4. Layla

Chapter four

Layla

A fter downing a couple of drinks, I decided to tackle the next item on my list. I needed to check in with my Renegades and see if Kadence had woken up yet. I conference-called my best friends and sipped my whiskey while waiting for them to answer.

Monika answered first. “Hello?”

“Hey,” I replied.

“It’s about damn time you called me! What the fuck happened? Is Kadence ok?” Monika asked.

“Kadence is fine.” Kadence’s weak voice floated from the speaker, making my heart lurch.

“Oh my God, Kadence! Are you sure you’re ok?” I asked.

“Yep. Nothing that can’t be fixed. Scotty and Freddie are taking good care of me,” Kadence replied.

“As soon as you can move, I want you to stay at the house until all this is over,” I ordered.

“Hello?” Brandi asked, finally joining the call.

“Brandi, how are you holding up?” Monika asked.

“Better now that I’ve heard your voices. Nate wouldn’t tell me a fucking thing except that it wasn’t safe, and we were going underground. What the hell happened?” Brandi demanded.

“Perhaps I should start the story,” Kadence said, “but before I do, Layla, I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine where I am. Nobody would think to look for me here.”

I wanted to argue, but I knew she had a point. It was the same point Scotty had made when I said I was sending guards to his club. The further away she was from me, the safer she would be. The safer they all would be. I took a long gulp from my drink as Kadence began to tell her story.

“After I got off the phone with you, Layla, Mark sucker-punched me. It nearly knocked me out, but I was able to fight back,” Kadence said shakily. “I’ll be honest, there was a moment there where I didn’t think I was going to make it, and then the bastard put a bullet in my leg.”

“I need his full name, Kadence,” I growled.

“All due respect, but no,” Kadence replied. “If I give you his name, you will go off and kill him without me. He’s mine.”

“You know she can find out his name on her own, right?” Monika snickered.

“But she won’t because I’m asking her to leave it alone,” Kadence replied. “And you’re going to respect that, aren’t you, Layla?”

“I suppose,” I grumbled. There was nothing I’d like more than to fuck up the man who hurt Kadence and orchestrated yesterday’s events, but for now, I would trust Kadence to handle it. “If you need help, I have a couple of wolves and a shark tank.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Kadence rolled.

“Ok, so your partner shot you in the leg,” Brandi prompted.

“Right. I was shot in the leg but managed to get away from him. I went to the closest place I knew I’d be safe, Scotty’s. I tried to tell him what happened so he could warn Layla, but I’m afraid I wasn’t coherent. More importantly, I’m afraid all of the evidence we collected against Anton will be gone by now.”

“I’m not going to need evidence,” I replied. “We tried it your way. Now we’re going to do it my way.”

“Is everyone else ok?” Brandi asked.

“Ryan is dead, and Keith is in critical condition, and we lost a lot more good men in the process. Zach took a bullet to the arm, but he’s fine.” My voice cracked, and my hand shook as I emptied my glass and filled it again.

“What is it?” Monika asked.

“Nothing,” I replied, the bottle clinking against the rim of the glass.

“Then why do we hear your alcohol?” Brandi asked. “What aren’t you telling us?”

Trying to keep it from them was pointless, but I didn’t have to tell them everything. Not yet. They didn’t need to know the truth about me yet. “Sean didn’t make it.” I rushed out.

“Oh my God, Layla! I am so sorry!” Kadence exclaimed.

“How?” Monika asked.

“Do you need anything? How can we help?” Brandi questioned.

“Honestly, I really don’t want to talk about it,” I replied, blinking back tears.

“Honey, you can’t just shove this away like it doesn’t matter,” Brandi said. “It was Sean. We know how much you loved him.”

“Listen, I have to go. I just wanted to check in with you all and make sure everyone was ok and to let you know that I was. I’ll keep you updated, stay safe, and watch your backs.”

“Layla, wait—“ Monika started to say.

I disconnected the call before she could finish her sentence. If I kept talking to them, they would eventually coax the truth about what happened out of me, and I would break down. I couldn’t afford that—not today. There was too much that needed to be done.

I called Colton next. “What can I do for you, Hellcat?” he asked when he answered.

“I need you to call an emergency meeting with all the capos.”

“I’ll have everyone here within the hour,” he assured me before hanging up. God, I loved that man. I knew I could count on Colton not to smother me.

In less than an hour, everyone was sitting around the table. Drew glared at the whiskey bottle and half-empty glass on my desk. Kyle, Danny, Johnny, and Stephen were trying not to stare at the empty seat that belonged to Sean. I wasn’t sure how well-known it was that Sean was dead or how he died.

“Right, let’s get started. I want to make this quick,” I stated.

“Umm,” Danny said, clearing his throat, “Are we waiting for Sean?”

“Sean was shot,” Colton replied without offering any further explanation.

Suspiciously ingenuine, surprised looks flashed across their faces. “Please accept our condolences, Boss,” Stephan said.

I nodded at him in thanks before continuing with the meeting. “Kadence’s partner, Mark Something, was working with Anton. He’s the reason backup never came, and we walked into an ambush. While I’d love nothing more than to watch my wolves tear him limb from limb, I’ve agreed to let Kadence handle him on her own.”

“So, if I’ve already started researching him?” Tyler asked.

“Do what you wish, but we won’t take any action against him,” I replied. Tyler nodded, and I continued. “I want Tony and Vinny. I know that we think Vinny left the city as instructed. I want that confirmed. He is pardoned as long as he has left, but I want tabs on him. If he takes one step into city limits, I don’t want him to take a second. I want Tony found and dealt with.”

“We can turn up the heat on his family,” Johnny assured me. “Maybe some more pressure will draw him out.”

“Isn’t his youngest daughter getting married next week?” Kyle asked. “If he’s still in the city, there is no way he’d miss his baby girl’s wedding. I can easily slip a team into the venue to look out for him and grab him if he is there.”

“Do it,” I nodded, “but don’t ruin the girl’s wedding if you can avoid it.”

“Consider it done. We’ll bring Tony here as soon as we have him,” Kyle assured me.

“As for Anton and Tommy, I don’t think I have to tell you that finding them is our number one priority. I’m done playing games. Too many lives have been lost from trying to do this civilly.” I filled my glass and stood. “Gentlemen, it is time to clean up this city once and for all. Get the word out. Anyone found in Atlantic City working for or supporting the Kandicci family will be killed on sight. We’re cleaning the streets once and for all.”

I took my glass and whiskey bottle and left the men in the office to continue planning.

Sean was dead. Nobody was safe anymore.