Page 70 of Consuming Logan

Ava sighed; her lips pressed into a thin line. “Why am I just finding out about this, Logan?”

He could hear the hurt in her muted tone. Somehow with one look she could detect his flaws, expose his failings. Shit. How long before he lost his new car smell? Without his career, his hand, had he become the human equivalent of a junker? Even as they stood in this chapel, vows memorized, he could feel the light in her eyes when she looked at him, dimming. Or, was it his imagination? Hell, could it be his projection of his value? Because of his mistakes, Ava had a target on her head. That much he knew to be true. “The attack happened because of me. I believe a man I once called a friend in college may be behind the attack.”

Maribelle gasped. “Dusty Wilbeck?”

Logan looked up, surprised his mother had readily recalled his former mentor. His mother’s voice held a note of genuine fear. He believed her animosity towards Ava was fueled by jealousy, but this news seemed to rattle her. She would’ve remembered how inseparable he and Dusty had been in the early days of medical school. Back then, Maribelle would travel via train from Florida to Baltimore for her quarterly visits. All his friends, Brooke especially, had spent time with beautiful and charitable Mrs. Masters.

“Yes,” Logan nodded, curious about his mother’s reaction.

At this, Ava curled a protective hand over her belly. Whether she recognized it or not, she had taken to the role of mother. At the mention of harm, Ava’s instinct was to protect their babies. “Why would Dusty be after you?”

He glanced at his mother. The separation had cost Maribelle, but she still refused to bend. God, she looked pale. Her makeup, usually flawless, looked like she’d touched up yesterday’s application. This rift between her and dad had gotten to her. Oh, she tried to hide her pain, but Logan felt it. He suspected Darwin did, too. What the hell had gotten into his father? Family, wife and children, came first. Everything else was secondary.

“A letter came to the house.”

“When?” something close to a growl escaped his father-in-law to be. He guessed being a grandfather had caused some changes here too.

He watched as Ava’s parents gave one another worried glances. At least the Masters had knocked off their bickering.

“Two days ago,” Graham said.

Ava sucked in a breath. “Logan.”

Well, damn. Thanks for throwing him under the baby carriage. He smoothed his thumb over her knuckles. “I know. I know,” he grumbled. He had a long night of pleading ahead of him.

“What did the letter say,” Tyson asked, stepping down from the pulpit.

Logan arched a brow. The O’Connors had infiltrated his family like a creeping vine. Logan didn’t understand their presence here. Why had his father and Darwin welcomed the two brothers like family? Suspicion nagged in the back of his mind. Maximus kept to himself, his eyes told a story of loss and longing. Tyson…Tyson O’Connor made the earth spin to his orbit. Logan admired the hell out of the mogul, but he’d been too visible in Logan’s life of late. Did he have anything to do with what was happening? Logan couldn’t shake the feeling he missed something vital. He was missing something. He thought about asking the other men to leave, but then one of them made another offer he couldn’t refuse.

“I can have our security person on board within the hour. MaKenzie Young is one of the best in the business,” Maximus interjected.

Logan paused, “A woman?”

“Why not?” Susan questioned. “Men oftentimes don’t view women as a viable threat.”

His father nodded his head in support. He noticed his mother’s scowl.

“Thanks, Maximus, Tyson. I appreciate it.” Logan looked to Darwin. “Think you can get Caleb to do some of his fancy computer snooping?”

“Done.”

Ava, being brilliant, noticed Logan hadn’t divulged anything about the contents of the letter. Shit, he didn’t want to say the words aloud. He admitted, he was afraid the words may be true. They certainly were in Brooke’s case. He’d never felt for Brooke what he had for Ava, but she was his and he’d lost her.

Ava turned her attention to him, her voice stony. “What did the letter say, Logan?”

“It said,” he swallowed. “You can’t keep her.”

Ariss gasped, “Are you implying someone is going to try to kidnap, Ava?”

Logan pulled her closer to his chest. “No one will touch Ava. I’ll keep her safe.”

“We will help” Drew cut in. “You can’t be with her twenty-four hours a day. She can move back home with us.”

“Let me make this clear. Ava is not leaving our house. Her protection is my responsibility.”

Of course, Drew pointed to the obvious. “What about your hand?”

Logan ground his teeth. “What about it, Drew?”