“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.”

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.

“Got it,” Jasper answered.

“You think you need to bag on Youth Group?” Layne asked.

“Naw, we gotta keep on that too,” Jasper replied.

Shit, Jasper was a good kid. But he’d told him that once today and once was enough so Layne just nodded.

“Check in with her regular,” he repeated.

“I said I got it,” Jasper returned.

“Rocky and me’ll take Paige. You follow with Seth in the Charger. We go to their house first, help them get their shit then we go to Cal’s.”

Jasper nodded.

“Control Keira,” Layne ordered. “The woman in our house is humiliated enough. We don’t need Keira sayin’ anything or doin’ anything nutty.”

Jasper’s chest expanded. “She’ll be cool.”

Layne lifted his chin. “I reckon she will.” Jasper relaxed, Layne turned and moved to the door, muttering, “Let’s get lunch and get this done.”

He had a hand on the handle when he heard Jasper call, “Dad?”

He looked to his boy. “Yeah?”

Jasper stared at him, expression hidden except a muscle ticking in his cheek.

Finally, he spoke and the words seemed forced out of him. “I’m glad you’re proud of me.” Layne jerked his chin up and started to turn the handle on the door when Jasper finished. “’Cause I’m proud of you too.”

A new burn ignited, just in his chest, so hot, he was finding it hard to breathe.

His voice was hoarse and low when he said, “Good to have you back, Bud.”

He saw Jasper’s chest was moving like Layne knew his was moving and he knew his son had the same burn inside him so he left him alone to beat it back, turned the handle and walked into the house.

* * *

 Layne hit the button on the remote and the TV flicked off then he looked down at Rocky’s head resting heavily in the middle of his chest.