Forever Devoted

by Kathleen Brooks

  “Good luck with that,” Annie called out, causing Miles to stop in his tracks.

  “What do you mean by that?” he asked.

  “She’s your daughter. You know better than anyone she won’t leave the man she loves to go hide.”

  “No one said anything about love,” Miles ground out between a clenched jaw.

  “Would you rather it be casual sex?” Annie smirked.

  “Sweetheart,” Cade said with a warning to his voice, “don’t provoke him right now.”

  Annie rolled her eyes.

  “You know she’s right.” Walker turned to find Layne standing in the doorway. “I’m not leaving. So what’s the plan?”

  The phone rang in Cade’s hand. The quiet vibration seemed as loud as a highest volume ring tone.

  “Answer it,” Miles demanded. Walker took the phone from Cade and put it on speaker.

  “What’s the status?” Walker heard Jud ask.

  “One dead, unfortunately for you, it’s not me.”

  “Walker,” Jud cursed. “I should be impressed. Instead you’re turning out to be a huge pain in the ass.”

  “I’ll try to be a little more cooperative the next time you try to kill me.”

  Jud chuckled. “I’ll do that. But you’re such a coward you’ll probably be gone before I make it to you. Always running away, aren’t you?”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Jud. Come and get me.”

  “Oh, I’ll get you. But if you run or try to tell anyone what’s happening, I’ll kill the girl. Layne is her name. Cute little doctor, isn’t she? Why, Walker, are you injured?” Jud asked full of fake concern.

  “Was it worth it, Jud? Was it worth killing your brothers for money?”

  Jud just laughed. “Damn right it was. I’m coming, Walker. And remember, a word about this to anyone, and Layne won’t be the only woman in your life meeting her end.”

  The line went dead and Walker felt the anger pumping his adrenaline. “I have to get to Shadows Landing,” Walker said, trying to push his way out of the room. But two iron strong arms stopped him. “Let me go, sir.”

  “I’m assuming he’s talking about your sister. If you go to her now, you’ll be walking right into a trap. You want him to come to you. You have us here as your backup. You have an entire town of capable people to help you. There will be no surprise attack. But if you go firing off to South Carolina . . .”

  Dammit. He was right. Walker would be running head first into an ambush. No matter how it killed him, he had to wait for Jud to come to him.

  “I think it’s time to call your sister,” Layne said quietly as she slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze. “Maybe the Faulkners can help.”

  Walker nodded as he took Layne’s cell phone and dialed his sister’s number. No answer. He called Gavin’s next.

  “Hello?”

  “It’s Walker. Jud knows where I am. Is Edie safe?”

  “Yeah. She’s staying at Tinsley’s. Why?”

  “Jud threatened her, and she’s not answering her cell phone.”

  “Hold on,” Gavin said as Miles instructed him to put the call on speaker. Walker did and the sound of a ringing phone could be heard. “I’m conferencing Tinsley in.”

  “Gav, help me,” came the raspy voice of Tinsley.

  “I’m on my way!” Gavin yelled as they all heard him grabbing things from the house and running to the garage. They heard the car start as Gavin talked to Tinsley. “Are you safe?”

  “I think so. A man broke in. I’m hurt,” Tinsley said, her voice filled with pain.

  “What about Edie?” Walker asked.

  “Walker?”

  “Yes, Tins, it’s me.”

  Tinsley began to cry. “I’m so sorry. They took her.”

  17

  Layne wanted to comfort Walker, but the look of pure rage, murder, and pain in his eyes told her not to. Instead, she grabbed the phone from him and began to talk to Tinsley getting information about the man who hurt her and took Edie.

  “Who are you?” Tinsley asked with short shallow breaths after describing Jud.

  “I’m your cousin, Layne Davies. And my cousins, parents, aunts, and uncles are all here. We’re staying on the line until we know you’re safe.”

  Tinsley’s breathing hitched and Layne looked around the room and noticed that her father, Ahmed, and Walker had disappeared. “I guess Harper will be mad to know she was wrong about the Davies side of the family. You seem nice after all.”

