Golden Trail

by Ashley, Kristen

  They moved then and shot to the door.

  The minute it closed behind them, Gabrielle turned to him. “Jas –?” she started.

  Layne shook his head and cut her off. “Boys are good.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out the envelope and handed it to her.

  She took it, bent her head to it, opened the flap and, even with her head bent, Layne saw her mouth drop open.

  Then her head shot back, her eyes bright and hopeful. “What?”

  Fuck. She thought he was bailing her out.

  “That’s not from me,” Layne told her, the hope died and she looked confused and wary. “It’s from Stew. He’s gone. You go home tonight, he’s left a pair of tighty whiteys, I wanna know.”

  Her face started getting red before she snapped, “What’d you do?”

  He gave it to her straight and didn’t waste time.

  “Stew’s an enforcer for a guy called Carlito. He doesn’t owe him shit, he works for him and gets paid big. He’s been playin’ you, Gabby, but he’s not playin’ you anymore.”

  Her torso jerked back.

  “That’s… that’s impossible,” she stated but he knew by the look on her face, her anger dying, understanding dawning, she knew that was a lie.

  “Well then, I watched his twin beat the shit outta some guy last night while I was takin’ pictures. Then I watched him celebrate with a chick he keeps at the trailer park on the southwest of town.”

  Layne watched the blood drain out of her face and she was a bitch and he didn’t much like her but she was the mother of his sons and he fucking hated doing this to her. But he had to; she’d given him no choice.

  “He’s bad news, Gabby,” Layne went on. “We don’t need our boys around that and I don’t need my boys’ Mom around that. You deserve better. So I made it so he did right by you with that money,” he tipped his head to the envelope, “and now he’s gone.”

  She stared at him and then her hand clenched the envelope. “Tanner –”

  He shook his head and interrupted her again. “We don’t need to process this. It’s done. The boys stay with me this week and you go stay with Brandy. The whole week. You put two K of that in your account and you use that, your pay and what I pay you to take care of your bills. When you buy groceries or anything else that takes cash, you use that money. You put no more than two K of that in your account, Gabrielle. The rest of that money stays under the radar. Are you clear on all that?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “I’ll keep an eye on your house and get a quiet word out to the boys to do the same. Jas will be checkin’ in with you regular. You got problems, you say, ‘I’m fine, honey, everything is just fine,’ and he’ll know it’s not and he’ll know to get in touch with me.” At these words, her face went completely white but Layne kept on. “You wanna say you’re okay, you use other words, not those. Can you remember that?”

  “Are the boys in danger?” she asked.

  “No,” Layne answered.

  “Am I?”

  “No,” Layne repeated. “That doesn’t mean we aren’t gonna move forward smart.”

  Some color came back into her face and her eyes started to get squinty. “Did you bring Jasper into this?”

  “Yeah, I did. He’s seventeen, he’s fuckin’ smart and he doesn’t like his Mom gettin’ walked on. I didn’t take care of this shit, there would come a time when he’d feel the need to step in. I stepped in before that time came. And if you think Tripp doesn’t know somethin’s goin’ down, you’re wrong. He’s as smart as Jasper and just as worried about his Mom.”

  She pressed her lips together and couldn’t hold his eyes so hers went to the floor.

  “I need to know you’re clear on all this before I go, Gabrielle,” Layne prompted and she forced her eyes to his before she nodded.

  “Good, you go home tonight, check things out then get your ass to Brandy’s. And find time next week to change the locks,” Layne finished and turned to leave.

  “Tanner,” she called, Layne turned back, bracing because he knew she was going to hit him with it and he froze when he saw standing across the room a Gabrielle Weil Layne had never seen before in his life.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered and, fuck him, he knew she was about to cry.

  Shit.

  He’d never seen her cry except tears of being extremely pissed off.

  He turned to face her but didn’t walk back into the room.

  “You fucked up,” he said gently. “I fucked up so I know it doesn’t feel good when you figure out you did it. But it’s done, it’s over. Now you move on.”

  She blinked her eyes rapidly and he knew she was struggling against the tears.

