Chapter 25
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Payden
I stare at Logan, blinking as he tells me everything, including the assassination of a senator some months ago that was all over the news.
“Is this all because of Cini Media?” I shake my head. “I can’t even text Willow and ask her anything about what’s going on and if they’ve made any arrests.”
“Don’t need to. The MC knows what’s goin’ on, and the cops ain’t got shit. Plus, I’ve got a burner phone,” Logan says. “That’s how I’m keeping in contact with everyone. If you like, we can call her later.”
Of course he has a burner phone, but it’s the first I’m hearing about it.
We put Willow in an awkward position, but I wasn’t going to lie to my friend about faking my own death. She’d never forgive me, and she understands I have to do whatever I need to in order to keep myself safe.
These people think I know about the footage.
My eyes flick to his as a million thoughts go through my head. “Does she know about Becca?”
Logan shakes his head. He just told me the Hellions are enroute as we speak, and Bane leaves in the morning. Their mission? Breaking Becca out of the ‘safe house’ and bringing her back here.
The scary thing? She’s probably safer here than with the cops.
“Gotta keep her safe. Becca is the one who sent you this video, Payd. She knows more than she’s letting on, and we need to find out how she got it, and what she’s doin’ holdin’ onto this.”
“Leverage?” I stammer. “I don’t know, but this explains a lot.”
He rubs the edge of my shoulders with his large palms. “It’s gonna be okay.”
“And Ryan?” I sputter. “He’s in on it somehow?”
“Ryan is a lyin’ sack of shit. My bet is he got paid off to cover up the footage, why else would he intercept it and keep it a secret? He never reported it to management, or the fuckin’ police. He could’ve avoided this whole thing, and for what?” Logan shakes his head in disbelief.
I try to find the words, but nothing is coming. I pride myself on being a strong person, but hearing this? Hearing that they really were after me because of some fucking video I wasn’t even privy to and that’s why all my colleagues lost their lives, is too much.
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
We’re outside at one of the picnic tables. I’m sitting on it, and Logan is standing between my legs. I needed air, and of course he wouldn’t let me go out alone.
“He’s such a fucking asshole,” I whisper. “If he’d told the police, they could’ve done something long before the gunmen came and… and did what they did… Deidre had a family…” A tear escapes and I wipe it away. “It’s so senseless.”
“These people are not normal people—they’re thugs in Armani suits who have money and powerful people backing them,” Logan says. “They think the company could be a front for the Mancini family.”
I look up. “The Chicago mafia?”
He purses his lips. “Riot took out the leader many years ago, you probably heard the stories.”
I nod. “Yeah, bits and pieces.” So much has happened in this MC with mafia, underworld figures and criminals in general, that it’s hard to keep up.
“We had a meetin’ about it a while back and Sawyer did some diggin’ since then. It adds up.”
“So what are they doing in New Orleans?”
“Lookin’ to start up again. Mafia families never really go away, even when they’re wiped out. They had sons. Daughters. Cousins. Bratva took over Chicago, and then there’s the Cut City Boys. Plenty of time to switch cities.”
I’ve heard of them, too. A vigilante justice gang who were implicated for some shit in New Orleans such as kidnapping some of the members, including ol’ ladies, but the Chicago base claim the men in question, the Disciples, were not associated with them in any way.
“They’re game after the Rebels made their stake in the city,” I say. “And the Irish stick to their side of town. Coming in to disrupt things where others have failed seems like suicide.”
I heard Cash has an alliance with the leader of the Irish mafia. They stay out of our territory. The Rebels stay out of theirs. It also doesn’t escape me that I just thought in terms of ‘we.’ Holy moly.
“They’re money-hungry,” Logan explains. “And if they helped a certain political party by wipin’ out the opposition, there is a lot more at stake than we first thought.”
“Can I use the phone to text Luna?”
He hesitates for a second, then hands it over.
I smile gratefully. “Are you gonna show me the footage?”
“Trust me, you don’t wanna see it.”
I look down at the phone, then back up to Logan. “Can we call it a night? I’m really shattered from traveling.”
He nods. “I’ll tell the others. Wait here.” He tips my chin up once more, then kisses me.
My entire insides feel like lava burning deep in my veins. Knowing that he doesn’t kiss, and yet he’s kissing me willingly makes my heart not just flutter in my chest, more like banging the beat of its own drum.
“Don’t go away.”
I smile softly as he leaves. Taking a second to gather myself, I text Luna.
Me
Hey, it’s me. Payden
The gray bubble immediately pops up.
Luna
OMGGGGG finally!
Me
I’m sorry. I had to ditch my phone
Luna
I heard - I’ve been so worried
Me
I’m fine. Logan barely leaves my side
Luna
Glad about that. I’m so sorry, for everything
I hit the call button. “I miss you,” I say, tears welling again. “God, this has been so fucking awful. I can’t stop thinking about… everything.” I can’t even bring myself to say the words. Remembering Deidre’s face with a bullet in her forehead will haunt me for the rest of my life.