  “I’m almost there, Tins,” Gavin said, concentrating on driving. “Where are you?”

  “In my bedroom,” Tinsley said before growing quiet. The only sound was the harsh breathing. “He kicked me in my ribs. I think they’re broken. I can’t breathe.”

  “I’m here,” Gavin said as the room full of unknown relatives listened in Kentucky. Gavin hung up but through Tinsley’s phone she heard him running toward her.

  “Jesus Christ.” They heard Gavin mutter. “I’m taking you to the hospital in Charleston. Do me a favor, Layne.”

  “Anything,” Layne answered.

  “Kill this son of a bitch.”

  “Consider it done. No one hurts our family,” Cy said in a deadly tone Layne had never heard before.

  The line went dead and Layne looked around for Walker. She pushed her way through the group as the police and the coroner arrived. Fluffy Puppy was blinking his eyes open on the couch as Wyatt and his mother, Katelyn, took care of him. Relief was short-lived when she didn’t see either her father or Walker in the living room. Her mother pointed out the garage door and Layne pushed the door open.

  “We need to get the two of you someplace more secure,” her father said.

  “They can stay at the farm. Mo and Dani will let them stay in the house or there are smaller houses on the property. No one from out of town would think to look for them there. Plus, we have the whole security force there,” Ahmed explained.

  “If there is an empty house, that would be best. I’m already thankful for their royal highnesses’ help, but I wouldn’t want to put them in direct danger.” Walker looked at the map Ahmed had pulled up on his phone. “Now we just need a plan to draw Jud in.”

  Layne shut the door quietly and headed back to the living room. Aunt Annie had said Layne loved Walker. As she took a seat on the couch and held a very sleepy FP, she thought about the feelings she had for Walker. She had just killed a man to protect him. That probably was love in Annie’s book. Layne looked to where Walker, her father, and Ahmed were walking back into the house. His eyes instantly searched her out, and her whole body relaxed the second their eyes connected. Love was definitely a strong possibility.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, quietly standing next to the couch where she was seated. He reached down and softly stroked FP’s head. The little dog pressed his head into Walker’s hand and licked.

  “Gavin is taking Tinsley to the hospital in Charleston. It was Jud who took Edie.”

  Walker’s other hand moved to her shoulder as he leaned closer to her. “I figured that. I need to think of a plan to stop him. I wonder how long he’s going to give me to constantly look over my shoulder.”

  “You don’t think he’ll come tonight?”

  “No. I think he’ll make me wait. He wants me worry about Edie. He’ll want to make me jump at every shadow until he tries to strike. And on that note, we’re moving to the royal farm.”

  Layne smiled as she placed her hand over his. “Desert Sun Farm. And no one calls them royalty. It’s just Dani and Mo. Their son Zain and his wife, Mila, will be back soon. Their other son, Gabe, and his new wife, Sloane, are on their honeymoon. Now, what can I do to help?”

  “Pack whatever you need. We’ll leave here as soon as you give your statement to Matt, which consequently can’t mention my name. He and Ryan aren’t going to input anything into the system until later. We don’t want any news outlets to get hold of this,” Walker said.

  * * *

  Walker talked w
ith each uncle and discovered Annie and Bridget had extensive law enforcement and military backgrounds. He watched Layne talk to Matt and FP cuddle with Miles. Walker had already thrown all his borrowed clothes into a small duffle bag and was ready to go.

  “Borrow a truck from the farm and come over to my house,” Annie Davies said. “My son, Colton, is a fireman. He’s not nearly as big as you, so I can’t offer you clothing. However, I think I have something you’ll like even better than clothes in my special little room.” Annie winked and Walker blinked. Um, he didn’t really know what to think. What was in the special little room? “Just ask anyone, they’ll tell you how to get to my house. See you tomorrow, say eleven in the morning.” Annie wasn’t asking.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Walker said, clearing his throat and wondering if he could get Layne to come with him.

