Chapter 38
-Hailey-
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I woke to a pitch–dark room. My head felt heavy… like I’d been underwater for days and I’d just come up for air.
I reached for my phone on the nightstand, squinting at the screen. 10pm. Fifteen hours. We’d slept like the dead.
Logan was still behind me, his arm draped over my waist. I carefully turned around, trying not to wake him.
Even in sleep, his body was tense. His face wasn’t relaxed. His brow was furrowed like he was wrestling with something in his dreams.
I touched his cheek lightly, my fingers brushing over the stubble. For the moment, everything was quiet.
The weight of the last few days pressed down on me, but there was relief too. That he was here, that we were together, that Becker hadn’t won. Yet.
But I knew it wouldn’t last. I was starting to feel like I’d never be fully at peace,
Outside, the world was fully awake. Engines rumbled in the parking lot. Voices carried on the breeze, but I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.
–
I closed my eyes and let the noise wash over me. The sound of boots on gravel, the clink of bottles, the hum of bikes — it all felt so familiar now.
Logan stirred, his arm tightening around my waist. I felt his lips brush against my forehead.
“You awake?” His voice was rough with sleep, but I could hear the edge of something in it.
“Yeah.” I murmured. “You?”
Logan sighed heavily, his arm tightening around me like he was afraid I’d slip away. I could feel the tension coiled in him, the way his body didn’t fully relax against mine.
I tilted my head back to look at him. His green eyes were dark, shadows pooling beneath them.
He looked exhausted, but there was something else – something sharper, more dangerous – hovering just beneath the surface.
“You okay?” I asked. Dumb question… I already knew the answer.
He didn’t respond right away. His jaw flexed, and he stared at the ceiling for a minute. Finally, he muttered, “No.”
I swallowed hard, my fingers brushing over the tattoos on his neck.
“Talk to me,” I whispered.
He glanced down at me, his eyes boring into mine. But he didn’t say anything.
Before I could press him, he shifted, easing out of bed with a groan. He ran a hand through his messy hair and paced the room. His movements were stiff like he was fighting against something.
I sat up, pulling the blanket around me. “Logan-”
“Becker’s not done,” he interrupted, his voice rough. “He’s gonna come at us again. And Monty’s still in that cell. And you—” He stopped abruptly, his fists clenching at his sides.
Chapter 38
“Me?”
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He turned to look at me, his green eyes burning. “You’re in the middle of this now. You’re a target, Hailey. Because of me.”
My throat went dry. “None of it is your fault.”
“Isn’t it?” he snapped. “I dragged you into this mess. I let Becker win. I’m the reason you’re sittin‘ here lookin‘ like you haven’t slept in days.”
I flinched, his words cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. “Logan, stop. You’re not the only one who’s allowed to be pissed off here. Yeah, this is messed up, but I’m not some helpless damsel you need to protect. I’m in this. With you.”
He stared at me, his chest rising and falling hard. Then he exhaled sharply and turned away, pacing again.
“I can’t lose you,” he muttered, almost to himself.
“You won’t,” I said, my throat tight.
He didn’t respond. Just kept pacing, his fingers twitching like he was itching for something to do someone to fight.
Finally, he grabbed his phone off the nightstand and swiped it open. His jaw was tight as he hit a button and pressed it to his
ear.
“Jake,” he said after a beat, his voice low and urgent. “Yeah, I’m up. Can you call church? Yeah. Now.”
He hung up without waiting for a response, tossing the phone onto the bed. His movements were quick, almost frantic as he yanked on his jeans and pulled a hoodie over his head.
I watched him, my heart sinking with every second. “Logan-”
“I need a smoke,” he muttered, cutting me off. He grabbed his pack of cigarettes out of his cut and shoved them into his pocket.
Before I could say anything else, he was down the hall and at the window, sliding it open with a sharp jerk. The cool night air rushed in, carrying the hum of voices from the alley below.
He climbed out onto the fire escape, his boots scraping against the metal. The sound grated against my nerves.
I stared down the dark hallway, and my heart thudded against my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
I wrapped the blanket tighter around me, but it didn’t help. The weight of everything pressed down on me, suffocating.
I couldn’t just sit here.
I stumbled out of bed, my legs shaky beneath me, and grabbed Logan’s hoodie off the floor. I stepped into my jeans, then my boots, not bothering to lace them.
The fire escape creaked as I stepped out onto it. Logan was perched on the edge, one leg dangling over the side, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
He didn’t look at me, but I knew he heard me. His shoulders tensed.
I sat down beside him, my legs dangling over the edge too. The city stretched out in the distance with flickering lights.
He handed me a cigarette, then the lighter.
For a few minutes, we just sat there in silence. The smoke curled around us, blending with the night air, and I watched it disappear into the darkness.
17:53 Fri, Dec 26
Chapter 38
“You’re not in this alone,” I said finally.
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He exhaled sharply, dragging the cigarette from his lips and flicking the ash over the edge. “That’s the problem, Hailey. You shouldn’t be in it at all.”
“But I am,” I said, meeting his gaze. His eyes were dark pools of green. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
He stared at me, his jaw flexing. Then he crushed the cigarette against the metal railing and tossed it over the edge.
“Becker’s not gonna stop,” he said finally.
“So let’s stop him,” I said. Like it would be the easiest thing in the world.
He barked out a bitter laugh.
“Come on,” I murmured. “I know you have a plan. I know you had one before you left that cell.”
He looked at me, his eyes narrowing. “You think I got a plan?” he muttered. “Hell, Ace, I’m just tryin‘ to keep my head above water. Becker’s got us by the balls, and I don’t see a way out.”
I shook my head, feeling the determination settle in my chest like a stone. “You’re smarter than that. You’re not just sitting here waiting for him to come at us again. You’ve got something brewing… I know you do.”
He exhaled, leaning against the railing. “We’re gonna hit him where it hurts,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “We’re gonna dig up whatever dirt we can find on him. Everyone has skeletons.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, the cigarette forgotten between my fingers. “What if he doesn’t?”
Logan smirked. “Everyone does, Ace. Especially guys like Becker. Trust me. We’ll find something. And I know a guy who can help.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
