Chapter 16
Gemma wrung the bloody washcloth out in the bathroom sink and exhaled a shaking breath.
Logan’s hand was badly cut and bruising in the same area he’d burned trying to rescue Barbara Royce. It made her stomach turn to look at it, but nonetheless she cleaned it and bandaged him up.
Thank God he was here.
What would have happened to her if he hadn’t been?
She’d foolishly felt safe once she’d reached her apartment and bolted the door, but Logan’s account and injuries frightened her to the core.
She clearly remembered the helplessness she’d felt when the man had tackled her on the sidewalk. She’d been stupid to push it from her mind so easily.
She found the supplies Logan had asked her to gather and returned to him at the kitchen table. Two of his fingers were broken and he guided her through splinting them.
“Are you really a doctor?” she asked.
“MD and a PhD. You can call me doctor doctor.”
She smirked. “Like that song.”
“What song?”
Her face fell. “It was before your time, I guess.” She finished taping his splints in silence. “Tell me why you had Royce’s computer.”
“He gave it to HERO Force. Someone was sending him threatening emails and he wanted to know who it was.”
“When was this?”
“The day he was kidnapped. It happened right outside HERO Force headquarters.”
“Which is why you were there, and tried to help Barbara.”
“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I knew Royce. It was work. It didn’t seem right to tell you.”
She met his stare. “You want complete honesty from me, but you filter your own story.”
“I won’t do it again.”
She released his hand. “You’re as good as new.” It wasn’t true. Not even close. He’d been hurt protecting her, and she felt that truth like a debt. “I shouldn’t have come back here,” she said.
“You were angry.”
She shook her head. “I was scared. I didn’t know if I could trust you.”
“You believe me now?”
“Yes.”
“Then no more secrets. Tell me what they want from you.”
She bit her lip. Her attacker had been very clear. She wasn’t to tell anyone.
Logan leaned forward. “You’re safe now, Gemma. I’ll protect you.”
She believed he would. He already had. “He wants me to throw a verdict. To convict, no matter if the evidence supports it.”
“Isn’t that up to a jury?”
“Not if the men waive their right to a jury trial, which they have.”
“The men?”
She met his stare head on. This was the hardest part, and even as she spoke the words, she prayed she wasn’t killing Royce.
But she needed help. She couldn’t figure this out on her own.
“I’m the judge assigned to the HERO Force case.
The men the kidnapper wants me to convict are your coworkers, Jax Andersson and Leo Wilson. ”
“Oh, fuck.”
“And if I don’t do it, Royce will die.”
He pinched the skin between his eyes. “When does the trial start?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Damn it. Can you postpone?”
“I might be able to stall, but not for long. The suit was filed months ago by the brother of the deceased.”
“Are you going to find them guilty?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m holding out hope the evidence will prove they did it.”
“They’re men of integrity.”
“You’re saying they’re innocent?”
Logan only stared at her.
“I’ll have to make a decision when it’s time for my verdict.” She stood and moved to the sink, picking up the dish soap and squirting some onto a sponge. “I certainly can’t do it now.”
Her voice sounded meek and she hated herself for her own weakness. One way or another, she was responsible for the fate of three men, and she suddenly wondered if she was capable of making such a judgment.
Logan walked up behind her and hugged her. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll find him.”
She frowned, her mouth pulling down hard at the corners. “And if you don’t, I’ll have to decide who lives and who dies. I could be disbarred. No, I should be disbarred for even considering this.”
“Shh.” He kissed between her shoulder blades.
“And you. What am I doing with you? You work for a company that’s being sued in my courtroom. I’m practically old enough to be your mother.”
“Not quite.”
“Close enough. You’re thirty-one. I’m forty-four.”
“The age difference doesn’t bother me.”
“You’re not the one everyone would refer to as old.”
“Hey.” He turned her around to face him. “I like you. I think you like me, too. There’s something good between us.”
She lifted wary eyes to his. “It’s just sex.”
“It could be more, if you wanted it to be.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry, Logan. This isn’t going to work. You must see that. And even if age wasn’t a factor, I can’t deal with a relationship right now. Not in the middle of the worst few days of my life.”
He nodded. “Come on. We need to go back to my place. It isn’t safe here.”
She hung her head and covered her eyes with her hand. She didn’t trust herself at his apartment, but knew he was right.
“You can have the guest room,” he said.
“Okay. Now I just need to have enough resolve to actually sleep in it.”