Page 108 of Betrothed in Fury
“We’re all hungry,” Rory says, oblivious, “so I wanted to see what you wanted if we get Asian fusion.”
“All of you are hungry?” Logan presses.
“Okay, I’mhungry.” We work out our orders for him to input into the app before he says, “And y’all know, there’ll be plenty of time to fuck while you’re living together, right?”
As he heads off, I say, “Your baby brother’s a real spoilsport.”
“Be nice.”
“Hey, he’s your brother, so he’s my brother too. I’d take a bullet for any of you, you know that, yes?”
His expression sobers. “Too well. And it concerns me a little.”
I’m sure it does because he knows the truth of it.
I rest my hand against his cheek, stroking. “Don’t worry. I would never put myself in danger unnecessarily. I want to cherish every moment I have with you.”
I kiss him again, sealing the promise. Once I’m satisfied, we get back to work, but this time I help him with the desk, maybe because even being over at the bookshelves feels too far away for my liking. Although, I’m starting to wonder if my cock will give me any peace when he’s only a few feet from me.
Logan’s on his knees, pulling files from the bottom drawer and placing them neatly into a box, when he suddenly freezes, his muscles tense. Something about his body language has me immediately on edge.
“What is it?” I ask, just as I see the envelopes in his hand.
“These are from your dad to mine.” Logan’s gaze meets mine.
Surely we’re thinking the same thing—that these could confirm or refute Clara’s story.
He inspects the drawer some more before pulling out another envelope, this one still intact.
“This one’s addressed to your dad,” Logan says, “but…”
“It was never sent,” I observe.
He pushes to his feet and tears into it. I’m at his side in no time, reading all the anxiety and tension in his body, which triggers my own. It reminds me of how he was after his mother attacked him, when the anxiety was so intense, he needed me tofuck him to make it go away, even for a few moments. I rest my hand on his nape, stroking, hoping to offer some solace.
He pulls the letter from the envelope. “You mind if I read it out loud?”
“Do you want me to hear? Are you sure?” As much as I want to know the truth, knowing these are his father’s words makes me feel like he might want privacy.
He considers that, then nods. “I want you here for this.” He takes a breath before unfolding the letter. “My Terror, it’s taken me a while to write this, since I’m not feeling too well these days, and I don’t imagine I have much longer, based on what the doctors tell me. It’s a struggle to even find the energy to do this much these days, but a part of me thinks, even if I don’t send it to you, at least I can have some peace of mind in having written it down. I know you still blame yourself for what happened to my family…”
Logan stops, swallows, and I rub gently against the back of his neck.
“I’ve got you.” It’s my promise to him.
He gives me a quick look, revealing his vulnerability. I’m sure he can see mine too, but I don’t mind. Not when I share it with him.
He forges on. “…and I know it’s no use telling you for the thousandth time that I don’t fault you for what happened. You did the right thing in telling me we could no longer meet up for poker because of the feelings you’d developed for me. Your action was nothing short of noble, honoring and respecting your agreement with Annabelle once you realized what you were experiencing. Truly, I think I had always known there was something between us that went beyond friendship. Perhaps I refused to acknowledge it as more because I knew where I belonged, but since your confession, it has haunted me…this idea of what our lives could have been like together.Tormented me, really. Ours has truly been a tragic love story, hasn’t it? Being so close that it snuck up on us, and then denying ourselves because of the agreements we’ve made. I appreciate everything you have done, despite the professional distance we have needed to maintain, and what you have done for my life as far as ensuring the safety of my family, ensuring it far beyond my death. I know why you do this, and before I go, I want you to know I love you too. In another life, maybe we are together. But as I reach my end, I find some solace in knowing that my agreement comes to an end. We said till death do us part, which means we’re free once you join me. And I’ll be waiting for you, my Terror.”
Fuck, am I tearing up?
“My mother was wrong,” Logan says. “They weren’t having some big affair. He wasn’t cheating. They stopped when they realized things had gone too far.”
“Not that Clara’s actions can be defended, but it’s clear they felt very deeply for one another. That’s what she couldn’t bear.”
I’m satisfied in knowing we haven’t been imagining fantasy versions of our fathers. That their word meant something to them. And the way Logan’s eyes glisten, I can see how much it moves him too.
“It means as much to you as it means to me that they were honorable men, doesn’t it?” I press.