  Fucking shit.

  “Gabby,” he called and she blinked again but kept her eyes open and nodded. “We didn’t have a lot of good times but when you forgot to be pissed off at me and the world, you could be funny. You’ve never been sweet, but, fuck, woman, you could be funny. When you took care of yourself, there was a lot to look at and all of it was good.” He watched her mouth slowly open and she stared at him. “You look around you and see you got a good job, a nice home and two great boys, all of which you worked hard at and created all on your own, you might realize that you’ve got a better than average life and you built that all by yourself. You learn to be funny again and spend time takin’ care of yourself rather than takin’ care of some asshole who doesn’t deserve your time, you don’t wanna be lonely, you won’t be and you’ll be spendin’ your time with someone who’s worth havin’ it.” She kept staring at him and Layne finished, “And, Gabby, when you forget to be pissed off and act like a bitch, your time is worth havin’.”

  With that, he left her staring after him and walked out of the room, through the store and to his truck. He folded in and drove to her house, idling in the alley out back and waiting until he saw Stew come out with a box full of shit.

  Then he pulled out his cell and called Jasper.

  He watched Stew walk back into the house and got Jasper’s voicemail. “Minute you get this, Bud, you call me. It’s all good but we gotta brief.”

  He flipped his phone shut, sat in his truck and waited until he saw Stew come out with an overstuffed, beat up workout bag that had to be his. Gabby might not be rolling in it or working out herself but she kitted the boys out better than that. Then, when Stew re-entered the back gate, Layne put the Suburban into first and drove down the alley. Then he drove home.

  He rolled down his street to see both the Mercedes and the Calais at the curb in front of his house along with his mother’s rental car.

  He was sitting waiting for the garage door to slide up when he saw the door to the utility room open and Rocky stood there. Seeing her, he had added evidence she’d been to her apartment because now she was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved, green tee that had a high neckline that was wide and showed some skin at her shoulders. She also had her hair in what he knew was a clip because a spray of it could be seen at the top of her head. He also knew she was seriously pissed about something. He knew this because her arms were crossed on her chest, her hip was hitched, one foot was out, she was tapping her toe and she was wearing a face like thunder.

  Fuck.

  He pulled in and she watched him until he switched off the ignition. She was standing at his door when he cleared the car.

  He’d barely slammed it when she announced, “I’m going to kill Adrian Cosgrove.”

  Oh shit. That was not what he was expecting to hear.

  It was worse.

  “Why?” Layne asked.

  “You’ll see,” she shot back, turned on her bare foot and stomped into the house.

  Layne followed, looking at his boots and contemplating vacation spots.

  He hit the kitchen, took one look at Paige Cosgrove sitting at a stool at his island, her left eye blue and nearly swollen shut, her lower left lip split and he froze, keeping his body still in an effort to control the burning rage that suddenly engulfed hi
s system.

  Then he barked, “Where’s your boy?”

  She started and he knew he should have gentled his tone but he didn’t have it in him.

  Paige pulled in a breath and whispered, “Swimming with the team.”

  “Cosgrove?” Layne asked.

  She shook her head. “Don’t know, he… after…” Her eyes went to the island and she whispered, “He took off.”

  “Seth look like you?” Layne demanded to know.

  “No, I… he’d already planned to spend the night at his friend Jamie’s.”

  Layne yanked his phone out of back pocket, tossed it to Dev who was standing beside the island next to Vera, who was sitting close to Paige, and he ordered, “Call Jas. Tell him to get his, Tripp’s and Seth’s asses home immediately.” Then he looked at Rocky and growled, “Upstairs.”

  He prowled by her and felt her hot on his heels as he took the stairs two at a time and she ran up them. He went directly to his room but stopped at the door, his hand on it, and when she cleared it, he slammed it behind her.

  She turned to him, he saw her anger was gone, at that point she was all about controlling his and he knew this because she said immediately, “Breathe, Layne.”

  “I’m breathin’,” he bit out.

  “No, sweetheart, you’re spitting fire.” She walked up to him and placed her hands on his chest. “Breathe, baby.”

