10. Layla

As my guys wrapped their heads around the unmarked police car beside us, I went to the window and rolled it down. "Hey, hot stuff," I called as Kadence got out of her car, "come here often?"

The strawberry blonde looked at me and rolled her pretty blue eyes. "I live here, dork. I was wondering when I would be seeing you."

"You can say no and continue living the life you've built," I replied. Kadence was an old, dear friend, and I wouldn't drag her into this life against her will, regardless of the agreements we made in high school.

"Once a Renegade, always a Renegade," Kadence replied. "Come in. I have beer, and I can order some pizza."

We followed her to her door, and she raised her eyebrows at my entourage but didn't comment as she unlocked her front door and stepped inside. Kadence's house was exactly as I imagined it would be. Soft, feminine, and cozy with a touch of steel. She had always been good at hiding her edges beneath lace.

I broke the ice with introductions: "Guys, this is Kadence Thorp, a detective with the Atlantic City Police Department and the fourth member of the Ruby Ring Renegades. K, these are my guys: Colton, Drew, Sean, Zach, and Tyler."

Kadence studied Sean. "I recognize the others, but you're new."

"Boston," I said under my breath.

Her eyes widened with recognition, and she started to laugh. "Of course. He's Boston. Clever girl. I knew you liked him more than you let on."

"Oh?" Sean said, eyes twinkling. "Kadence, you and I will have to chat sometime."

"I'm sorry. I'm still wrapping my head around this," Zach said. "You're a cop. She's a cop." He looked at me like I had missed that glaring fact.

"I know, Z," I laughed.

"So that's why you kept her identity so quiet," Drew said.

"Well, I didn't need it to get around that I had a plant in the department," I responded. "Not until I contacted Kadence again and found out if she was interested in being involved."

"Which I am," Kadence replied. "Help yourself to whatever you'd like from the fridge. I'll change and order pizza, and then we can get down to business."

Tyler went to the fridge and passed out the beer, and we sat at the dining room table to wait for her to come back out of her bedroom.

"Are you sure that you can still trust her?" Colton asked quietly.

"I am," I replied. "Kadence knew her future role when we devised this plan."

"Sure did," Kadence replied as she returned, grabbed a beer, and joined us. "Pizza will be here in twenty. Catch me up and tell me what I can do to help."

I explained everything going on with Anton and my dad's men and how we were now responsible for Autumn. "I need things with Anton and the trafficking ring finished sooner rather than later. I don't know what he's up to now, but with Autumn, I'm less inclined to wait for him to strike. Tommy and the others I will handle, but I was hoping you could help with Anton."

"I'll be honest; it would have been easier if you hadn't destroyed his warehouse. Now, we don't have a known location for his operation," Kadence replied thoughtfully.

"We have his shipment schedules, though," Tyler informed her. "That hasn't changed since we hit the warehouse."

"That's something, at least," Kadence agreed. "That won't be my only obstacle. Anton has his plants in the department. Some, I'm afraid, are above my head. Getting a sting operation going without tipping Anton off will be nearly impossible."

"So you can't help us?" Drew asked.

"I said nearly impossible, not completely," Kadence grinned. "But it might mean that you will need to have some chats with some people to grease the right palms and make it worth their while to work with you instead of Anton."

"Make me a list, and I'll take care of it," I promised. I had no problem making house calls for some crooked cops. I don't mind that they're crooked. I mind that they're in Anton's pocket and not mine.

"This won't be resolved overnight," Kadence warned. "It's going to take time to take Anton down. We will need concrete evidence that can't be swept under the rug. But we might be able to shut down his trafficking ring permanently. Do you know who his customers are?"

"We've been compiling a list," Tyler replied. "We watched the warehouse for a while and got photos of many of them. I've been going through them one by one and building files."

"Send the photos to me. It will be faster to run them through my databases. If I have Anton's client list, I can also start busting them. Once word gets around that his clients are compromised, people will be less willing to do business with him." Kadence grinned at me. "I always hated that little fuck. This will be fun."

