4. Logan
Chapter Four
LOGAN
It wasn’t until a few hours later that Bex and I were able to leave.
First, we had to watch the cutting of the cake.
Then the bouquet and garter toss. Actually, it wasn’t so much a toss as a handover.
Everly, one of Brie’s best friends would be engaged soon.
As far as I knew, Noah had been going to do it the night before.
Whatever the reason they didn’t share the announcement, Brie was still confident enough to announce she was probably next.
Then Mason’s brothers and I needed to tie tin cans to the bumper of his car and stick the Just Married sign in the window. Apparently, the girls had already done what they needed to in the hotel room the couple would be staying at that night.
I didn’t try to rush. The last thing I needed was for the Salinger brothers to pick up that I wanted to bang their sister. Not that we were hiding our intentions.
Nick stood next me as we watched Oliver and Jake tie on the last of the tin cans. The oldest Salinger brother shoved his hands in his pockets. “She was never the same after you left for New York. You know that right?”
I took a deep breath and reminded myself he loved his sister. “We weren’t ready for all that we are. We were too young back then.”
“You think you’re ready now?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “I won’t let her push me away this time. I know you’re trying to protect her—”
“Logan.” Nick held up his hand. “I’m not warning you off my sister. I’m asking you not to leave her again.”
I let out a long breath. I didn’t realize I wanted him, all her brothers really, on my side. Even if they believed the break up was my idea. “I’m not going anywhere. But we have a lot of baggage to work through. Not least of which is her getting engaged to that scumbag.”
“Yeah, not her finest hour.”
Besides cheating on her, Curtis was also involved with Louis DeMarchis and had been feeding the cartel leader information about the family. Unfortunately, Curtis didn’t meet the same end as DeMarchis. He was in the wind and no one had seen or heard from him since the demise of the cartel boss.
“As long as he stays far away from here, he can do whatever he pleases.”
“She’s not just a hook-up to you, is she?”
I raised a brow and glared at Nick. “Don’t piss me off.”
We all knew I wanted a lot more than a hookup.
Bex thought she was seducing me. And she was doing a fucking good job of it, too.
I wasn’t lying when I told her I had been hard since the moment she walked into that room earlier.
But every time I had made contact with those pretty brown eyes, my heart skipped a beat.
It was good to know the thing was still functional.
The countless one-night stands and friends with benefits over the last few years had led me to believe Bex had broken my heart permanently.
It was good to know she could still get it to work.
So, while she was seducing me, I planned on romancing her. I knew what she liked and I remembered all her soft spots. And while I was sure some of them had changed over the years, I was going to have fun getting to know my girl once again.
Together, the four of us walked back to the reception area.
Mason was talking to his dad and Brie was in a huddle with the women.
Many of the guests either worked for Salinger Security or Mrs. Salinger’s B&B.
Brie’s family, including her cousins, took up a large portion of the guest list, too.
Her father, Rick Dawson, wanted to make a big society event of the wedding but Brie had put her foot down.
Something, she said, she wouldn’t have done without Mason’s support.
I wasn’t sure that was entirely true. Brie had already gone against her father’s wishes and got engaged to a man he did not choose for her. She’d also forged a life away from her wealthy family and made a career as a childhood trauma therapist.
Jake tapped the mike. “Ladies and gentleman. The happy couple will be leaving shortly. If you could make your way to the front garden, we can all wish them well as they start their life together as husband and wife.”
Bex and I led the crowd through the arched entrance.
Everyone cheered and hollered as Brie and Mason made it to the car.
He helped her into the Escalade, but she needed the help of her bridesmaids to get the skirt of that dress into the car.
God only knew how Mason was going to get her out of that dress.
It looked simple enough but I heard the girls talking about how difficult it was at the bridal shop.
My hand dropped to Bex’s lower back as I led her back inside. “I need to tip the bar staff and I’ll be done. What more do you need to do?”
“Nothing, actually.” Bex looked up at me and smiled. “We’ve packed up everything in the rooms we used to get ready. Everly and Cassie said they would stay in case anything else cropped up. The Dawsons are already getting impatient, so they’re going to leave soon, too.
“Meet me at my apartment then?” My gaze dropped to her breasts. “Or… I could always help you remove the tape.”
