The moment the door closed behind me, the noise hit – low murmurs, the clink of glasses, the thump of music from the jukebox in the corner.
Logan was still at the bar with the guys, and his back was to me. But I could feel the tension rolling off him even from across the room. He was wound up tight, ready to spring into action the second he got the word.
I walked toward him, and he turned before I even reached him. His green eyes locked on mine, sharp and searching, like he could tell something in me had shifted.
He didn’t say anything, just waited.
I stopped in front of him, my throat dry. “I’m done,” I said bluntly. “With him. With… all of it.”
Logan tilted his head, studying me. “What’s that mean?”
“It means he doesn’t deserve my pity,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “He’s not gonna change… he’s not going to stop. And I’m not gonna keep giving him chances to hurt me.”
Logan’s jaw flexed. “Okay… What aren’t you tellin‘ me?”
I swallowed hard. “We need to talk… Alone.”
He didn’t hesitate. Jerked his head toward the back room. I followed him, my heart pounding like a drum. I’d kept it together with Matt, but Logan was a whole different animal. I could already feel the cracks forming in my composure.
When the door closed behind us, the noise from the bar faded to a dull hum. Logan leaned against the wall, arms crossed. eyes locked on me. “Spit it out, Hailey.”
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I called Matt.”
His entire body went rigid. “I’m sorry, you did what?”
“I called him,” I repeated, my voice steady despite the storm brewing in his eyes. “I’m meeting him tonight, at his house. At eight.”
Logan pushed off the wall, stepping closer. “The hell you are. What the fuck?”
“Listen to me,” I said, holding up a hand to stop him. “It’s not what you think. I have a plan.”
He stared at me, his eyes darkening like storm clouds. It should’ve scared me, but it didn’t touch my resolve. “A plan. You called him behind my back… and now you got a plan.” His voice was dangerous, and I felt it vibrate through the room.
“Yes,” I said, still holding his gaze. “I go in alone, Get him to let his guard down. Then you and the guys come in. I’ll give you a signal a code word or something. And you’ll handle him.”
–
“Handle him.” Logan took another step closer, crowding me. “You wanna walk into his house, alone, and play bait. You outta your damn mind?”
“It’s the best way,” I said, my pulse racing. “I told him I want to fix things. That you guys are planning to kill him, and I can’t let it happen.”
Logan’s fists clenched at his sides. Like he was trying not to punch a wall. Then he let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. “You *are* outta your damn mind.”
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“Am I?” I replied. “Or am I the only one thinking straight here? You’re ready to storm in guns blazing, but that’s not gonna work. He’ll see you coming a mile away. This way, we control the situation.”
“You don’t get to decide that shit on your own, Hailey. You don’t get to call him and make dumbass plans without telling me. You don’t get to put yourself in danger like that.”
“I’m not asking for permission,” I shot back, my own temper flaring. “I’m telling you how it’s gonna go. You can either have my back, or you can give me a gun and I’ll do it alone.”
He stared at me, his chest rising and falling like he might explode. “You think I’m gonna let you walk into that house alone.”
“Yes,” I said, somehow keeping my voice steady. “Because you trust me. And because I need to do this, Logan. I need it.”
He let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair. “Fuck, Hailey. You don’t get it. He’s dangerous. He’s not stable.”
“I know that,” I said quietly. “But I’m not scared of him anymore. And I’m not doing this alone… you’ll be there. You’ll have my back, right?”
He didn’t answer. His eyes searched mine, like he was trying to find a crack in my resolve. But I didn’t waver. I couldn’t.
“You don’t get to decide this,” he said finally. “You don’t get to put yourself in the line of fire. That’s not control… it’s a suicide mission.”
“You don’t get to decide for me,” I shot back. “This is my life. My call. And I’m asking you to trust me.”
He sighed. “If this goes wrong-”
“It won’t,” I interrupted. “You won’t let it.”
“You’re killin‘ me, Hailey.”
“You’ll survive,” I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “You’re tougher than you look.”
He shot me a look, but I saw the tension leak out of his posture. “Fine. You win. But we solidify the plan, and you stick to it. The second somethin‘ feels off, you say the word.”
“Bananas,” I nodded, relief flooding through me.
