I stiffen when someone walks past the hallway. I don’t want to have a breakdown here. This is ridiculously unprofessional and embarrassing. Luckily, Logan seems to catch on to my thoughts, and he pulls my phone out of my pocket.
“Let’s get you home. Can I text your boss and tell her you got sick? I’ve been here long enough. I won’t get in trouble if I leave.”
All I can do is nod. Unlocking my phone, Logan shoots a quick text to Tess, who must have seen me make a beeline for the bathroom, because she responds quickly that she hopes I feel better soon and to take as much time as I need.
“Thanks,” I croak.
“Anything for you.” His voice is so gentle, it slices right through me. Because now that I know how it feels to have Logan speak to me this way, it’ll hurt even more when he no longer does.
When he sees the email, will he decide that all of this is more trouble than it’s worth and call it off between us? Or will I be the one who has to pull the plug because it’s the only way to keep my brother safe?
Either way, I’m more certain with every passing moment that all of this has an expiration date. And more and more certain that losing Logan will break something in me that can never be repaired.
“Okay, baby, let’s get you home. I just need my keys.” He lets go of me, but only long enough to prop the door open with one hand and grip one of mine with the other. He calls out to Maddox, asking him to grab his keys and coat. Within minutes, Logan’s arm is back around me, and he leads me out of the arena and into his car.
“We’ll figure out how to get your car later. For now, let’s get you out of here.”
I don’t fight him on it. It would be dangerous to drive in the state I’m in, and I don’t think I’d be capable of paying close enough attention to the roads. My mind is a jumbled mess as Logan helps me into the passenger seat and secures the seat belt around me. I barely notice the passing minutes or where we are.
“We’re here. Come on, baby.”
I should protest when he picks me up out of the car and carries me like a broken princess into my building, but I don’t. His chest is warm, and he smells like salt and sweat and musk. His strong arms are solid around me. Secure. Safe. Comforting.
Logan grabs the spare key from its hiding place, since I didn’t have the foresight to grab my purse, and unlocks the door before carrying me inside. Neither of us speaks until we’re enclosed in the familiar silence of my dingy little apartment and he sinks down onto the couch with me in his lap.
“Tell me what happened.”
forty-five
BLAIR
The words stickin my throat. If I say them out loud, it makes all of this real. And I really don’t want it to be real.
“Blair, talk to me. Tell me what happened.”
Logan’s gray eyes scan me. His brow is furrowed and his lips are pressed into a firm, thin line. Those strong hands that have explored every inch of my body flex against my thighs, but there’s nothing sexual about his grip. It’s like he’s trying to hold himself back from attacking something, but he doesn’t know what the threat is.
The problem is, I don’t really know, either.
“I…” My voice catches. This won’t work. Frustration builds inside of me. If I can’t tell him, I’ll just show him. With shaking hands, I unlock my phone, log in to my work email, and pull up the email fromibyrne4u27. Holding my breath, I hand it to him.
“What is this?”
“Just read it,” I rasp. The moment he takes the phone from my hand, I grab hold of his shirt and hold on tight. I need him to ground me.
With every line Logan reads, his expression grows more severe. By the time he’s done, he’s practically vibrating beneath me, a low, rumbled growl emanating from his chest like some kind of wild animal.
“When did you get this?”
“Right before I came to find you.” I look up at my boyfriend, hoping he knows what to do, because my mind is too chaotic to come up with a plan. Fight-or-flight has kicked in, and all I want to do is grab Reed and run. But I won’t. Can’t.
This is our home now. I have friends, Reed has friends. And even if I wanted to leave Minneapolis, we can’t. I don’t have the money to move us again. Which means I have to do whatever it takes to keep my job safe.
“Is this the first time this person has emailed you?”
I nod. “Yeah, but they’ve posted some photos of us online. And someone’s been commenting on my Instagram photos. It’s not the same username, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t rounded up some minions to do their bidding.”
Logan runs a hand through his hair. “Fuck, angel. Why didn’t you tell me this has been going on?”