"And you're sure you want to jump into this?" I asked. "You've built a model career, and I don't want you to risk destroying it unless you're sure."

Kadence waved her hand at me. "Please. This was the plan. I knew what I was getting into. Besides, my partner and I have been bored lately. This will give us something to do."

"Can you trust your partner?" Colton asked.

"Yeah. Mark is a good guy. I won't tell him I'm working for the Romano Syndicate, but I trust him," she assured us.

Colton nodded and slid the ring box across the table to me. I had almost forgotten the damn thing. I slid it to Kadence and grinned. "This is for you. Obviously, with your job, I understand if you can't wear it."

Kadence opened the box and stared at it for several seconds before raising her surprised eyes to me. "Is this thing real?"

"It is," I laughed.

She snapped the box shut and slid it back to me. "I can't accept it. That's too much." Even in school, Kadence was always resistant to accepting expensive gifts. Her family wasn't poor, but they didn't live luxuriously, and the ease with which the rest of us tossed money around made her uncomfortable.

I rolled my eyes and pushed it back to her. "No take backsies," I said firmly. "We all have one." I showed her the ring on my right hand.

Kadence sighed as she plucked the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger. "You're right. I won't be able to wear it on the job, but I'll keep it on me. Thank you."

Her doorbell rang, and Tyler and Drew jumped up to get the pizza before she could. As we ate, the guys peppered Kadence with questions about high school. The conversation eventually got around to my attempt to plan our prom, with Kadence cackling as she listed all the issues we had faced on the day of prom.

"Guess who I've been having regular breakfasts with?" I asked her, changing the subject.

"Who?"

"Scotty." I grinned as she blushed and squirmed in her seat. Now, the shoe was on the other foot.

"Oh, God. I see him occasionally. I still have trouble looking him in the eye after making a complete fool of myself," Kadence admitted.

"What's the deal with Scotty?" Sean asked.

"I had the worst crush on him," Kadence admitted. "It bordered on obsession; it was so bad."

"But isn't Scotty gay?" Zach asked.

"Yes. Something I didn't know until I threw myself at him one night, and he had to tell me," Kadence said, hiding her face in her hands. "I was mortified."

I snickered, catching her attention.

"You're a real bitch," Kadence said, glaring at me. "Thanks for bringing it up."

"You're welcome," I said sweetly. "Thanks for bringing up prom night."

"How are the girls? I haven't seen Monika since I joined the academy, and Brandi and I used to try to get together for dinner every few weeks, but eventually, as school finished and our careers took off, we didn't have the time."

"They're doing really good. Everyone is where we planned for them to be. It's nice to see our plans come together," I replied.

"We should have a girl's night!" Kadence suggested excitedly.

"No!" my men said together, causing Kadence to jump in surprise.

I laughed. "Don't mind them. We went to Scotty's for a girl's night when I brought Brandi and Monika in, and they may still be dealing with a little PTSD from that night. We got a little too tipsy, and Brandi may have thrown a champagne bottle at Anton, which caused Anton to send men to her office to kill her. It was a whole thing; now, anytime the three of us are going to be together, they get a little...worried."

"Yeah, and adding a fourth to the mix sounds terrifying," Colton said.

"Well, we wouldn't be able to go out anywhere because I can't be seen in public with you guys," Kadence stated. "So it would have to be an in-home evening."

"That we would be able to handle," Tyler conceded.

"So we'll need to set something up at my place. We'll smuggle you into the house in case anyone is watching. You could wear a disguise," I suggested.

"Let's not get too crazy," Kadence laughed. "Just a car to pick me up will be more than fine."

"Oh! I could arrange for us to get massages. Our nails. A professional spa experience from the comfort of my home." This was sounding better and better the more I thought about it. "Autumn would love it, too."

"How is parenthood?" Kadence asked.

"Exhausting," Drew deadpanned.

"Autumn can be challenging at times," I admitted. "She's a sassy little thing; the more comfortable she feels with us, the sassier she gets. She might even give Cordy a run for her money some days."