He laughed once, a sharp crack. “Jesus. Alright. Bananas. Now, get your ass upstairs and wait for me. I’ll fill the guys in.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
I headed for the stairs, my legs shaking with a mix of adrenaline and relief. When I pushed open the door to Logan’s apartment, the familiar scent of leather and cedar wrapped around me, calming me a little.
I paced the living room, my fingers twisting in the hem of my shirt. The clock on the wall ticked louder with every passing second. Eight o’clock was hours away, and yet it was creeping up faster than I wanted. Could I really pull this off?
The door creaked open behind me, and I froze. Before I could turn around, strong arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me off the ground.
I gasped as Logan flipped me around in his arms and hoisted me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing.
“Logan!” I protested, my voice half laughter and half panic, I clung to the back pocket of his jeans for balance. “What are you
–?”
He didn’t answer, just carried me down the hallway. I kicked my legs, half–heartedly trying to wriggle free, but his arm tightened around my thighs.
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He pushed open the bedroom door with his foot and dumped me onto the bed. I scrambled to sit up, but he was already on me, his hands pinning my wrists above my head.
His green eyes were wild, his chest rising and falling like he’d just run a mile. He still didn’t say anything, just stared down at me like he was trying to figure out what the hell to do with me.
I knew the shift when I felt it much as he did.
–
the anger
wasn’t aimed at me, it was to keep from falling apart. And I wanted the contact as
“Logan-“I started, but he cut me off with a sharp grunt.
“No,” he muttered. “You wanna play hero, fine. But you’re not callin‘ the shots right now.”
His tone was rough, but his eyes searched mine, waiting for the smallest sign to stop.
I squirmed against him, but I didn’t really want to escape. I felt a familiar heat crawl through my core.
“I should-” he continued, but he trailed off.
“What?” I asked quietly. “Punish me?”
His grip tightened on my wrists, his eyes darkening. His voice dropped low – not cruel, just wrecked with worry. “Damn right I should.”
The words sent a shiver down my spine. Not from fear from something hotter. Something reckless.
–
I arched up against him, my breath hitching. “Then do it.”
Logan growled low in his throat, his fingers flexing around my wrists like he was fighting with himself. Then, in one rough motion, he flipped me onto my stomach.
His knee pressed between my thighs, forcing them apart. His hand slid down my spine, slow and deliberate, before gripping the back of my neck.
“You don’t get to pull stupid shit like that,” he muttered, his breath hot against my ear. “Not when I’m the one who’d have to bury you.”
The crack in his voice undid me more than the grip on my skin. It wasn’t anger, it was fear.
I turned my head just enough to meet his gaze. “Then make sure I remember not to.”
His fingers dug in, his body pressing me deeper into the mattress. I could feel every inch of him, the tension in his muscles.
“Last chance to take it back,” he warned.
I exhaled, my pulse hammering. “I don’t want to.”
His hand fisted in my hair, yanking my head back. His mouth crashed down on mine, rough and claiming, like he was trying to brand me with his frustration. I kissed him back just as hard, teeth clashing, my fingers twisting in the sheets.
He pulled away just long enough to rip my shirt over my head, his hands roaming my bare skin like he was memorizing every inch. He unhooked my bra and tossed it across the room. Then his mouth was on my neck, biting just hard enough to make me gasp.
“Logan-”
“Shut up,” he muttered against my skin. “You don’t get to talk right now.”
I whimpered as his hands slid under my waistband, peeling my leggings down my hips. His palm smacked my ass – once,
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Chapter 17
sharp and I jolted, a startled moan tearing from my throat.
–
“That’s for bein‘ a goddamn idiot,” he growled.
I was already wet. Aching for him. “Do it again.”
He did.
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The sting bloomed into heat, and I arched into it, my nails digging into the sheets. His fingers slid between my thighs, finding me soaked, and he groaned. “Fuck, Hailey.”
I didn’t get a chance to respond before he yanked me onto my back, his mouth crashing down on mine again. His hands were everywhere – my hips, my chest, my throat – like he couldn’t decide where to touch first.
I didn’t care. I just needed him.
I reached for his belt, fumbling with the buckle, but he caught my wrists, pinning them above my head again. “I said you don’t get to call the shots.”
I glared up at him, breathless. “Then quit stalling.”
His smirk was dangerous. “Oh, darlin‘ I’m just gettin‘ started.”
田
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.
