“You hurt yourself? Because of me?” he says as he strokes his thumbs over my knuckles. I can’t take my eyes off of his. The fury swirling in his eyes is mesmerizing. “Don’t ever fucking do that, Salena!” His voice is deadly, and I have the urge to submit, but I push those feelings away.
“You had your mouth on another woman,” I croaked.
“I’m sorry, Salena.” He holds up my knuckles and sees the dried blood and light bruises. I’ll heal soon enough. Lifting them to his mouth, he places a kiss there. The touch is so gentle, so tender, it brings a fresh wave of tears. One slips down my cheek and I swipe it away angrily.
Pain slashes across his face, and he steps forward, but I step back, holding out a hand to stop him. Another tear slid down my face.
“Salena,” he chokes out.
I shake my head, backing away.
“Please?”
My heart throbs painfully. I try speaking over the lump in my throat. “Just. Stop.”
“I won’t,” he declares.
I turn my back on him, walking a few paces away. “I need time,” I call over my shoulder. I don’t wait for his reply as I take off running down the alley. I hear his curse as I run, making more tears fall down my face.
Chapter Thirty Six
Logan
Shit!
I knew I should have listened to Sander and explained to Salena what was happening. I just needed to do this without worrying about her interfering. From what she vaguely mentioned to me, Reaper is a family rival, and someone who has wanted her for a very long time. So, I knew she wouldn’t want me going. Now everything is a mess.
Fucking Jenna. I didn't expect her to sit on me like that. One minute we were talking, the next she was on my fucking lap. Something caught me off guard at that moment. I had a strange sensation in my chest that I couldn't quite place. It was like a million butterfly wings beating. Next thing I knew, Jenna was straddling me, her mouth on mine. Instinctively, I shoved her away, my body shaking with rage at her unwanted advances. But before I could rip into her, my eyes were drawn to the long silver hair shimmering in the lights of the dim club, walking away. I brushed past Jenna without a second look, yet she still reached out to keep me from leaving.
I feel like I’ve been set up, played. Someone is trying to fuck with me, with Salena, and I won’t let that slide. She is mine.
I need to fix things with Salena, explain what really happened.
Somehow, she’s wormed her way into my heart, and I think she’s here to stay.
I sense Sander's approach, which I’ve always been able to do. I never would have thought much of it before, but what Salena said the other night is making me notice things I normally wouldn’t. Things I’ve always brushed off as nothing, or an overactive imagination.
He comes to a stop beside me and looks in the direction Salena ran.
“She’ll be fine. She’ll understand once she’s had time to cool down,” he says softly.
“You didn’t see the look in her eyes,” I huff, lacing my fingers behind my head.
Tonight has been nothing but a fucking disaster. Why would she show up here? I feel like this has all been a big fucking waste of time. Like someone wanting to mess with me. The lead with the private investigator turned up nothing. Whoever he spoke to on the phone was using a burner phone, and all we know is the calls were coming from the Denver area. Everything was paid in cash and left in his mailbox, as he stated. There’s only one street camera in the area, and there is no way to trace any who come and go. We have no fingerprints, no ID, no clue whatsoever.
Sander’s phone lights up and he peers down at it before cursing. “The woman left,” he says apologetically.
“Fuck!” I storm toward where we parked the truck.
She was our only lead, and she was fucking stalling, and now we have no clue where she is.
Chapter Thirty Seven
Logan
Thesoundofaforceful knock reverberates through my house as I’m putting on a pot of coffee before work. Frowning, I make my way to the front door. I swing the door open, and feel the tension in the air as I stare at two very pissed off men.
With a heavy sigh, I step out of the way to let them pass.
