Layne's Capture (Blazing Outlaws MC, #6), page 3
Venom shared with me what she said about the note she received yesterday. How her baby sister Sophia was killed in a house fire. From what he could gather, her entire family was killed in the fire. The only reason she’s still here is because she wanted to go to a friend’s house and begged and pleaded even though she was grounded. Eventually, her parents gave in and let her go. I’m not sure what caused the fire, but we’ll find out. Torch is the last person I want to have digging up her past to find out what’s going on, but I will if she won’t talk. We need to know every single detail of her past to find out if this is strictly about the club or if it has more to do with Layne herself.
“I’ve got water and Gatorade in here for you. Axel also picked up some cough drops because the doctor said they’ll help your throat. Or we can get ready and go get some breakfast,” I tell her, not sure what she’s going to want to do after yesterday.
“Well, I don’t have any clothes, so I think going out is out of the question,” she answers, a small smile on her face as she tries to remove her arm from my body.
For some reason I stop her. Layne is perfectly fine exactly where she is; on my chest and partially draped over my body. This is where I want her to remain for the time being. I’m not sure why I’m thinking this, but I am and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
“Mornin’,” Venom says, his voice laced with sleep, and he rolls over to his back. “Ax got you clothes last night and they’re waitin’ for you to go through.”
“Oh. Well, whatever you guys want to do is fine with me,” she says, pushing up off me in order to get out of bed. “Do you mind if I take another shower? I still smell smoke and don’t want it clinging to me the rest of the day.”
“Do what you gotta do, sweetheart. Is there anythin’ else you need to do?” I question her, as she stands wearing my shirt and boxers.
“I need to go to the courthouse, the police station, and see if anything is salvageable from my office. I’ve still got cases to go over and handle for the clients I told them I’d take on their cases. Especially Grinder’s. His case is going in front of the judge in two days, and I’ve lost everything I had for it. I’ll have to get my car too so I can make the trips. Plus I’ll have to call the insurance company, the fire department, and whoever else is needed to get reports so I can file a claim on the fire. If they’ll even let it go through.”
Layne breaks. Tears start falling down her face as she closes her eyes and buries her face in her hands while remaining standing at the end of my bed. Venom and I look at one another because neither one of us can handle a woman crying and upset for any reason. Just because I don’t want to settle down and have an ol’ lady of my own doesn’t mean I’m a heartless asshole who is going to stand by and do nothing as a woman is hurting and upset. I can offer comfort without having to be with a woman.
Layne takes off to get in the shower in the bathroom attached to my bedroom. Even with the door shut and the water running we can still hear her sobs as everything catches up to her. Venom and I look at one another before getting out of bed. Thankfully when I had my home built, I made sure more than one shower could be run at a time. I let Venom take a shower first because he was the one in the fire yesterday. Heading out to the living room, I take in Axel as he stands in the kitchen in just his jeans with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands.
“Mornin’,” I grumble out, getting a coffee cup so I can get my own cup of coffee.
“How are they doin’?” my brother asks me, his voice still filled with sleep.
“Okay, I guess. Layne just broke down and lost her shit. It’s to be expected. Before either one of us could move toward her, she went to the bathroom for a shower,” I answer him, taking the first sip of much needed caffeine. “Headin’ out to breakfast if you want to come with us.”
“Nah. I’m headin’ over to Brianna’s house. Gonna spend the mornin’ with her since she doesn’t have to go into the diner until later on today. I’ll be there this afternoon if you need anythin’.”
“What’s goin’ on between you and Charisma’s new employee, Romeo?” I question him, my voice filled with laughter even though it’s so damn early in the morning.
“I don’t know. She’s got some shit she’s dealin’ with. I’m not tryin’ to pry though.”
“You claimin’ her?” I question my brother knowing he wants a woman and family of his own.
“Can’t claim her when I’m nothin’ more than a Prospect, Gun. Besides, I’m not sure how long she’s gonna be here or what her plans are. We spend time together and I want her. Bri wants me too. I’m just not sure what she’s tryin’ to get over.”
“You’ll figure it out. When Venom is outta the shower, I’m jumpin’ in so the three of us can head out. I’ll see ya later at church?”
“Yeah. Gotta be there to stand outside church while you’re in there today.”
Axel finishes his cup of coffee and heads out after rinsing his cup out and getting his shirt and cut on. The roar of his bike starting sounds minutes later since I’m sure he called his woman to let her know he’s on his way over there. For Ax to want a single mom with two kids is not a surprise. He loves children and has wanted a family of his own for as long as I can remember. Dad is a great dad and he raised us up right. The main reason I don’t want an ol’ lady is because I’ve seen the toll being with a biker can take on a relationship. Some women resent the club and how much time we’re needed there depending on what’s going on. Other women can’t stand the house bunnies who are in the club offering up whatever a man needs. Still, some women can’t stand the runs we have to go on for the club that take us away from home for days on end. It’s just not something I want to deal with. Especially when I have all the pussy I’ll ever need at the clubhouse and other women crawling all over just to spend a night with a biker.