  The little aunt came up to him next. She looked him up and down and then used both hands to try to encircle his biceps. “My, you’re even bigger than my son,” she smiled up, way up, at him. She was a tiny little thing with the beginning of a baby bump even though she had a little gray in her hair. “My son’s clothes are a little tight but will do for now. I’ll drop some more off with you tomorrow. I’ve never seen anyone larger than Dylan,” she said, patting his arm. The mention of her son’s name reminded him she was Layne’s Aunt Tammy.

  “Oh, we all know about how large Walker is.” The old lady he thought was named Lily Rae winked.

  “Don’t forget these!” the taller, wiry, white-haired one called out.

  The box of condoms went flying through the air as Walker reached up and snagged it before shoving it into his duffle bag.

  “It’s a pity he was dressed. Morgan said she got to see the full package,” the plumper woman said before shrugging. “Oh well, I guess I’ll have to settle for a hug. Come here, young man, and give Miss Violet a hug.”

  Miss Violet was deceptively strong. Walker had been pulled down so quickly he’d almost dropped to his knees as the old woman smothered him with her bosom. “Violet,” he heard someone say from far away. Or maybe it was one of her sisters standing next to him, but right now he was just glad he’d survived enhanced interrogation techniques and could hold his breath for a very long time.

  Finally he was released and the woman smiled at him gleefully. “I’m Violet, and this is my sister Lily and my other sister Daisy. You come see us at the Blossom Café and we’ll get some meat on those bones.”

  Walker looked down at the tight T-shirt and then back at the ladies. “Thanks. I have lost some weight.”

  “Thank you, Miss Violet. I’m sure we’ll see you there,” Layne said as she smiled at them. “I’m meeting my grandmother there for lunch tomorrow, so maybe Walker can stop by as well.”

  Walker said goodbye to the old ladies and turned a questioning look to Layne. “The Rose sisters?”

  “You got it. Are you ready to go?”

  Walker looked around and saw the house starting to clear out. Ryan and Matt were still dealing with the crime scene, but everyone else was now waiting outside.

  Walker picked up Layne’s bags as she carried FP in her arms. They said goodbye to her family and started the short drive to the farm. She drove past a huge white house and then a smaller, federal-style house. Layne informed Walker that was where Zain and Mila lived.

  “Here it is,” Layne said at another small house. “Nabi, the head of security, used to live here before he got married.”

  “Is it close to the security center?”

  “Yup, it’s right over there.” Layne pointed to a building with two cars parked in front. It appeared to be a barn. But after Ahmed told him about security on the farm, he knew otherwise.

  Now he needed a plan. A plan to capture Jud, expose his crimes, and free his sister. He looked at Layne and almost sighed out loud. Unfortunately, getting the girl of your dreams didn’t fit into that plan.

  * * *

  The gym at Desert Sun Farm was beyond state-of-the-art. Though to be fair, SEALs didn’t usually train on state-of-the-art equipment. It was more like load eighty pounds on their backs and run for ten miles.

  Layne worked with him all morning as he stretched and strengthened his leg. Ahmed, Nash, Cade, and Miles came in to work out. “Don’t even think about it,” Layne warned him as she finished rubbing out his leg.

  “What?” Walker asked innocently as if he weren’t thinking of joining the men who were strapping on boxing gloves.

  Layne stood up and shook her head. “You’re not going to listen to me, are you?”

  “I guess it’s a good thing I fired you from being my doctor.” He winked, but that only reminded him last night had been interrupted—twice. And he’d ended up sleeping with Layne, only not in the way he really wanted to. He pushed down his disappointment. He needed to focus on healing, not his sexy former doctor.

  Ahmed and Miles faced off, and Cade and Nash hit the bags. “Hey, how old is your dad?”

  “Sixty-five, why?” Layne asked as Miles hit Ahmed with enough force to send the man’s head snapping back.

  “He’s in better shape than some of the men I work out with.” Walker smiled as Ahmed landed a jab onto Miles’s chin. Ah, if only it were Walker giving him payback.

  “Come on, kid. Let’s see what you can do without a girl protecting you,” Cade taunted.