“Ha, ha.” She smiled and moved to pull the stiletto sandal off her foot.
“Nope.” I pulled her closer and dropped my mouth to her ear. “Remember I want you wearing those when you arrive at my place.”
Even her eye roll was sexy. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be at your place in an hour.”
I resisted the urge to kiss her cheek. She stared at me for a moment and I wondered whether she was thinking the same thing.
I watched her ass sway as she walked away from me. I felt a presence next to me and blinked away the image of her bent over in front of me.
“Don’t stare at my sister like that.” Nick was standing to my right.
Oliver and Jake joined him, both standing to my left with Jake turning to face me. Oliver spoke up. “You want to join us for a drink?”
“Nope.”
I knew what was happening, and if I hadn’t known these men nearly my entire life, I might have been a little intimidated. As it was, I knew they trusted me. That, despite my reputation, they knew I wouldn’t screw over their sister.
Oliver raised his brow. “You're seriously turning us down right now.”
“I made a promise.” My eyes darted between them. “Pissing off the three of you doesn’t scare me. Pissing off your sister could leave me without balls.”
There. I said it. They knew I made plans with their sister. They knew we were meeting up after a wedding like some bad cliché. And they knew I didn’t care that they knew.
“Just don’t hurt her.” I wasn’t sure if that was resignation or relief I heard in his voice. “She’s been through a lot over the past couple of years.”
We stood like that, watching as the wedding guests started trickling out of the venue.
I clapped Oliver on the shoulder. “Guys. I’m out of here.” I looked between each of them. “I won’t hurt her. You can trust that.”
I turned and went in search of the head barman. It didn’t take me long to settle the bar tab for the evening and then ensure that I tipped each waiter with cash.
The drive back to my apartment building went quicker than I expected.
A man could easily believe that luck was on his side when he didn’t encounter a single red light along the way.
I pulled into the gate at my building and looked around.
Everything seemed to be as it should. No cars were out of place.
The only thing that caught my attention was the teenager carrying a baby in one arm and holding the hand of a toddler with the other.
He was probably the kid of one of the new families who moved in recently.
I drove through the visitors parking to the underground residents parking.
My bay was right at the end, just like my apartment on the third floor.
After I picked up my tux jacket from the back seat, I pulled out my key card and headed for the elevator.
The ride to the third floor was smooth and no one else joined me.
The ding as I arrived at my floor still got to me.
That sound would always remind me of heartbreak.
Of losing everything that mattered to me. Of everything that needed to be fixed.
I stepped off the elevator and halted. At the end of the hallway was the same teenager I’d seen as I drove in.
He was standing outside my door as if he’d just rang my bell.
Surely the kid was lost. The toddler next to him was clinging to his leg.
The little boy was silent, but hiccupping.
The baby in his arms was whimpering. I assumed it was a girl since she was swaddled in a pink blanket.
I kept my strides even. Whatever was happening, there was no reason to scare three children. Even if the two of them didn’t know what was happening.
“Excuse me.” I spoke clearly as I approached my front door. “Can I help you?”
The boy adjusted the baby in his arms. “I’m looking for Dr. Logan Evans.”
“You found him.” I narrowed my eyes at the oddly familiar looking young man. I gestured to the younger children “How can I help? Is one of them ill?”
The boy lifted his chin, summoning all the bravado only a teenager can. “I’m Dominic Bayers. I’m—”
“I know who you are.” My world tilted, and feet pressed harder into the floor. If I wasn’t careful, I would fall over. And that was the last thing anyone needed.
In front of me was my miracle. A young man who had every right to ignore me for the rest of his life.
My son. He stood right in front of me. Which meant something was wrong.
I was already pulling out my phone while questioning him.
“As happy as I am to see you, Dominic, something brought you here. What’s going on? ”
“Two weeks ago, I witnessed my mom and stepdad’s murder.”
Before anyone had a chance to blink, I had all three children in my apartment. I dialed the first number that came to mind.
“Who are you calling?” Dominic held tightly onto the baby in his arms. Something we would soon discuss. “Please don’t call the police. They can’t protect me.”
“The one person who can keep you safe.” I put the phone to my ear and waited. “Your mother.”