Page 93 of Consuming Logan

Darwin and Tyson stayed close by his side. Graham, who’d been with Shayla, had agreed to take care of Ava’s family. His final call had been to his brothers-in-arms, Gideon and Dawson. Luckily with the wedding planned for tomorrow, the Rice brothers were in town. Phoenix, Ian, Thane, and Caleb were onboard with whatever needed to happen to get Ava back.

Darwin pulled his Hummer to a stop in front of the hospital’s circular drive. Logan sprinted for the first-floor café. God, he hoped Ava and Monique were there.

One thing puzzled him. Why would Ash be interested in Monique? It didn’t make any sense why his former friend would target Logan’s patient. Funny, the old pain and guilt that would normally pierce his heart at the thought of his best friend’s betrayal with the woman he loved didn’t hurt anymore. Why did it take Ava leaving to realize his heart belonged here in the present? It was time to close the door on the past insecurities, fears, and guilt. He couldn’t have saved Brooke. Truthfully, Ava had shown him love. He recognized what he had with Brooke was a mirage of his own creation, a trick of light, he mistook for love.

“Split up and find them,” he called to Darwin and Tyson.

Please, Ava. Please be here, baby.

Reaching the SCMC cafe, Logan ran past each circular booth. Each time he saw staff members garbed in scrubs and white lab coats, but no Ava. Some people recognized him and called out greetings. He ignored them.

He searched around the open dining area checking each circular booth and the tables tucked away for more privacy, including the computer nook, there was no sign of Ava or Monique. Where could Ash have taken them that quickly? Just then his phone signaled an incoming call from an unknown number.

He answered on the first ring “You signed your death warrant, fucker,” Logan growled.

“Whoa, Logan. It’s Caleb.”

Logan scrubbed a hand over his face. Had the computer hacker found Ava’s location?

“Whatcha got?” Logan demanded, dispensing with the pleasantries.

“I think your Dusty Wilbeck aka Asher Wilherm took Monique because there’s a two-million-dollar price tag on her head.”

Logan listened trying to make sense of what he heard about a contract on Monique and the deep web.

“Who paid Ash to take my patient?”

“Not sure of the buyer’s identity, yet. These people use screen IDs and multiple servers so it’s hard to pinpoint a fixed location. After doing a search, this person’s signature has been on several old-school Silk Road kind of Black-Market contracts. This guy, and I’m pretty sure it’s an older man you’re looking for, has a lot of activity dating back three decades. Some transactions link him to the Barren Mother and drug shipments.” Caleb paused, “He a has long transaction history involving human sales. Specifically, the purchase of young girls.”

“Damn,” Logan choked out.

“Give me another fifteen minutes. I’ll rip this guy’s life apart. I’ll find your answers.”

“Monique’s mother is deployed out of the country. Call her stepfather. The Admiral needs to know about this.”

“Have you located Ava in the hospital, Logan?”

“Not yet,” but he would. “I’m going to my office. I need my access card to search every inch of this place. If he drugged them, he needed help to move them.”

Logan and his brothers worked as a team scouring each floor. The higher they climbed; the more dread built in Logan’s gut.

When they reached the floor that held his office, he said, “I’ll grab my key and meet you upstairs.”

From there, he separated from the group and entered his corner suite. The pride he felt when he’d first been offered the office with the million-dollar view had vanished. The title, the position, rang hollow against the reality that he could lose Ava and the babies forever. What difference did he make in the world, if he failed to care for the one woman who loved him most?

He’d thought his work fulfilled his purpose in life. How wrong he’d been. Sharing the work he loved with the woman who made his life worth living gave him true purpose.

Logan’s door opened. Franklin peeked his head in.

“Hey, I thought I saw you come in here,” he smiled, adjusting his glasses.

Unlocking his desk drawer, Logan grabbed his key card, in case he needed access to the secured wings within SCMC.

Closing the desk drawer, Logan frowned.

“Franklin, have you seen Ava?”

“You need to come with me.”