  Layne stared down at her and sucked in breath. The fire inside died down but didn’t go out.

  “I see I should have warned you,” she whispered.

  Shit yeah, she should have warned him.

  “Talk to me,” he ordered.

  “This isn’t the first time, for her or, last night, for Seth.”

  “No shit?” Layne asked with biting sarcasm, he knew what kind of man Cosgrove was, and he watched Rocky flinch and take a step back, her hands falling away from his chest. “Not pissed at you, Rocky,” he told her.

  “I know,” she said quietly and watched him closely.

  “What’s she doin’ here?”

  “Her family’s from Valparaiso. She’s got friends but she doesn’t want…” Rocky trailed off and then said, “I think she thinks you’ll make her and Seth safe.”

  “She give you a reason she didn’t go to the cops?” he asked.

  “She did, she called last night after he left. I called Merry after she told her story. Merry says they’re looking for him but, until they find him, there’s nothing they can do.”

  That was what sucked about being a cop and it was precisely the reason Layne wasn’t one anymore. He could play by the rules but he wasn’t a big fan of doing it with his hands tied. There were too many times when good people were in trouble, you wanted to help and you could but most the time you couldn’t do all you needed to do because you didn’t have the resources.

  “Layne,” Rocky called and he focused on her. “She said it was worse last night than normal.”

  “Yeah,” Layne returned. “You know how you know that, baby?” he asked and she shook her head, he knew by the expression on her face she didn’t want to know but she was going to listen all the same. “Man like Cosgrove doesn’t make his marks seen. He’s got a place in this community and that’d fuck with his cred, people knowin’ he’s a fuckin’ asshole rather than just suspecting it and talkin’ behind his back. So he does it invisible. Last night, he lost control, made it visible. That’s how you know it was worse.”

  “Okay, Layne,” she whispered then her head tipped to the side. “Are you going to help?”

  “What do you think?” he asked and he saw her mouth twitch.

  “I think you’re going to help,” she answered.

  “Fuck,” he muttered, turned, opened the door, walked out of the room and down the stairs, Rocky again right at his heels.

  “Phone,” he growled at Devin who threw his cell to him immediately, Layne caught it and flipped it open as he avoided the eyes on him.

  “Your boy’s on his way home,” Devin informed him.

  Layne nodded as he scrolled down, found the number and hit go.

  He put a hand on his hip, his eyes to his boots, his phone to his ear and he listened to it ring.

  Cal answered on the third ring. “Yo.”

  “You sell your house yet?” Layne asked.

  “Nope,” Cal answered, his voice no longer casual but alert.

  “It furnished?” Layne went on.

  “Nope,” Cal repeated.

  “Utilities on? Security system installed?”

  “Yeah and yeah. What’s up?”

  “Paige and Seth Cosgrove need a place to stay.”

  Silence then a mumbled, “Fuck.”

  “Right,” Layne confirmed what he knew Cal knew. “Feel like new neighbors?” he asked.

  “Send ‘em over,” Cal replied immediately.

  “Need you to keep an eye –” Layne started.

  “Done,” Cal stated before Layne could finish.

  “Brief Colt,” Layne told him.

  “Done,” Cal repeated.

  “Activate Vi, Feb and their posse. They need beds and shit until they get sorted.”

  “Got it.”

  “Cosgrove’s got a warrant out on him,” Layne explained.

  “She went to the cops?” Cal asked.

  “Yep.”

  “Good,” Cal muttered then asked, “her or her boy?”

  “Her, last night, both otherwise.”

  “Fuckin’ dick,” Cal clipped.

  “I’ll wait until Seth gets here and then I’m bringing them over myself.”

  “We’re home,” Cal returned.

  “Thanks, man,” Layne murmured.

  “You didn’t provoke this, Tanner, you know that, yeah? Dick just has it in him.” Cal stated.

  “I know it,” Layne replied.

  “Get them over here,” Cal finished.

  “Later,” Layne said.

  “Later.”

  Layne flipped his phone closed and looked into the room to see he was right, all eyes were on him.

