Page 133 of All Our Ghosts

Watson glances back at Layla, rolling his eyes. “Didn’t have much of a choice. She’s been burned.”

“O’Neil and Nash are going to figure out I gave her up soon enough. Jake offered me protection to get to Miami.” She smiles so sweetly that my teeth ache in the worst way possible. Everything starts to click together.

“You told Watson when the guys left. When it would be safe to raid the clubhouse,” I say, shooting a look at Layla. “And when Wyatt and I left.”

Those snake eyes turn to me with nothing but hatred flowing in them. “Fuckers are stupid enough to believe I wasn’t fucking Watson outside of the club?” She cackles. “Every run they’ve had fucked up was because of me,” She says proudly like she’s actually done something good.

“For what reason?” I bite. “So you can claim your fame as Pine River’s best cock sucker?”

Layla screeches and lunges towards me and in a flash is yanked back by Watson. His arm holds tight around her waist asLayla struggles against him. “You cunt!” Layla screeches. “Nash will never love you!”

My eyes turn to slits at Layla. “He never lovedyou, Layla. He used you to warm his dick, that’s it.” The words come out just as harsh as I mean them and only egg on Layla’s struggles against Watson’s arms.

“You’re going to pay for that you bitch!” She screams.

“Ladies!” Jeremy barks. “Shut the fuck up both of you.” He leans over the table and glares at Layla. “Get your shit together or you’ll end up tied to a chair next to her.” The threat lands because Layla’s eyes go wide and her struggle stops. “Watson, what's the status on the plane?”

“We have five hours,” he mutters, letting Layla go without care. She stumbles to gain balance as her eyes stay glued on me.

“Good, keep your whore on her leash,” Jeremy bites.

HOLDEN

Barely any light emits from the warehouse. I have no idea if she’s still in there but we have to try. I have to bank on the thread of hope that Jeremy and Watson haven’t already taken her back to Miami.

Dex hands me a tactical vest that Trey stole from the Sheriff's office before passing one to Scottie and O’Neil. I slip it over my head under the shroud of darkness from the treeline just outside of the warehouse. Passing pistols back and forth between the four of us.

“What’s the plan?” Scottie asks, loading a shotgun with shells and handing it over to Cole.

I glance between the three men. All of them stare at me, awaiting instructions and for a brief moment, it throws me back on the battlefield. It’s a strange feeling I haven’t had in a long time. “Scottie and Wolfe, you two watch the perimeter. Get eyes on the exits and if anyone leaves that isn’t Kade or us, shoot them.”

Wolfe nods but Scottie just stares at me for a moment. “You okay doin’ this, brother?”

I narrow my eyes on him. “I would burn down the world for her.”So yeah, I’m okay putting a bullet between their eyes if it means she’s fine.

Cole claps my shoulder. “We’re with you, brother.”

It’s the first moment we’ve had where I don’t want to rip Cole’s hand off of me. We share a look and he nods. I meet my gaze with every one of theirs and shift on my feet. “If anything goes wrong, you get Kadence out of there.”

“Nash-” Dex starts, but I shake my head.

“I mean it. Kadence is the priority. No matter what, she lives through this.” All three men nod at me. I check once again that my pistol is tucked in the waistband of my jeans, my vest is secured and the shotgun I’m holding is loaded.

Cole looks over at me, “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

Scottie and Dex break off, each of them circling opposite sides of the building. Cole and I wait until they’re in position, each flicking our flashlight on to signal to them before we move toward the side entrance.

The tension between the two of us permeates as we make our way to the door. Both taking a stance on either side of it and sharing a look. I nod giving Cole the go ahead to yank the door open.

The metal creaks as he does and we push forward into the darkness. I hear Watson curse and another male voice I’m not familiar with. Cole pushes forward next to me as we crouch behind a stack of boxes. There’s a clatter that sounds like a metal table falling over and hitting the concrete floor.

“Get off of me!” Kadence’s voice echoes against the bare walls and every hair on my body stands to attention. The grip I have on the shotgun tightens as I glance back to Cole checking if he’s ready. He nods once and that’s all I need to move out from behind the boxes with Cole on my heels.

“I was wondering when you might show up,” Watson seethes, training his gun toward my chest.

I ignore him, my eyes are glued to Kadence. Those big green eyes stare back at me, glossy from tears that I know she’s refusing to shed. Movement behind her catches my eye as the man I recognize from the news junket appears, his hand tangling into her hair and ripping her head back while the other hand moves a knife to her neck. He presses it just enough that her skin indents from the pressure. Anger like I’ve never felt before courses through my veins as I try to keep control for as long as I can. For her.

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