Page 54 of Incoming Layne Shift

After Layne left the kitchen and went up to the master bedroom, it was Gage’s turn to lash out with all the emotions that had been locked away to prevent Layne from getting any more riled up. His hand smacked the bottle of antiseptic off the counter angrily sending it flying across the kitchen. “Son of a bitch! I fuckin’ knew Russell was bad news. He and his entire goddamn operation needs to die.”

Joey looked over at Gage filled with a calmer variation of his rage. “This isn’t going to be pretty. If she makes this move against Spencer, she is either going to get torn apart by the other factions or have half the city by the balls.”

Slowly nodding, Gage ran his fingers through his hair in frustration that they both had come too close to having history repeat itself. “Then let’s make sure she gets her seat on the throne she deserves to be on.”

Layne thought she felt like shit when she had gotten back home last night, but when she woke up the next morning all the aches and pains were tenfold. Her pride refused to voice the weight of her body’s angry protests. She was moving much slower and fighting through it all on her own.

She curled up on the sofa watching the morning news on the television with a cup of coffee held between her hands. Joey came up behind the sofa, leaning over and rubbing his hands over her shoulders lightly before kissing the top of her head. “You’re up earlier than I expected.”

“I couldn’t sleep.” She sipped from her piping hot morning routine in a mug.

He came around the end of the couch and took a seat next to her, resting his arm along the backrest behind her. “I have ways to help with that,” Joey smirked at her playfully.

Lightly smiling, she leaned over into his side, soaking in the warmth and safety his presence provided. “Some of the best ways. Is Gage still upstairs sleeping?”

He shook his head. “He went out to take care of a few things. He promised he’d be back in a little while with food.”

“Mm, I could use something to eat. I’m starving.” Her stomach rumbled in agreement.

She leaned over to cement a kiss onto his mouth. Joey’s hand wrapped around the back of her head to hold her in close for the kiss. Murmuring against her lips, he teased, “I got something for you to put in your mouth to hold you over.”

She smiled against his mouth and the kiss began to grow into something more passionate before getting interrupted.

The female news anchor spoke with a solemn voice, “Breaking news. This just in, several bodies have been discovered at an abandoned veterinary clinic in Jersey City. Police are investigating the incident and at this time, say there are no leads. Maria is reporting live from the scene.”

Layne pulled back from Joey to look at the screen which showed the very building she had escaped. This time it was surrounded by yellow crime scene tape, flashing lights, and an excessive amount of law enforcement.

The image of the reporter standing in front of the building had the same tone that all reporters seem to have, one which evokes seriousness with perfectly crafted sentences with a hint of suspense. “Thank you, Susan. I spoke with one of the officers earlier and he said that there were four bodies discovered inside. Three of them died of apparent gunshot wounds. The fourth was of a woman who suffered in what was only described to me as a ‘heinous act of disturbing violence’.”

Setting her coffee on the table in front of them with a groan, both of her stiff movements and a realization. “Fuck. I need to make a call.”

“What is it?” Joey sat up, eyeing her.

Slowly, she eased herself up off the couch with a wince. She looked at Joey with eyes that reflected her anger at herself for making a stupid rookie mistake. “My fingerprints are all over the murder weapons, Joey.”

He tried not to add to her worries with his own as he stood up. “We’ll get it fixed. Your prints won’t mean anything if there’s nothing in the system to compare them to.”

Layne stared at him, her face full of concern not easing up any.

He raised both his brows. “When the hell did you get arrested?”

She gave a small smile recalling the little she remembered about the incident. “Things got a little ridiculous on my twenty-first birthday. After the cops were called, the one Boy Scout in the group didn’t like that I flashed my tits at him.”

He smirked. “One lucky son of a bitch. I would have arrested your ass just so I could have you all to myself.” Joey wrapped his arms around her and showered her with a few hungry kisses.

There was no fighting the smile and the way he could put her at ease. “Ok, ok! I have to call my contact at the crime lab to make sure that any prints that are lifted are determined to be inconclusive.”

His hand rubbed over the curve of her ass. “One call, then you’re mine for the rest of the morning until Gage gets back.”

They both left the room, leaving the television on. The image shifted to the studio news anchor again to transition to another news story. A familiar face appeared in the upper right part of the screen while the woman continued her news coverage.

“In Midtown, another young woman was found deceased. Kristill Hendricks, twenty-four years old, was discovered by her neighbor after noise complaints about Hendricks’ Chihuahua continuing to bark for hours on end. Sources say that the young woman had a history of drug abuse and prostitution, but police aren’t ruling out foul play. More to come.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Awar had been brewing and Layne was now ready to kick it off. She had been spending the last couple of weeks making plans with all her associates. Danielle may have been the most recent primary aggressor, but the Spencer name would spread like cancer if Layne didn’t take action to put an end to it now.

Russ knew what games he was playing trying to encroach on the O’Reilly territory and hell if she was going to let him get away with it any longer. She had been too nice in trying to play politics. The time for sweet talking was over. She was going to send a message loud and clear to any factions in the city that supported him that she wasn’t going to tolerate his bullshit any longer.

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