"No way!" Kadence exclaimed. "After dealing with all of you? I don't believe it."

"It's true," Tyler replied. "I've caught her sneaking nips of tequila when she thought nobody was watching. Not even Zach drove her to the bottle."

"I was a perfect angel growing up," Zach argued.

"No, you weren't," I replied. "Ok, we better get going," I said, standing. "We don't want anyone to notice our visit." I hugged Kadence tightly, and we held the hug for several minutes.

"I'm really glad that you're here," Kadence whispered. "I hated knowing that you were out there somewhere and I couldn't contact you. I had no way of knowing if you were even alive or not. When I saw in the paper that you were back in town, I almost blew my cover and stormed over there just to see for myself that you were ok. I was able to catch a glimpse of you at your dad's funeral, and that satisfied my need temporarily."

"You were there?" I asked, surprised.

"Of course I was. It helped that the force was ordered to show up out of respect, but I wouldn't have missed my best friend's dad's funeral. I'll always show up for you; it just might have to be from the shadows."

"Fucking same," I replied, hugging her tighter.

When we returned to the car, Tyler made sure I sat beside him. "I want to show you something," he said, grabbing his iPad from the hidden compartment behind the seat. He tapped on it a few times and then handed it to me. "I have been looking at properties where we could do a custom build, and then I came across this one and thought it had potential. It's also on ten acres of forest, so we could easily build in another location according to our specifications and still have somewhere to stay. This could become a guest house once the new place is built."

I scrolled through the pictures of the cutest cabin I had ever seen. Cabin wasn't quite the right word. This place was not small, but it still looked cozy in the pictures. The kitchen was modern, with cottagecore accents that didn't make the updates seem out of place. The living room was sunken in with a raised circular stone fireplace in the middle. There was plenty of space around it for camping in the living room. I could see the orgy by the fire in my mind.

It had a jacuzzi on the wrap-around deck with views of the nearby mountains. The bedroom was huge with a plush carpet that, from the pictures, looked like your feet would sink into it. By far, the show stopper was the bathroom. The floor was heated gray slate, and the walk-in shower was made with river rocks. Plants filled the room, making it look like it was part of the surrounding vegetation outside. Did I mention that one shower wall was a window, adding to the feeling of being outside?

"Can you see into the shower from the outside?" I asked.

"Nope, it only works looking out. So it's still completely private," Tyler replied.

I wasn't sure if I was relieved or disappointed. The idea of some creeper standing in the woods watching me shower freaked me out, but the idea of one of my men watching turned me on.

"So what do you think?" Tyler asked as I swiped to a picture of the office/library space, complete with another fireplace and built-in bookcases for the walls. It even had one of those rolling ladders.

"When can we buy it?" I asked. Excitement bubbled up inside me at the idea of having a place to escape and return to nature.

The others chuckled at my evident excitement.

"I already did," Tyler smirked. "I knew as soon as I saw it that you would fall in love with it."

"How soon can we go up?" I asked as my excitement grew.

"How's tomorrow?" Drew asked.

"Really?!" I looked at Colton for confirmation that we really could play hooky.

He nodded. "I already let Cordy and Autumn know we'll be going away for a few days. Danny will be at the house to monitor things, and Molly will keep us updated on anything that might need our immediate attention. Things are quiet at the moment, so now is as good a time as any to go check it out and take a break."

I squealed excitedly as I launched myself across the car to hug him.

"I bought the damn place," Tyler pouted.

I turned and slid into his lap. I kissed him deeply as I ground myself against him. "Thank you for the best surprise ever," I said when we came up for air.

The cabin wasn't the only big purchase Tyler had made. The cabin also had a helicopter pad, so naturally, Tyler bought us a fancy helicopter to go with it. Traveling between Atlantic City and the cabin would be much faster than if we drove. Dash and Dire were a little hesitant about the helicopter initially, but I knew they wouldn't have any trouble once they figured out that it brought them to the woods. The real surprise came when I discovered Drew had his helicopter pilot's license. It made me wonder what other skills they had acquired while I was gone that hadn't come up yet.

