Chapter 16
-Hailey-
I grabbed Logan’s arm, my fingers digging in. “Logan, don’t. If you kill him, you’ll end up in prison.”
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He turned to me, his green eyes hard. “Darlin‘, I’ve made people disappear before. I’ll be fine.” His voice was calm. Like he was discussing the weather, not a potential homicide. “There’s nothin‘ to worry about.”
I wanted to believe him. The look in his eyes told me he wasn’t just talking out of his ass. He had a plan, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the details.
Logan pulled out his phone and called someone. “Jake. Can you send two or three prospects over to Hailey’s tattoo shop?” he said. “Yeah, I’ll explain later.” He listened for a second, then grunted. “Yeah, tell ‘em to keep their eyes open. If Matt shows up, they call me first. No hero shit.”
He hung up and glanced at me. “You don’t need to worry ‘bout the shop.”
I nodded, but my stomach was still in knots. The shop was the least of my worries.
Logan moved to the bar where Link
nd Mason were sitting, nursing beers.
Link’s massive shoulders strained against his worn leather cut, the tattoos on his forearms rippling as he lifted his bottle. Mason was leaner but no less intimidating, with his shaved head and the jagged scar running along his jawline.
I followed, hovering behind Logan.
“We got a problem,” Logan said, his voice low. “Matt showed up with a gun. He’s not gonna stop til he’s dead or in handcuffs. I’m leanin‘ toward the first option.”
Link leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. “What’s the play?”
“We find him before he tries anything else,” Logan said, his jaw tight. “He still has no idea what he’s playin‘ with. We need to shut him down before he pulls some desperate shit.”
Mason nodded, his expression grim. “Whatever you need, brother.”
Logan grunted. “But we need to make it look like an accident. Clean. No loose ends.”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Logan…”
He turned to me, his eyes softening. “I’m done givin‘ him chances to fuck with you. We handle this now, or it’s gonna blow up in our faces.”
I wanted to argue, Tell him to let the cops handle it. But I knew better, Matt had made it clear he wasn’t gonna stop. And Logan wasn’t the kind of man who waited around for someone else to fix his problems… or mine, apparently.
River and Monty walked in a few minutes later, their expressions serious. “What’s good, Logie baby?” Monty asked, sliding onto a stool beside Mason.
Logan leaned forward, his elbows on the bar, his voice low but steady. “We’re gonna find him. Make it look like he skipped
town.”
River grinned, rubbing his hands together. “I love me a hunting party. Like that one time with the meth heads up in Wisconsin. Remember that?”
Logan shot him a look. “Bro, shut up. This ain’t that. No messes.”
13:03 Mon, Dec 22
Chapter 16
I stood there, my hands twisting together. “Logan,” I said more firmly. “There has to be another way.”
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He turned to me. “Hailey,” he said, his voice like gravel. “We tried it your way. Multiple times. Fucker showed up with a gun. This is the only way it ends.”
I still wanted to argue, but the look in his
the rage bubbling inside him.
¿es stopped me. He wasn’t just protecting me… he was protecting himself from
“Okay,” I whispered, nodding slowly. “Just… be careful.”
Logan reached out and tilted my chin up. “Careful’s my middle name, darlin‘”
River leaned back against the bar, crossing his arms over his chest. “So where do we start? We know where the fucker works. Maybe we hit him there?”
Logan shook his head. “Too public. Too many cameras.”
Mason leaned forward, his elbows on the bar. “His house. We could grab him when he’s alone.”
Logan thought for a second. “It’ll have to be his house. If he’s dumb enough to go back there. He knows we were there yesterday.”
River pulled out his phone, already dialing. “I’ll get one of the prospects to keep an eye on the place. He’ll let us know when he shows up.”
Logan nodded. “Good. Once he’s home, we move in. Quick and quiet.”
I stood there, feeling like an outsider in my own life. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t the kind of person who plotted revenge or watched someone’s life
get taken away.
But Matt had pushed me to a place I never thought I’d go.
