his parting advice, he was immediately triggered by memories of the past. He stepped forward. “What the fuck did you just say?” His blood boiling in his veins and turning his vision red with rage.

Russ was unfazed as one-half of Layne’s security seemed to take issue with his comments. “I said I would hate to see her treated like a stray, beaten and discarded like an unwanted animal.”

Both Layne and Joey had been prepared to leave when Gage suddenly broke rank with them. Not initially picking up on Russ’s comments, Joey was taken off guard by his brother’s sudden shift.

After Russ repeated himself, it sank in for Joey. Rose. Her poor battered and tortured body and the way it had been dumped at the veterinary office. “Fuck,” he uttered before bolting for Gage.

“You sick fuck! I will fucking rip you apart!” Gage lunged at Russ. Joey managed to grab hold of him, yanking him back from making a deadly mistake. It seemed he was just in time as each of Spencer’s men were already reaching for their weapons. Joey’s strength struggled to contain the threat of Gage’s wrath getting loose.

Layne knew that if this outburst got the best of Gage, this meeting would end up poorly for them all. She ran over to put herself right in front of him, her hands coming to his chest to try and capture his attention. “Hey! Look at me!”

He continued shouting over Layne’s head. “You destroyed her! I will send you straight to fucking hell after what you did!”

With her hands balled up in his shirt while Joey grunted to restrain his little brother, she yelled at him. “HEY! Not here! NOT HERE!” Her eyes filled with concern seeing how quickly this could go tits up if Gage’s recklessness got the better of them all.

Finally noticing Layne’s boldly colored eyes wide with panic, he stopped trying to charge at Russ. “You watch your goddamn back! I will end you!” He allowed Joey to pull him back, stumbling a few steps until he voluntarily turned around. He shoved Joey’s hands off him as he headed back toward the car with Joey close on his heels.

Layne looked back at Russ who appeared riddled with entertainment as he spoke up, “Better keep those dogs on a leash, Layne.”

“You just worry about your damn self, Russ.” She glared at him briefly before quickly jogging to catch up with the guys who were already halfway back to the car.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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