  Walker looked at Layne who shook her head. “He had to go there,” she muttered. “Go get him,” she said, giving in. Walker leaned down and kissed her cheek before a boxing glove pelted the side of his head.

  “Dad!” Layne yelled as she hurled the glove back at her dad. “I have to meet my grandmother at the café, so knock my uncle out quickly.”

  Walker grinned and strapped on the gloves. Now this was going to be fun.

  18

  “I heard you knocked my husband out,” Annie said as she greeted Walker at the door.

  “I sure did. Hope you’re not mad, ma’am.” Walker grinned as Annie returned the smile.

  “Not at all. If he mentions Nash is the biggest badass one more time, I’m going to knock him out myself. Now, come and see my special toys.”

  “Shouldn’t we wait for your husband?” Walker asked, suddenly a little nervous. What was she talking about? Because whatever her special room with special toys was, it was causing a twinkle in her eye that made Walker a little nervous. Annie was very attractive and would be considered a cougar, if he were into that.

  “Nah, he’ll be pouting.”

  Walker gulped and followed the redhead to an office. Okay, everything looked normal. Well, that is until Annie pushed a hidden button and the wall opened. Walker’s jaw dropped. “Will you marry me?”

  Annie laughed as she walked inside the armory. “I think you want to ask someone else that question. However, I’ll offer you an early wedding present.”

  Walker didn’t get the panicky feeling in his chest at the mention of marriage. Instead, he smiled to himself as Annie handed him a gun.

  “All I ask is you get married on January 30th—a winter wonderland wedding. Deal?”

  “And for that I get the gun?”

  “For that, you get three. I also notice you’re not telling me no.”

  Walker was like a kid in the candy store as he took in the walls of mounted guns and rifles. “Funny, I noticed the same thing.”

  “Strange when that happens, isn’t it? Sophie and Nash, Cade and me . . . when it happens, you just know. Why fight it? Now, look at this sexy thing,” she said, handing him a sniper rifle.

  * * *

  Layne was driving to the Blossom Café, the only restaurant in town and gossip central, when her phone rang. She recognized the number immediately.

  “Gavin, how is Tinsley?” Layne asked, not bothering to say hello.

  “Four broken ribs, a black eye, and a broken nose. She fought, but she was no match for a SEAL. She said Edie fought as well, but Jud just tased her and carried her out when she became too much for him.”

  Lay
ne felt tears forming for women she’d never met.

  Gavin let out a deep breath. “I also stopped to talk to my grandfather and great-uncle. They told me Great-Grammy was the one who told them Marcy didn’t want anything to do with them. She always distracted them when they wanted to call and told them not to bother since Marcy wouldn’t accept the calls.”

  “That’s not true!” Layne hollered as she slammed her foot on the brake and pulled into a parking spot on Main Street.

  “I know that now. My grandfather said he remembers his wife telling him Great-Grammy was mad Marcy had left them because it was her job to take care of them when they got older. The sons fought the wars and earned the money. The daughters did what the parents ordered. My grandmother apparently had issues with Great-Grammy’s demanding ways. She wanted to be waited on in her older age and regularly berated my grandmother for not being at her beck and call.”

  “Grandma Marcy would have taken care of them,” Layne said, heartbroken. “She cared for Great-Grandma Helen until the day she died.”

  “It doesn’t make sense to me either, but my grandfather and great-uncle can’t wait to hear from their sister.” Gavin’s response turned things back to pleasant.

  “I’m meeting her now and will tell her. And please tell Tinsley we’re all thinking of her. She was very brave to fight back.”

  “I will. Talk to you soon, Layne.”

  Layne hung up and hurried into the Blossom Café. The Rose sisters had run the café until their much younger distant cousins, Zinnia and Poppy Meadows, moved from Alabama to run the café and bed and breakfast for the centennial sisters. However, that meant the Rose sisters could hold court in the café every day now.

  Layne walked in and found the sisters at their table and her mother and grandmother sitting at a nearby table, waiting. Zinnia was cooking, and Poppy was talking to DeAndre and Aniyah at another table.

  “You know bets are confidential on the app,” Layne heard Poppy lecture Aniyah.