I snap it shut, and even with everything I’m learning, I still have it in me to roll my eyes. It’s like Logan’s trying to make up for all these years of absence by going into dad overdrive.
“I never doubted Damien would kill you if your existence became known,” he continues. “That’s why I felt I had to go behind his back to protect you. He’s my best friend, and I’ve always been loyal to him. But you come first.”
At once, my chest compresses, and all thoughts of eye rolling go straight out the window. The words I’ve been hungering to hear all my life.You come first. They’ve just been spoken to me, by the last person on Earth I’d have expected to hear them from.
As if he has no idea of the effect he’s having on me, Logan sets aside his half-finished plate pensively. “I didn’t have a choice but to tell Damien of Laura and William Day’s death. That goes beyond you. It meant your cover was blown, and the up-till-now dormant factions of the mafia were beginning to rise once more. But Ididtell him I’d… take care of you.”
I shiver at whattaking care of youmust mean in Devil language.
“He’s been a lazy bastard ever since Seraphina came into his life, so I had no doubt he’d let me do just that, and not bother himself more with it. I even told him you were missing to buy a little more time. Turns out, he’s not as lazy as I give him credit for, because apparently, this whole time, he knew exactly where you were and that I was lying to him.”
There’s a long pause, and then he continues, “I’ve always known him to be bloodthirsty and merciless. So I was very confused yesterday, when he told me he’s known where you were since the beginning. The old Damien would have killedyou, and me too. But I guess Seraphina has softened him up these past few months. Having her in his life has given him a new understanding of what it means to love someone. How important it is.”
I gulp down the weird lump in my throat.
“Or maybe,” he smirks, “he’s just stopped giving a shit about anything and anyone that isn’t her. Hehashad a hard few months. I’ll spare you the details, but shit hit the fan a few months ago with Angel and Vale. He nearly lost Seraphina a number of times. Since then, he’s basically been holed up in his apartment with her. I get the feeling he’d cheerfully allow Devil to burn to the ground, as long as he got to keep her. Everything else has pretty much faded to the background, and that includes you.”
There’s a long silence as I sip my decaf coffee thoughtfully. “I have a question,” I say abruptly.
“Yes?”
“What is… what was…” I clear my throat. “What is my real name? That is, what name was I born with?”
Logan pauses. “Aurora Moretti.”
“Aurora,” I echo, rolling the name around on my tongue. I don’t hate it.
He opens his mouth to say something more, but the phone rings suddenly, abruptly ending our conversation.
“Yeah?” he snaps into it. Then he raises an eyebrow. “Right. What did you say his name was? Josh Allen?”
I gasp loudly, wondering if Josh Allen ismyJosh. I suddenly realize I never even learned his last name, and I’m forcefully reminded of the time Quill accused my college friends of not being real because they didn’t knowmine.
I groan, feeling like the worst kind of friend there is.
Then I forget all about last names when Logan says, “Alright. Put him in the cell.”
He hangs up the call and looks at me. I guess he can tell I’m in shock, because he frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“You put Josh in the cell?”
I can’t imagine such a naive, cheerful optimist locked up in such a dark space. Especially because of me.
“You know him?” questions Logan.
“Yes. He’s… he’s my friend,” I stammer.
Logan presses a contact on his phone, and puts it to his ear again. Then he shakes his head. “Too late. There’s no cell service down there. I’ll see what this is all about.”
I nod gratefully as he gets up. Then he rummages through his pockets. “You’re not a prisoner,” he says hesitantly. “But Iamgoing to have to lock you up. Fuck. Where did I put the key?”
“I’ll still be here when you’re back,” I protest. “Please go get Josh.”
Logan hesitates at the door. “I really shouldn’t leave you like this. Damien would kill me—”
“Come on. Why would I try to run away? You’re my stepfather, right?”
His face relaxes into a smile. “Right. But believe me, Piper. You’re in danger. Stay right here. I’ll be back in less than ten minutes. Stay, okay?”