“Gunner, we need to talk,” Venom says as I walk out the bathroom to find him waiting in the hallway.
“Where’s Layne?” I question him as I run the towel through my hair to get the remaining water out of it.
“She’s still in the bathroom. Her shower is done and she’s dressing and brushin’ out her hair now. She’ll be a bit, I think. Layne’s strong as fuck but this is almost more than she can handle right now.”
“Okay. What do we need to talk about?”
“You need to figure out what the hell you want to do. I’m all in when it comes to her and want to see if I can make a go of things with Layne. We’ve talked about sharin’ a woman long-term, so I need to see where your heads at when it comes to her. You either need to be all in or you need to let me have this,” my best friend tells me, his voice soft and low so Layne can’t hear us talking if she happens to come out of the bathroom.
“Not sure what I want. You know how I feel about havin’ an ol’ lady. Bein’ with the two of us is fucked up for whoever would want to take us on. I’m an officer and you’re a full patch. We have to go out on runs and all the other shit. It’s worse with me since I’m Sergeant at Arms of the club. I’m out whenever there’s a problem goin’ on, and we need to handle it. Layne is someone who isn’t gonna take our shit and just roll with it,” I tell him, not wanting to go into a lot of detail because I’m honestly confused and not sure what I want.
“Well, you need to figure it out soon. We’re gonna have breakfast and then I’m gonna go with her for her runnin’ around. Before comin’ back here today I’ll stop and grab more clothes and make sure Layne has what she needs. If you don’t mind us crashin’ here with you still,” my best friend says, looking up at me.
“You guys are fine here. I wouldn’t have offered the place up if I didn’t want you here. When you guys are takin’ care of that shit, I’ll order more bedroom furniture for the house so we’re not all sharin’ one bed,” I tell him, not sure if I want to fill the other rooms with furniture because it actually felt right having Layne in bed with us.
Even if we weren’t fucking her, it still felt completely right and like she belonged in my bed. Between Venom and me. I’ve never once felt that way with another woman in my bed. They don’t come to my house. Ever.
“Okay. If that’ what you wanna do,” Venom says, disappointment filling him as Layne makes her way into the hallway.
“You guys ready? I’m sorry I took so long in the bathroom,” she says, keeping her eyes off us.
“We’re ready sweetheart,” I tell her, pulling my shirt over my chest and running to my room to grab the shit to fill my pockets with and slide my cut on over my shoulders.
Today is going to be long, exhausting, and I’m going to need to reflect on the shit filling up my days and now nights. Layne doesn’t have to do a damn thing to get under a man’s skin. It’s who she is and what she does. This woman has a ton of shit going on in her life without adding a man who doesn’t know what the fuck he wants in life. Fuck! I don’t want complications; I never have and never will.
We leave the house, Venom getting in Layne’s car with her in the driver’s seat. His cut is removed and laid carefully in the backseat since we don’t wear our cuts in cages. Straddling my bike, I wait for them to pull out of the driveway before following them and heading toward Charisma’s diner in town. At this point, I don’t even know if Layne has had a chance to get out in town and see what we have to offer. It might not be very much, but it’s home and there are still things we can do. Layne can have a good life here if it’s what she wants to do. We’ll talk to her about it eventually. Today is not the day for such heaviness. Not when she has to get everything for her cases and begin to rebuild her wardrobe and everything else.
For now, all we’re gonna worry about it helping her do what she’s gotta do before finding out what she wants to do with getting a house, her law practice, and everything else. I see a lot of damn caffeine and not a lot of sleep in our future. Anything to help Layne get shit taken care of and make sure she’s comfortable while staying here at my house.
Chapter Four
Layne
OVER THE LAST two days, I’ve barely slept as I got all the stuff needed for my cases again and sorted everything out for each case. My main priority is Grinder’s case because it’s the soonest one I’ll be showing up in court for. I’ve got statements from the men in the club who were on the ride with him the day he was arrested along with complaints about the officer who arrested him. Apparently, this isn’t the first time he’s arrested someone without any cause and planted evidence on the person he’s arresting. I’ve got copies of all the complaints against this asshole. He’s one of those men who believes the power he holds allows him to do whatever the fuck he wants without any consequences just because of who he is.
This officer has an extremely political family and uses his name to obtain what he wants without a worry about the lives he’s affecting or anything else as long as he does as he pleases. That’s not the way to live your life or get where you want to be in life. So, I’m making it my mission to take his ass down and make sure he loses his job and can no longer harass the people of Willow Creek more than he has since joining the force. Another thing I’ve learned is he moved here with the singular goal in mind to take down the Blazing Outlaws MC for his own personal reasons. I’m just not sure what those reasons are. Yet.
On top of preparing for court with Grinder, things are off at Gunner’s house. I’m not sure why, but I don’t feel as if he wants me there. The morning after the fire when I woke up sandwiched between the two men, I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on. Feelings assaulted me as the body heat of two men surrounded me and almost lulled me back into a deep sleep. Instead of letting sleep claim me, I took the time to study Venom and Gunner even more than I do when we’re all awake. In sleep both men look peaceful and don’t have the weight of the club and the world resting on their strong, muscular shoulders. I know they can handle the shit thrown their way in their personal lives and from the club.
