Page 70 of Chaos Luck Wrath

“Jax and his guys in position?” Layne questioned as she double-checked the weaponry hidden all over her body.

Gage nodded. “They’re all set, just waiting on you, Lucky Charm.” Whatever waited for them inside, he hoped that they had brought enough bodies to overcome it. There were eight of them, nine if Joey was in any type of fighting form. Truth be told, unless his brother was dead, he’d be prepared to inflict pain on anyone who stood in his way. Included in their headcount were Layne’s top guys, Sammy and Ethan. Hunter had been sure to pick them up on his way here.

Her eyes looked across the street at the imposing home that stretched up three floors, four if you included the rooftop. Never did she want to step foot in this house again, but if it meant there was a shot of getting Joey back in one piece, there was nothing that would keep her out.

Before she could leave Gage to take the first steps on her own, he came up to her and adjusted her jacket over her body, making sure it fit snugly around her. “Baby, I love you. You are more than my stars and moon, you are my universe. Just remember what I said, okay?” He leaned in, tugging her mask down enough to fiercely kiss her, spreading his love for her into her soul through their mouths.

She nodded and echoed back to him what he had told her on the way here. “Headshots are permanent, everywhere else is an excuse to haunt your demons.”

Trying to give her a proud smile, he coupled it with another tender kiss on her forehead. “That’s my girl. We’ll be in your shadow, okay?” His fingers adjusted her mask back into place.

It was now or never that she put an end to this feud with Liam. Taking one more deep breath, she blew it out harshly. “I’m good, promise. Liam will be finding his way to the grave tonight.” Even if she had to go with him.

Gage’s hand lightly patted her on the side of her face. He hated that he had to abandon her side, but there was no way that it was going to do any good to walk up to the front door with her. There was no question that there were bigger battles to fight on the other entrances around the property.

“Go ahead and make that asshole pay his debts.” It took everything in him not to cling to her. If he knew he could whisk her away elsewhere, perhaps kidnap her to someplace safe, he would have done it. Joey would have wanted him to do it, but he couldn’t justify abandoning such a major pillar in their lives. Layne would never survive it, and neither would he.

Layne tried to keep her voice void of any emotions that would make him feel uneasy, “I love you; I promise I won’t stop fighting for all of us. Don’t ever give up on me.” If she was going to keep her head in the game, she needed to quickly eliminate all the mushy feelings. Yet, there was still the softness in her eyes as she looked at Gage one last time before jogging across the street toward the house that would be the end for at least one person tonight.

Her boots gave the softest crunch against the compacted snow as she approached the front door of the house she had sold only months ago. This place must have been home to some satanic rituals at some point given the people it attracted. Not only was it associated with her ex-husband, but now Liam as well. So much for family bonds being the strongest.

Layne knew that Liam was expecting her, so there was no use in sneaking around. Hell, he was probably anticipating some of her crew to be in the area. The element of surprise may have been gone, but that allowed her insight into what he did or possibly didn’t know. He knew she’d be coming, and she could rely on that information to drive her actions.

Her finger reached out and pressed the small gold button next to the door. A series of chimes sounded off deep into the house, being easily heard from right outside the door.

Scanning the exterior, everything inside the home looked dark and ominous. It was confirmed when the front door swung open and she found herself peering into nothing but shadows.

Here went nothing. With a hand resting on the butt of her gun on her hip, she took the first step inside. Swallowing hard as her eyes fought the darkness, Layne glanced around with each advance into the main hall.

The last remaining clip of light from outside dissipated when the front door slammed shut. A voice bounded against the walls and echoed up into the height of the arched ceiling. It wasn’t the words spoken that spooked her, but who was saying them that drove terror straight down her spine. All the hairs on the back of her neck were on end and her skin became littered with goosebumps.

“So glad you could join us, Layne. It’s been too long since we’ve had a family reunion.” The male voice matched the one the night of the car wreck. With a clear head, she recognized it now. It didn’t make any sense, but everything she thought she knew was wrong.

“How?” was all she asked into the darkness that surrounded her.

There was no response, only maniacal laughter.

Spinning around, she strained to hear any threatening movement that may have been approaching her.

A light flickered on and she came face to face with a ghost. Layne gasped as her eyes widened at the familiar face. It was no longer her mind playing tricks on her, he was actually standing there before her. This motherfucker came back from the grave.

Her body went rigid before she said his name out loud, “Uncle Mick.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

GREATEST ACT OF LOVE

It sounded insane, even to her, to say the name of a dead man out loud. Every plan that she had plotted inside her head hadn’t accounted for his presence.

With a cocky smile, he took a step closer to her. “Speechless? I guess death isn’t the end after all.” Each word he spoke sent a chill through her body like pointed icicles stabbing the strength of her resolve.

Layne pushed past all the questions clouding her brain and lunged at Mick, barreling her shoulder into his chest to knock him off balance. Despite the minimal light, she was able to grab hold of his shirt with one hand while her other drew her firearm.

Mick’s bear paw of a hand was soon wrapped around her wrist as she struggled to aim the gun at the fucker who should have been buried six feet under. So much for headshots being permanent. Questions could be asked later.

As his upper body strength quickly overtook her, she thrust her heel up into his gut. Her wrist broke free from his grasp as they both stumbled back from one another. Aiming the weapon in his direction, she pulled the trigger to fire off the first shot.

With her finger squeezing the trigger, a force slammed into her head from behind. The bullet from her gun shot up into the darkness, missing its intended target. Her Glock clattered against the floor and slid several feet from her. Immediately, she dropped to the ground harder than a bag of cement. Trying to maintain her wits, she winced at the pain blossoming across the back of her skull.

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