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The man Ava ran out on had indeed broken his back. He’d been too weak and shouldn’t have signed himself up for a fight. He still earned money, just not as much as the victor of the night.
Running fingers through his hair, Logan waited for something. He didn’t know what the fuck had gotten into him.
Seeing Ava throw up, it was the first time he’d felt like he’d pushed too far. She didn’t need to see this, any of this, and yet, he’d forced this on her, and he hated himself for it.
The door opened, and there Hunter stood.
“I didn’t know if you’d decided to leave.”
“Did Ava get home safely?”
“Yes.”
He nodded. “Good.”
“What’s going on?” Hunter asked.
“Nothing.”
“You don’t look like you’re thinking about nothing.”
“I’m not really thinking, Hunter. I’m just processing.”
“Tonight was a good fight. I heard the stakes were higher than ever. People wanted more blood, more everything.”
“Of course they want more blood. More everything. It’s the way they are. Everything is a power trip for them. They always want more, and we always give them what they want.”
“You’re not happy?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I don’t fucking know. All of this, it’s fucking bullshit. I know that.”
“You didn’t expect Ava to have that kind of reaction.”
“I don’t know what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t this bullshit. Fuck. What the fuck am I doing?”
“This started out as revenge. You finally have some sort of closure, and you no longer know what it is anymore?”
“I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing, and I haven’t known for a really long fucking time. Shit. This wasn’t supposed to be so hard. Why the fuck does it feel hard?”
“Because you’re having doubts. It was simple when you believed she was the woman responsible for sending your ass to prison. Now it’s not so simple. Have you ever considered you may have feelings for her?” Hunter asked.
He glared up at Hunter. “Don’t even fucking start.”
“Your friends. Luke, Marvin, and Riley, you treat them well. Better than well, why?”
“They’re my friends. They stood beside me.”
Hunter snorted. “When I first met you, it took them over six months before I even met them, and I was by your side all the time. They’re not your friends anymore and I’m guessing they haven’t been for a long time, but you, you’ve been fighting, drawing on your past experiences. What if everything you know is wrong? If the sheriff gives you different answers, what are you going to do then? What if Ava is telling the truth and Luke did in fact rape her, but no one has ever believed her?”
“I don’t want to think about that.”
“You’re scared she is.”
He looked toward his friend and shook his head. “This is not up for discussion.” He got to his feet and headed outside.
The cleaning crew would be by in a couple of hours to take care of the mess. He climbed into the back of the limo as Hunter took the driver’s side.
“When will the sheriff be arriving?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Saturday night is when I want to find out the truth. I’ve got to check on Pieces, and I’ll take Ava there. Have her in the office and waiting for me,” Logan said.
“You have what you’re going to do all planned out?”
“I have something planned, yes.” He leaned back in the car, staring up at the roof. He was so fucking tired.
The scent of cigarette smoke, alcohol, and for some reason he felt death clung to him.
“Would you also like me to get a pregnancy test?” Hunter asked. “There is a chance she could be pregnant.”
“You know I won’t take her baby away or have her killed?” Logan asked.
“I know a great many things, but I’m not an emotional woman who has having a great deal of revelations and soul-searching thrust upon her. I think so far, she’s handling it all well, but I imagine it’s not easy for her.”
“No, I guess not.”
“What do you want to happen, Logan? Do you love her? Do you want to keep her? Do you want to end this charade of pain and humiliation?”
“I don’t know what I want to do,” he said. “I can’t think right now, in all honesty. Just get me home.”
Hunter was right. Unless his friends wanted something from him, he rarely saw them. He was aware of them visiting places he owned. Like the whorehouse. Using his women, never paying for the services they offered, or using their connection to him to get into bars. He’d not been clubbing with the boys in years. Not since he’d taken over and ruled the city.
Running fingers through his hair, he didn’t like the way his thoughts were going or what any of it meant. None of this was how he wanted his life.
Closing his eyes, he thought about the past. One of his favorite memories was going back to the classroom where he first kissed Ava.