As soon as Drew powered down the helicopter and Zach opened the door, Dash and Dire shot out of it and tore into the woods. I could hear their excited yips fading as they moved deeper through the forest. They needed this, and I was so happy we could give it to them. I breathed in the forest air deeply and felt myself calm. I needed this, too.

"Umm, are they ok?" Colton asked. "They'll come back, right?"

I smiled at his concern and kissed his cheek. "They're fine. They will come back when they get bored, or I call them in," I assured him. "When we lived in Alaska, they spent most of their time outside. They only stayed inside when it was raining or at night for bedtime."

The guys grabbed our bags, and we went to the cabin. "There should be a key under the mat," Tyler advised as I climbed the steps to the front door. I moved the mat, located the key, and let us in.

I gasped when I entered the cabin. The pictures hadn't done it justice. As cozy as it had looked, it felt a hundred times cozier in person. I could see us spending not just alone time but also family time here over the years. I immediately felt like I needed a cardigan and a cup of coffee in my hand to curl up somewhere with a good book. Luckily, I had just loaded up my Kindle with all the books from my new favorite author, G.R. Loreweaver.

While Drew unpacked the groceries and the others carried our bags into the bedroom, I looked for my library. I ignored the large wooden desk in the center of the room as I looked around. The room smelled like cedar, and while the shelves were empty now, I knew I could quickly fill them. In my mind's eye, I pictured a ridiculous amount of pillows and blankets piled up in front of the fireplace and knew that this room would quickly become my favorite.

"You happy, baby?" Tyler asked as he wrapped himself around me from behind.

I leaned against him and sighed. "I really, really am. It's perfect, Ty. I love it. I love it so much that I don't want to build another one. This one is already perfect."

"Whatever you want, it's yours," he replied, kissing my neck.

We spent the rest of the day settling in and taking our first real break from life since Alaska. The guys needed this as much as I had, and we were not motivated to do anything but laze around. After dinner, I took a nice long shower and loved looking at the night sky and the full moon rising above the mountains. When I got out of the shower, one of my guys had laid out black leggings, a tank top, and a lightweight jacket. Black boots sat beside the pile of clothes with a note. I picked up the note and felt my adrenaline rise as I read it.

Get dressed. You have fifteen minutes to hide in the woods, and then we're coming for you. RUN!

I didn't know if my time started when I stepped outside or if it started the moment I picked up the note, so I quickly dressed and braided my wet hair into one long braid. I stepped out of the bedroom, and my heart thumped when I saw one of my guys dressed head to toe in black, including a ski mask. Drew's pale green eyes stared back at me when I got closer. He didn't say a word but winked as I passed him. I grinned as I continued into the living room. As the smallest of my guys, Tyler was easily recognizable. He stood silently in the middle of the living room. Sean was also easily identifiable by his size and stood like a sentry by the front door.

Zach was a few inches shorter than Colton, but even if they were the same height, I would have known who was who as soon as I stepped into the kitchen. Colton was standing by the fridge, silent and still as stone. Zach was near the back door, and I could tell he was trying to stay still. He oozed excited energy and couldn't keep himself from bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet.

As I approached the back door, he said, "Tik tok, LG. Tik tok."

I shot out the door and made a beeline for the trees. As soon as I got myself deep enough so that I couldn't be seen from the house, I would try to find a good place to hide. The full moon made it easier for me to pick my way through the dark forest, but I knew it would make it easier for them to find me. I checked my watch and saw it had been about five minutes since I read the note. I had between ten and fifteen minutes to find a good spot.

I noticed a pile of large rocks and momentarily considered hiding among them before deciding against it. That would be one of the first places that they looked. Choosing to go left, I picked my way through the trees, aware that my time was running out and I needed to be in place before they left the house. This route was a bit rougher as there was an incline, but I hoped they would think I'd choose the easier path.

