Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
HARLEY
It’s late when we finally get home, and all I want to do is see Savannah and make sure she’s okay.
Well, as okay as she can be under the circumstances.
I’ve never felt so much fear and anger as I have tonight.
I know it will take a while for her to unpack everything that happened, and even though I have absolutely no right to, I hope she’ll let me help her.
My anger over our situation was put on the back burner as soon as I saw her huddled on the floor of that alley, broken and bleeding.
I just want to be there for her in whatever way she’ll let me, and that’s confusing as fuck considering everything.
One thing I never thought I’d find myself doing is getting rid of a dead body, but apparently, I can cross that off my nonexistent bucket list. Thank fuck for Lana and Cole, since they seemed to know what they were doing, which, when I think about it, is kind of…
disturbing. I didn’t ask questions, and they didn’t provide any answers, so it’s probably better to just be one of those things that we don’t talk about.
Honestly, I don’t care, so long as the issue is taken care of for Savannah.
I thought maybe I’d be squeamish, and I certainly was when I first found the body, but after what I witnessed and after what that sick son of a bitch did to Savannah? Yeah, all sympathy for that cruel, sadistic fuck went out the window. He got what he deserved.
No, actually, he didn’t.
He deserved so much fucking worse.
He should have had his dick chopped off and shoved up his ass as he wept and bled, and even then, it wouldn’t be the end of it.
I would have fucking reveled in doing it all to him.
But I suppose in a sense, I’m glad Savanah got to do the honors.
Even though she might be scarred from it, I’m glad she was strong enough to fight back and defend herself, which I hope she’ll see someday.
The cottage is silent as we step inside. Lana and Cole both head toward their room without a word to me, knowing I’m not in the mood for talking. Before we got here, Lana was itching to see Savannah, but Cole managed to convince her to give Savannah some space, at least for tonight.
I head straight toward Logan’s room, feeling a little sick she’s in his bed instead of mine, even though I have no right to feel that way.
He texted us about an hour ago, letting us know she’d been checked over and would be okay.
Whether he got a doctor here or what, I don’t know, I was just glad to know she’s going to be fine.
Physically, at least.
I’ve had some time to think about their entire interaction, and I still can’t figure it out.
All I know is that she flinched when I tried to touch her, but threw herself into his arms so easily.
I had the fleeting thought earlier that maybe they’ve been seeing each other, but I honestly can’t imagine that.
Not only because I can’t see the two of them working, but also because the thought of Savannah with anyone but me makes me feel fucking ill.
Did she flinch because of our past? Was she… did she… did she actually not like what we were doing, and I just saw things that weren’t there? Have I been doing to her exactly what that man did to her tonight?
No… surely that’s not true. I would have seen it. I would have known.
I don’t know what the nature of Logan and Savannah’s relationship is, but I steel myself for what I might see on the other side of the door before turning the handle.
Savannah is bundled up in his bed while he sits in front of his computer screens, and I breathe a sigh of relief they’re not cuddled up in bed together.
I don’t know what I would have done if that was the case, but it wouldn’t have been pretty.
In a blink, Logan is out of his chair and charging toward me.
He grabs me by the shirt and hauls me out of the room.
He pauses for a moment to softly close the door behind him before dragging me to the theater room that sits at the other end of the house.
I’d argue with him, but I know it would be pointless, and honestly, I want to hear what he has to say.
No, I need to hear it.
He finally lets me go with a shove, and I stumble a couple of steps before straightening.
“Is she okay?” I demand, her wellbeing taking precedence above everything else right now.
“Is she okay?” he booms, his voice echoing off the walls, and I’m grateful he took the time to close the doors between us and Savannah.
The last thing I need is her waking up because of us.
“Of fucking course, she’s not okay. She’s traumatized, and yet here you are letting yourself into my room where she’s sleeping and vulnerable.
Are you fucking serious, Harley? Do you really want to scare her after what happened tonight?
Do you really fucking hate her that much?
Because from where I’m sitting, it should be her who hates you. ”
How can he be so smart, yet get it so goddamn wrong?
“I didn’t want to scare her, I wanted to check on her, you dick. You have no idea about my relationship with her, so I suggest you watch what you fucking say.”
His eyes darken, and I feel the rage emanating off him.
“No idea? No idea? Jesus, you really are a fucking idiot. I know everything, Harley. Every. Single. Thing. Fuck, man, I know more than you do at this point, but that isn’t the fucking point.
The point is that tonight she was assaulted, and you care more about yourself and your needs than her.
You’re a selfish dick, and you need to stay the hell away from her. ”
He… he knows?
“You know?” I whisper, my heart thrashing in my chest, but I can’t bring myself to address the rest of what he said because honestly, I might break the fuck down if I do.
Because what he said is the truth. I am a selfish dick, and I know I need to stay away from her, but I also needed to see with my own eyes that she’s okay. I can’t get the image of her whimpering in that alley out of my mind, and I probably never will.
“Yeah, I do,” he admits, his voice softer this time. “I need you to promise to stay away from her, at least until she agrees to see anyone other than me. She’s fragile right now, Harl. Don’t accidentally traumatize her more.”
I take a deep breath and nod. I can do that for her, I can. There’s just the question that’s been burning inside me since I found her, and even though I’m scared to ask, I need to know. “Did he…” I trail off, unable to say the words aloud.
Logan must know where my mind went because he shakes his head, and the relief that hits me makes me double over, my hands finding my knees as I breathe properly for what feels like the first time tonight.
I can’t even begin to explain the emotions crashing into me, but I manage to get ahold of myself and straighten.
“There’s something else…” He trails off, a look of indecision crosses his expression that has my breath halting. Logan is never indecisive. Ever. He does whatever the hell he wants when he wants to, without considering others. Whatever he’s about to say, I know it’s important.
“What is it?” I rasp.
“I know you’re probably wondering about what you saw between the two of us, but you should know that we’re friends and nothing more.
Hell, that girl is like a little sister to me, and I’d protect her with my life, which is what I’ve been trying to do ever since I found out…
” He shakes his head. “Anyway, I know about everything that’s been going on.
I know what she did, why she did it, and what you’ve been doing to and with her ever since.
“I know you were hurt, Harley, and I don’t blame you for being angry, but she’s been protecting you for years, and I think it’s about time you do the same for her.”
With those parting—and confusing as fuck—words, he turns on his heel and exits the room, leaving me to wonder what he was talking about.
She’s been protecting me? That makes no sense. No fucking sense at all, but I have a feeling that whatever the truth is, it might just shatter every illusion I’ve built up for myself.