As soon as we were all awake, something shifted in Gunner, and he almost became a different man. Even from the one who showed up at my house a few times. This Gunner is aloof and goes out of his way to make sure he avoids spending any time with me at all. Unless he’s making sure I eat, drink, and take care of myself that is. I’m still not feeling a hundred percent after inhaling so much damn smoke. Venom, on the other hand, can’t seem to spend enough time with me. Anywhere in the house I am, he’s there with me. Including just sitting at the table with me as I sort through shit and find what I need in order to defend my clients.
The two men took me to breakfast at Gunner’s cousin’s diner. We ate our breakfast with barely any conversation going on between the three of us. No one spoke other than to order our meals until Charisma came out to talk to the men for a few minutes. Yeah, she spoke to me as well, but we don’t really know one another and the way I looked at her in the beginning, insinuating Grinder wasn’t nice to her was wrong. Most of the men and women of the club don’t hang around if I’m at the clubhouse talking to Satan and Grinder about the case. While part of me is okay with it, a large part hurts to know I’ve alienated these people because I have to ask the hard as fuck questions no one wants to know. Questions the other attorneys will ask if given half a chance.
As soon as we were done eating, I wanted to leave. I practically jumped out of my seat and ran to the register to pay and make sure a tip was left for our waitress. Gunner and Venom weren’t happy about me paying for our meal, but that was the least of my concerns. My only goal was to get away from the diner, the family atmosphere, and get my ass to work. Work is my escape from reality. It takes all of my time and attention because I’m starting a new business. Now, I have to start from scratch because of the fire and some psychopath who’s after me for unknown reasons. Well, reasons which could have to do with the club or could have something to do with me. Being a defense attorney, I make enemies based on the outcomes of the trials I go to. If it’s not my client that’s pissed because I couldn’t get him or her off their charges, then it’s the family of the victim angry because I got the defendant off on their charges.
Venom rushed from the diner behind me and got in the driver’s seat of my car before I could. Gunner simply strode to his bike and watched me get in the passenger side without saying a word to either one of us. Honestly, I felt as if I’m coming between the two friends. They’re extremely close if the women at the clubhouse talking is anything to go by. These women have been between the two men sexually and it’s something I’ve thought about many times since the first time I heard the whispered conversations. I’ve never had sex with two men at once and it’s something I wouldn’t be opposed to trying. However, it’s also not something I have to worry about because these men can have any woman they want and I’m not even a blip on their radar.
“Your honor, there is no doubt in my mind my client was framed and the evidence from his arrest was planted on his motorcycle. There are numerous complaints against the arresting officer for planting evidence, aggression toward citizens in this community, and I have several statements from the men who were with Mr. Williams at the time of his arrest,” I state, standing in front of the table as Grinder remains sitting at the table.
“I’ve looked over the evidence you’ve submitted, and this is not the first time I’ve had these same complaints against this particular officer. The statements from the members of the club have also been taken into account. I don’t believe your client is guilty of any of the charges he was arrested for. As much as I’d like to put away a member of the Blazing Outlaws, this case isn’t going to be the one to do so,” Judge Watson tells me, sitting back in the large chair he sits in. “Mr. Williams, stay out of trouble and I don’t want to see you in my courtroom again. Is that understood?”
“Yes, your honor,” Grinder says, his voice just loud enough for the judge to hear him.
“Case dismissed.”
Applause, cheers, and whistles break out in the courtroom that’s filled with the members and ol’ ladies of the Blazing Outlaws MC. I advised against all of them showing up, but Satan turned my ass down flat. They show up to support anyone in their family when they’re in need. Going to court is no different for them than if they were all out somewhere and something amazing happened for one of the men or women. To them, it’s just another day and they’ll be here to make sure they know firsthand what’s going on with Grinder. Especially his wife as she sits front and center with her eyes glued to her husband.
The love I see shown between the men and women of the club is something I strive to find one day. These rough around the edges, gruff men look at their women as if they hung the moon and is the air they need to breathe. I’ve seen them interacting in the clubhouse and the love they feel for their women is more than evident in the small touches, the glances, and they don’t give a shit about who’s watching or around as they love their women. Again, it’s something I want to find in the worst way.
“Thank you, Layne. For everythin’,” Grinder states, his voice low as the men and women still celebrate me getting their family member off.
“I didn’t do anything any other lawyer wouldn’t have done for you,” I tell him, placing the papers for his case in my briefcase. “I’ll send Satan a bill for the hours I worked your case. You can let him know if you guys need me again, I’m here.”
“Nuh uh Layne. We’re havin’ a party at the clubhouse to celebrate you gettin’ me off on these bogus as fuck charges. You’re comin’,” Grinder states as if his word is law as he pulls me in for a quick hug.
