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“I just told you,” she shoots back, pulling the towel tighter around herself. “I need some new clothes.”
“What’s wrong with the ones we had picked up from your apartment?” Maddoc snaps.
She presses her lips together, her eyes flicking over to Logan for a half second before she answers him in a tight voice. “I can’t wear them. They’re… wrecked.”
I frown, then catch Maddoc’s eye. I’m not the only one who caught that tell-tale look she sent Logan’s way. He’s back to impersonating a fucking statue, face completely blank and eyes so closed-off they look like iced-over metal.
Maddoc nods. I doubt he has any more information here than I do, but we both know our brother and can read between the lines. Something obviously went down between the two of them, and that something involved Logan causing this, uh, clothing malfunction of Riley’s.
“Dante, take care of this,” Maddoc says, giving me a look that assures me he’s finally clued in that our brother is a bit off today. More so than usual, I mean. “Get some new things delivered here for her, and make sure she’s got a dress or something for tonight.”
I nod as I pull out my phone to handle it.
“You can go,” Maddoc tells Riley as I leave the room to make some calls to arrange for what she needs.
I look back at her, half expecting her to give Madd some shit for being so bossy, but she’s busy glancing at Logan again.
There’s an expression on her face I can’t quite get a handle on, and it makes me wonder what the hell happened last night. She’s giving off an energy like she’s freaked out, but there’s also something that almost feels like sexual tension filling the air between them, which isn’t something I ever thought I’d say about Logan and… well, anyone.
I make the arrangements I need to for her new clothes with one of our lower-level members, which takes a bit of time to sort out, since if she came downstairs in just a towel, she probably needs everything. And Jesus fucking Christ, explaining the color palette I want for her to the kid who’s going to pick it all up and bring it here strains my patience almost to the point of snapping. But finally, it’s done.
There are other logistics I need to handle before tonight, and when I pass by the kitchen a while later, I hear the low murmur of Maddoc’s voice.
When I poke my head in, I see that he’s still in there with Logan.
“I just need to know it’s not going to be a problem,” he’s saying, leaning in, right up in Logan’s face.
His posture isn’t aggressive, and I can tell at a glance that this isn’t Maddoc our leader. This is our brother, forcing Logan to actually make eye contact because Madd’s just as concerned about him as I am.
Logan gives him a single, jerky nod.
“Logan,” Maddoc says, frowning. “If you need—”
“I’m fine,” Logan cuts in, his voice stiff.
I’m not sure I buy it, and I can tell Maddoc is just as conflicted. But finally, he nods. “Okay. Good. Because this isn’t the time to do anything stupid.”
He squeezes Logan’s shoulder, something Logan would eviscerate anyone else for. Our brother doesnotlike to be touched… and the fact that he lets Maddoc get away with something that fucking sentimental sends another flicker of worry through me.
Neither Madd nor Logan have noticed me in the doorway, and I step away and leave them to it. If there’s any hope of Logan opening up even the slightest, it’ll be to Maddoc, and I really do have some shit I need to handle for the gang before we head out tonight.
But even as I get back to work, I can’t stop my thoughts from turning.
Riley has given us an opportunity to fuck with West Point, and I appreciate that fact. Hell, pretty sure I’m gonna enjoy it. But she’s also thrown our lives into chaos, each of us in different ways, and even though I’m generally a fan of a little chaos, I’m starting to realize that having her live with us is dangerous in a way I never expected.
24
DANTE
That evening,when someone drops off the clothes I arranged to get for Riley, I head up to her room with the bags in hand. I knock at the same time I turn the knob and open the door, and Riley startles a little as she turns to face me.
I hold up the bags. “It’s just me. I come bearing gifts.”
She’s still wearing just the towel, and she looks relieved as her gaze scans over all the shit I’m holding. “New clothes?”
“Yup.” I glance around, a frown tugging at my lips as I take note of the rest of her stuff. Herformerstuff. I see why she needed new shit to wear. The room looks like a hurricane ripped through it. Everything we brought over from her apartment has been shredded to ribbons.
Sothat’swhat happened between her and Logan last night. Damn.