  He looked at Paige. “Until we know you and Seth are safe, you’re movin’ in next door to Joe Callahan.”

  She nodded.

  “Cal and Colt’ll keep an eye on you,” Layne continued.

  She kept nodding.

  “You see Cosgrove, you call the cops first, me second,” Layne went on.

  Paige was still nodding.

  “Has Doc seen you?” he asked.

  “Paramedics checked me out last night.”

  This time, Layne nodded before he kept going. “Seth see you like that?”

  Paige looked away.

  “Eyes on me, Paige,” Layne ordered gently and her eyes slowly moved back to him. “This time, has he seen you this time?”

  “No,” she whispered.

  “I’ll talk to him before he walks in here,” Layne told her.

  Tears filled her eyes and started falling down her cheeks before she whispered, “Thank you, Tanner.”

  Vera moved in on one side, sliding an arm around her waist and Rocky moved in on Paige’s other side, wrapping both arms around her shoulders. The women’s heads bent to her and Paige pressed her cheek against Rocky’s breastbone as Vera clucked softly in Paige’s ear and Paige kept silently crying.

  Layne’s eyes went to Devin who was looking at the women, his mouth tight, his eyes hard and glittering. He felt Layne’s eyes on him; Layne jerked his head to the door and then moved to it, Devin following. He waited until they were both in the garage, the garage door still open, before he spoke.

  “You feel like multitasking?” Layne asked.

  “You want a busted lip for askin’ a stupid question?” Dev answered.

  Layne smiled. Devin would get the goods on Coach Adrian Cosgrove. Even if Paige pressed charges, if he did any time at all, it wouldn’t be much. She needed leverage and Devin would get it for her.

  Layne got close and his voice got quiet. “Even if you have to make shit up.”r />
  Devin grinned. “I like playin’ dirty.”

  It was then they heard the grumbling roar of the Charger and they turned to watch Jasper pull into the garage. Then they watched the boys pile out of the car. Layne kept his eyes on Seth and Seth didn’t peel his from Layne. He knew what was happening. Layne didn’t have to say a word to Seth Cosgrove about what he’d find inside Layne’s house.

  But he had to warn his boys.

  “What’s up, Dad?” Tripp asked as they got close and Layne tore his eyes from Seth and looked at his youngest son then at his oldest then back to Tripp.

  “You’re gonna walk into the kitchen and see shit and hear shit and everything you see and hear stays in that house. You don’t talk to friends about it, you don’t pray to God about it, you keep your mouth shut. Get me, Pal?”

  Tripp stared at him and nodded.

  Layne kept talking. “It’s not gonna be pretty but you play it cool when you get in there. Be smart and be yourself, except, like I said, cool.” He smiled at his son to take the bite out of his words and Tripp smiled back, it was small, it didn’t reach his eyes but he smiled.

  Layne’s eyes went to Seth. “You know?”

  Seth nodded, face pale, jaw tight then he hissed, “Fuck! I shoulda gone home.”

  “Put it away, son,” Devin said firmly. “Ain’t no goin’ back, only movin’ forward. You learn that, you learn it fast and you learn it now. What’s done is done. Now you go in there and see to your mother.”

  Seth had no idea who Devin was but he still nodded to him before he looked at the door to the utility room and closed his eyes. Layne hoped he’d beat it back but he knew the kid was struggling. He was nearly a man but this shit wore you down. Layne wouldn’t be surprised at tears and he hoped his sons would get it that their friend wasn’t weak, he was just powerless.

  But Seth beat it back, opened his eyes and walked straight to and through the door.

  Jasper moved to follow but Layne put a hand on his chest and looked to Tripp.

  “Get your Grandma to make everyone lunch,” he ordered, Tripp nodded and then hurried after Seth.

  Devin gave Layne and Jasper a look before he followed Tripp.

  Layne took his hand out of Jasper’s chest and said, “We gotta be quick and you gotta get down everything I say.” Jasper nodded and Layne laid it out for him, what happened with Stew, what the gig was with Gabby and what his role was with Seth. “You get that?” he asked when he was done.