“I know, I wanted to come, but with the baby and everything, Tag wouldn’t allow it.”
I brush away a tear. “Of course. I wouldn’t expect that. You know I’m tough, I’ll be okay.”
“Still, that whole situation, Payd. I can’t imagine how terrifying that would’ve been. Tough or not, it’s okay to let it out.”
Luna is one of the toughest people I know, so for her to tell me that is saying something. To live with Tag she has to be as strong as steel.
I smile softly. “I have been, trust me. I guess I just don’t know what to do with all of this inside me. I think I’m still in shock.”
“That’s because you’re traumatized,” she sympathizes. “You probably need to talk to someone. Maybe when all this blows over?”
“Yeah, that’s probably not a bad idea. What’s going on there with the media? I haven’t switched the TV on since we got here.” In truth, I’m afraid to because it’ll bring all of that back up again.
At least for now I just want to get through each day at a time.
“It’s been a frenzy. Cops have been questioning the Cini group and the entire building has been locked down for analysis, it’s been a shit show. Willow made a statement last night. I’ll send you the link.”
“Okay,” I say. “There’s more going on than meets the eye, but I can’t say much more.”
“Just stay safe.”
“That’s a given, with Logan.”
She pauses. “You really like him.”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “He’s… he’s something else. The way he ran into that building. He has no fear, I swear to god.”
“He’s a Rebel through and through, and a Dawson. You know how all the brothers are when it comes to their ol’ ladies.”
“But I’m just his fake ol’ lady,” I remind her. “To keep the Hellions away.”
Luna scoffs. “And you really believe that?”
“I-I don’t know,” I say truthfully. “Logan keeps his cards close to his chest.”
“Even so. Nobody can force him to do anything, even Cash?—”
“I’m sure when Cash gives an order, it has to be followed.”
“Nope, that’s where you’re wrong,” she tells me. “He’s the one who told Cash he was going, and what was gonna happen. He wanted to be there, to keep you safe—that means something. Don’t discount that just because he’s broody.”
I frown. I know he’s hard to read, and he’s a dark horse, but my gut tells me there’s some truth in her words. “He’s been amazing,” I say. “So sweet, patient. Honestly, I think I’m starting to fall for him.”
“Holy shit, you totally did it already, didn’t you?”
“It isn’t just the sex,” I whisper. “Which is fucking phenomenal. It’s how he carries himself. I feel as if nothing in this world could get to me when he’s here, and you know how I am about being independent.”
“There’s nothing wrong with letting a man take care of you,” she reminds me. “Period. Maybe you’ve underestimated his feelings for you? I am biased, but you are pretty great.”
I stifle a laugh. “I’m glad you think so. We’ve been best friends for a long time.”
Another pause. “I’m worried about you. If it’s true what they’re saying about these gunmen?—”
“I’m in the best hands, Lu, you know that. There couldn’t be anywhere safer on the planet.” I look up and Logan is staring at me. Shit. I don’t know how long he’s been standing there, or how much he heard. “Uh, I’ve gotta go.”
“Oh, duty calls?” she snickers.
“Something like that. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Stay safe.”
“I will, bye.”
“Bye.”
We hang up.
I wave the phone like I’ve been caught with my hand in the cookie jar. “That was Luna.”
One eyebrow raises. “I’m aware.”
I hand him back the phone. “How much of that did you hear?”
I think I’m falling for him.
He thumbs behind him. “Let’s go.”
He takes my hand and I slide off the table.
“You didn’t answer my question, Logie Bear.”
He glances down at me, and his lips twitch in that sexy way of his. Oh, he heard, and now he’s smug about it. “Logie Bear?”
“I know, it really suits you.”
He slings an arm around my shoulders as we head to our cabin. “I’m gonna show you how much of a Logie Bear I am with my cock down that pretty little throat.”
“And here I was thinking you weren’t a romantic.”
“How little you know about me.”
I look up at him as our eyes connect. “I want to know more about you.”
He swallows. “I’m not perfect, Payd. I don’t know how to communicate well, or so I’ve been told.”
“By an ex?”
He nods. “I just… it’s never been my thing, but with you… it feels different.”
My stomach flutters. “It does,” I agree.
He plants a kiss on my forehead. “I’m tryin’.”
“I see that. I appreciate it, but I know so little about you.”
“What do you want to know?”
I snuggle into his side as we walk. “You mean I can ask you anything?”
“Yep. I’ve got nothin’ to hide.”
Oh, this should be fun. “Okay, the most basic question to start with.”
“Shoot.”
“Did you just hear what I said to Luna?”
He pauses. “Yes.”
“So you were spying?”
He snorts a laugh. “Spying? I wasn’t spying, princess. But if we’re goin’ all out with truth bombs, maybe I’m falling for you, too.”
My heart races in my chest. “How do you feel about that?” As I look up again, he presses a kiss to my forehead, then my lips.
“It feels like the best fuckin’ thing I’ve ever felt.”
Okay, I was not expecting that.