Page 91 of Consuming Logan

“No,” Ava said in a rush. “Monique and I are enjoying some girl time at the cafe. I don’t want you here.”

Damn. Never did he think Ava would utter those words to him.

“You said you belonged to me.” He repeated her words not to guilt her, but to remind her that the love they shared was worth preserving.

“I do, Logan.” He inhaled, some of the pressure in his chest easing. Thank God, she knew their marriage was salvageable. But then she dropped the bomb.

“I just don’t belong with you anymore, Logan.” The line fell silent, like his too still heart. “I’m hanging up now.”

“Ava, please don’t—,”

Logan heard a male’s voice and froze.

“Glad I ran into you.” Logan knew that voice. “I saw you from the latte stand. I wanted to surprise you with this.” As he listened, warning bells and alarms blared between his ears. “Hi, Monique, right? Here’s something special for you too.”

Dusty Wilbeck. Brooke’s lover had found Ava. Logan would recognize his former best friend and mentor’s voice anywhere. Once upon a time, Logan had trusted this man with his life and with his woman. The man who’d slept with Brooke had somehow crossed paths with Ava. Could it be a coincidence? Logan didn’t think so.

The last time he’d seen her whole and healthy, she’d been walking from Dusty’s campus apartment. He’d given her an ultimatum. Before they could talk out their problem, the hit and run crash had happened so quickly.

“Ava,” he said in a panic. “Get away from that man, now.”

“Who?” She exhaled, a long sigh of frustration. “Logan, it’s just Ash. I’ve been working on this project with him for months. Stop with your jealous crap. I’m done.”

Logan’s mind began to spin. Ash was Ava’s co-worker? Ash was Dusty.

“Ava, sweetheart, listen to me. I know, Ash. He’s dangerous, sweetheart. Please,” he begged, his heart hammering in his chest.

“Logan, don’t do this.” A strangled sound escaped, piercing Logan’s heart. Shit, he’d messed this up. He’d pushed Ava right into Dusty’s hands.

“Ash, Dusty, whatever the hell that nut tart is calling himself, isn’t who you think he is.”

“I get it now. You need to be the hero number one in my life,” she sniffled. “Being mine will never be enough for you.”

Shit, shit, she meant everything to him.

“Ava, I’m trying to protect you. You’re mine. I love you so damn much. Can’t you see that?”

He could hear muffled conversation in the background, Dusty’s voice no longer distinguishable.

“Could you see how much I loved you?” she whispered.

God, he’d broken a fundamental rule. Telling his woman, he loved her wasn’t the same as showing her.

“Goodbye, Logan.”

The two whispered words took him down faster than a headshot.

She hung up the phone.

People he loved had betrayed him in the past, but not this time. He’d betrayed Ava’s trust. And, now she was unprotected and vulnerable. Logan’s brain struggled to process what he should do first. Grab his wallet, drive to the hospital. Call Bishop and Lance. Try Ava’s number again.

Just then, the side door to the house opened, his brothers, Darwin, Maximus, and Tyson strode in. Tyson’s normally steel-eyed green gaze looked like he’d just woken up from a winter-long hibernation. Logan came to his feet facing off with his older brothers.

Logan spoke first. “Ava was on the phone. You look like shit.”

Tyson rubbed his forehead, as if clearing away a mental fog. “Says the pot to the kettle. You looked in a mirror, brother?”

His phone dinged an incoming text message.