We hadn't discussed how we determined who won the game, but I knew it would be me if I could get back to the house without being caught. I wasn't wholly opposed to getting caught, but wouldn't make it easy for them. Hot sex was in my future, no matter what. I started to double back toward the house. I knew it was risky, but again, I hoped they wouldn't expect it.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and I was starting to breathe heavily when I found a thick patch of trees and bushes that I decided would be as good a place as any to stop. I crouched down and waited, rechecking my watch. They'd be hunting me any minute now, and as if he could read my mind, I heard an excited whoop in the distance that was unmistakable as Zach's. The game was officially on.

My pulse quickened. Sitting in the woods, waiting to see if they could find me was thrilling. The longer I sat there without any sign of them, the quicker my heart beat as the anxiety of my situation set in. I knew this was part of the fun, and I had to force myself not to taunt them and give away my position.

A gasp almost slipped through my lips as one slipped silently from the shadows ten feet away. I wasn't sure who it was. In the house, standing together, I could quickly tell them apart. But out here? It was nearly impossible. The man stood silently, listening to the sounds of the forest. He looked around, and then his head turned slowly toward me. He stared in my direction for what felt like an eternity. There was no fucking way he could see me. I knew that, but as he began to stalk closer, I felt like a trapped rabbit and had to force myself not to move and give myself away.

When he was three feet away, he stopped again to look around. If I so much as shifted my weight, I knew he'd be able to hear it.

"I know you're here," Colton said softly. "I can smell your shampoo."

Shit! I hadn't thought about that. Mango shampoo would stand out in the middle of the woods. He moved a couple of feet away from me to search the brush there, and I knew it was only a matter of time before he made his way to my hiding place and found me. My flight instincts kicked in, and when Colton's back was turned, I jumped from my hiding spot and ran for all I was worth.

I heard Colton shout and the sound of him running after me. Laughter bubbled out of me as the chase began. I was lighter on my feet and could slip through the dense trees easier than he could, so I had just enough of an edge to stay ahead of him. The trees thinned, and I could see the lights from the cabin through them. Just as I started to think I'd make it back without getting caught, one of them stepped from behind a tree, blocking my path.

I changed direction without slowing down. If I stopped, I was caught. Movement caught my eye, and I saw someone slipping between the trees headed straight for me, so I was forced to course correct once more. By now, I had made a full circle and could see the boulders looming in the distance. This wasn't how I planned for things to go, but my only hope was to lose them in the rocks. The only problem was that there were still two unaccounted for, which meant they were waiting to ambush me.

Hoping it wasn't a terrible idea, I spotted a large tree and knelt at its base, using it for cover as I tried to get my bearings and figure out their positions. Surprisingly, the forest was silent except for my panting and the roar of blood in my ears. I couldn't hear Colton and the other two chasing after me anymore. This did not bode well for me, and the hair on my arms stood on end as my senses struggled to pick up clues.

A faint whistle broke the silence. I initially questioned whether I had heard it until another whistle joined in. The creepy tune filled the forest around me as the others joined in. That was when I felt my first bit of fear. Logically, I knew the most danger I faced was multiple orgasms, but my mind was starting to spiral into irrational what-ifs. What if this was all an elaborate scheme to get me out in the middle of nowhere to kill me and take over the business? I rolled my eyes at my thoughts. I knew I could trust these men, but it didn't stop the thoughts from popping into my head.

I took another look around and didn't see anyone nearby. The whistling wasn't helping me figure out where they were hiding. Knowing I needed to do something, I ran for the rocks, hoping I would be fast enough to scramble over them before they could catch me. I was five feet from the rocks when I was tackled to the ground. My fingers dug into the dirt as I clawed at it to escape.

"Gotcha," a voice growled in my ear as my leggings were ripped open. His fingers plunged between my legs, and I moaned at the intrusion. That was when I realized just how aroused I was. The adrenaline of the chase had kept me distracted from how my body responded to it. "You're fucking dripping, baby. Good, 'cause I can't wait."