Page 94 of Consuming Logan

“Either help me locate Ava or I don’t have time to—.” The words stalled in his throat.

Franklin held a gun in his right hand. The barrel, long and sleek aimed at Logan’s chest.

He smiled, but it seemed forced. “There is something in the world capable of silencing your big ass ego.”

“Franklin, you better not be a part of Ava’s disappearance.” he warned, eyes narrowed in confusion.

“Please keep talking,” he sneered, “I want to shoot you and her so fucking bad. I’ll make your egotistical, everybody kisses my Masters ass disappear.” Logan expected to see unease in Franklin’s eyes. Maybe a nervous hand. Nope, his colleague’s expression was eager.

“I don’t repeat myself, either. Listen up. If you want Ava and your babies to remain in one body, come with me.”

Logan snarled at the threat to Ava. Franklin crossed the room, jamming the gun into Logan’s gut.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Franklin breathed, the smell of his breath sickly sweet.

Galaxy. That was the scent that preceded this crazy drug addict. “You smell like Parfum De Junkie.”

“Give me trouble and I’ll carve you up in front of her.”

Logan took a calming breath, the metal of the gun digging into his belly. He thought of Ava scared and alone. He’d save her and the babies.

“How can you talk about her as if she’s a stranger?”

Franklin laughed. “I’m not the one who ran her off, am I? Seems you have a knack for losing the ladies.”

What? How could he know about Brooke? This wasn’t making any sense.

Franklin’s phone rang. Keeping the weapon trained on Logan, he answered the call.

“This is Hawk.”

Shit. Logan remembered some members of Sky Faraday’s criminal network had similar call signs, Eagle, Falcon, Moon, and Star. Franklin was involved with Sky and the Barren Mother’s network. What was the connection between Franklin, the Barren Mother, and Asher Wilherm?

“I understand,” Franklin said, before replacing the phone in his trouser pocket.

With his called ended, he met Logan’s puzzled gaze, seeing the turmoil rolling through his mind.

“To answer your question, I moonlight,” he shrugged, “for a couple of bad guys. Well, and gals,” he laughed at his own joke. “Like you, I’ll sacrifice anyone to get what I want, Dr. Masters. You taught me well.”

Chapter 36

Afirm blow across her face yanked Ava from a drug-induced haze. Throbbing pain pulsed through her right cheek. She blinked, opened her eyes, and took in her surroundings.

A trio of floor-to-ceilings cathedral-style windows overlooked Shell Cove. In the distance, the Queens Bay shimmered in the afternoon light. The Tower. She was on the floor in one of the Coastal Towers penthouses. The opulent suites had been a Shell Cove Courier feature story for New Year’s Eve.

“Hello, sunshine,” called a man’s voice.

That voice invoked a painful stimulus. Inside, her heart began to pound. Why?

“Come on Ava, shake it off.”

With one hand she rubbed her forehead, as if physically clearing off the mental web shrouding her brain. Memories came flooding back, Kylie and Franklin appearing. Ash had drugged her and Monique. She tracked the voice, and then lifted her eyes, fixing on the face. Warm eyes, tanned skin, charming smile, Ash stood over her. Using her left hand, Ava pushed herself upright, leaning on one elbow.

“Ash? You’re the one who attacked me and Logan that night.”

She didn’t have to ask. His smug expression told her the statement rang true.

“Yes.” Ash’s lips drew into a sinister smile. In that one syllable, his tone held a chilling amount of evil and anticipation. “And, my name is Dusty.”