I quietly walked to the other side of the group, sat down on a stool and nodded to Trina behind the bar. “Can I get a rum and coke, please?”
She slid the drink across the counter and gave me a knowing look. She’d heard the whole conversation.
Logan’s voice carried across the room, low and commanding, as he discussed/plans with the others. His words were so full of certainty it made my stomach churn. He was talking about ending Matt’s life like it was the only way.
But it wasn’t. It couldn’t be.
I stared down at my drink, my fingers drumming against the glass. I thought about Matt – not the version who’d just pointed a gun at me. The version I’d once loved. The man I’d been ready to marry. There had to be something left of him.
“Hey,” Trina said softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You okay?”
I nodded, but it was a lie. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”
Her brow furrowed and she leaned on the bar, her voice dropping so only I could hear. “You know, Logan’s not gonna budge on this. Once those Nash men make up their minds, it’s pretty much a done deal.”
I glanced over at him, his green eyes locked on Mason as they plotted. He looked like he’d already made peace with what he was about to do… and maybe he had. But I hadn’t.
“I know,” I murmured, turning back to Trina. “But I can’t just sit here and let them… I don’t know, Trina. I can’t.”
She studied me, then sighed. “Be careful, Hailey. Whatever you’re thinkin‘ abo
doing… it might not go the way you want.”
13:03 Mon, Dec 22 M
Chapter 16
I nodded, but I didn’t respond. My mind was already made up.
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I slipped off the stool, my heart pounding as I walked toward the back room. Logan’s voice stopped me halfway.
“Where you goin‘?” he asked. His tone was casual, but I could hear the edge underneath.
I turned to him, forcing a smile. “Bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
He nodded, but his eyes narrowed slightly, like he didn’t quite believe me.
My heart pounded as I leaned against the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I looked pale. Haunted.
My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I found Matt’s number. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen.
This was stupid. Dangerous. But I couldn’t stop myself.
I hit call.
It rang once, twice, and then he picked up.
“Hailey,” he said, his voice tense. “What the hell do you want?”
“Matt,” I started, my voice trembling. “We need to talk.”
There was a pause on the other end, and I didn’t hear what he said next.
Because it hit me. The sound of his voice – familiar, cruel, alive – snapped something in me. Snapped me back to reality.
What the hell was I doing? The Matt I’d once loved was gone.
I was talking to a ghost with a pulse.
“Hailey?” Matt’s voice crackled through the phone, sharp and impatient. “Get the fuck on with it. You called me-”
“I’ll be home tonight,” I said, swallowing my nerve and changing tactics. “We need to talk, face to face. Alone… no guns, no threats. Just… talk.”
A short pause. Then a laugh. “You think I’m stupid? You’re gonna send your bodyguards.”
I took a deep breath. “No Logan. Just me. I swear. I’ll come alone. They’re…they’re planning to kill you, Matt. I can’t let them. I… want to fix things.”
I held my breath. Every muscle in my body was coiled tight. I could almost feel him weighing my words, and I hoped he wouldn’t sniff out the lie.
“You’re lying,” he said finally. But his voice wavered. I could hear the hope in it, the desperation.
“I’m not,” I said, keeping my tone steady, “You know me, Matt. I just… I can’t let them do this. I want to fix it.”
Another pause. Then, “Fine. Be there at eight o’clock. Alone. If I see anyone else, I’m out.”
My heart was hammering in my chest. “Okay. I’ll see you at eight.”
My hand trembled as I lowered the phone, my breath coming in shaky bursts. I felt stupid, reckless, and oddly relieved all at once. I’d been so close to making a mistake
–
a big one.
But I’d stopped myself. That had to count for something, right?
13:03 Mon, Dec 22 M •
Chapter 16
I stared at my reflection again, and the weight of my decision settled heavy on my shoulders.
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I couldn’t keep hiding from this. I couldn’t keep looking for a way out that didn’t involve Logan and his world. Like it or not,
I was in it now.
I took a deep breath and walked out of the bathroom.
AD
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.
