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It was such a fucking teenage cliché.
He’d been asking around after her. He had a few guys he paid to keep an eye on her, to make sure she was fine. One of them, he couldn’t even remember the kid’s name, told him she was working in English class to finish a paper.
When he arrived, he stood in the doorway. She’d not heard him arrive, and he simply watched her. She was so achingly beautiful.
She was everything.
He loved to watch her, to bask in seeing her, and he wanted everything with her. He’d never spoken of his desires to have the fat girl as his friends called her.
To him, she’d never been fat, just perfect.
Hunter arrived at his place, and he climbed out. Logan walked inside, going straight to the elevator, clicking for his suite. He didn’t look at his reflection, and as he got to his floor, he stepped off.
Keying in the code, he let himself inside.
There was no sound.
Removing his shoes, opening his tie, taking off his jacket, he made his way toward the main sitting room. There was no sign of her there, or in the dining room, or kitchen.
He went to his bedroom, and there she was, curled up. A book had dropped down beside her, and he smiled.
She was completely fast asleep. One of her hands was held up against her cheek, while the other down beside her. She looked so peaceful.
He watched her. For some reason, he felt there didn’t go by a day when he wasn’t watching her in some way or another.
Even as he’d tried to hate her over the years, he’d been curious about her. Letting Grant go to her, he’d been torn between murdering the bastard and asking so many questions about how she was doing.
He moved toward the bed and sat down on the edge. The moment he did, she let out a moan, and finally opened her eyes.
“Logan?” she asked.
“Hey.”
“It’s really late. You’re only just getting back.”
“I am.” He took her hand and locked their fingers together. She held onto his hand, giving him a little squeeze.
“I must have nodded off. I was suddenly so tired.”
“Hunter’s going to get us a couple of tests. Have you skipped a period?”
“Not yet. I can’t think right now. I don’t even know when I’m due a period. I’m sorry. I’m all a bit ugh up there.”
He smiled. “I wanted to apologize.”
“Logan, you don’t have to do that.”
“I do. I’ve been around this world for so long, it’s hard for me to see the flaws.”
“Your world isn’t flawed—it’s a little bright, you know. A little scary. I don’t think I can handle that kind of violence. It made me feel sick.”
He reached out, pushing some hair off her face. “I won’t take you again.”
“The guy? What will happen to him?” she asked. “Do you just kill them if they’re no good?”
“They’re not animals. He’s been taken to the hospital. They sometimes work for me. Hard times push them into the fighting ring, and I offer them a job. They show loyalty, and I reward them for it.”
“Loyalty means a great deal to you, doesn’t it?”
“Of course. Having loyal men means soldiers. My line of work, it’s not for the faint hearted. My life is at risk every single day.”
“Would you trade it?”
“No. Like I said, you think this is bad, but you don’t know what it was like before I took over. It was much, much worse.”
“How worse?”
“Human trafficking. Women being hurt. There was no order.”
“What about the cops?”
“I own them.”
“Wow,” she said.
“I’m a fair man, Ava. I can promise you that.”
“Logan, you don’t have to go making me promises.”
“I do.”
She stared at him, lips pressed together.
“If you’re pregnant, you’re going to marry me.”
“Wow,” she said, sitting up. “That is a huge topic change.” She lifted up the strap of her negligee. “Marriage? Wow.”
“You don’t want to get married?”
“Oh, I … I don’t know. I’ve not really thought about marriage.” She nibbled her lip. “I’m sorry. I’m all a little confused, you know.”
“I get it, I do.”
“I don’t think you do.”
He smiled. “You’ve got nothing to fear from me.”
“You threatened to kill me not too long ago.”
“And you’re very much alive. I’m not going to kill you, or hurt you in any way.” He held her hand again, locking their fingers together.
They were a perfect fit.
“What is going on right now?” she asked.
“We’re talking for the first time ever.” He looked into her eyes, and he wanted to take the pain and the fear away.
As he pulled her close, Ava moved toward him.
Cupping her cheek, he pressed a kiss to her lips. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“You’re not going to.”
“Not ever,” he said. “You belong to me, and I’m not willing to give you up for anything. I’ve already got people working on removing those videos so no one can ever find them.”
