Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
I tense. How do I tell him that I was in Skyler’s bedroom while she was downstairs being attacked? I wrap my arms around my chest. “We were in Skyler’s bedroom.”
Logan’s jaw tightens, and his gaze pierces me. I wouldn’t blame him if he hit me. “She was going down to the kitchen, and Miller called my cell. I stayed in the bedroom to talk to him while she went downstairs.”
He curses. “She’s my sister, Zach.”
I clench my eyes. “I know.”
He shrugs. “So what? You decide you’d have some fun while you were on the job? You just needed to pass the time?”
I put my hand to my chest, rubbing over my heart. “It wasn’t like that, Logan. You know me, and you know I wouldn’t—”
I stop because I shouldn’t be defending myself. Whatever Logan wants to say or do to me at this point, it’s valid, and I deserve it.
“How is she? Is she okay?”
He stares at me. “No, she’s not fuckin’ okay.”
“Fuck, I knew I shouldn’t have left. Is it her head? Is she—”
He cuts me off, taking a step toward me. “It’s not her head.”
My eyes jerk to his. “What is it? Fuck, I should have refused to leave. I should have stayed and—”
He points at me. “Yes, you should have stayed with her.”
Stunned, I look at him, and he throws his hands up. “Look, my sister is strong. She’s going to survive the stalker, the assault, all of it. What she’s having trouble with is you leaving. I’m not sure what happened when I left, but I do know that right now, her heart is broken, and it’s because of you.” He takes a step toward me. “You hurt my sister, Zach.”
I jut my chin at him. “She’s better off.”
He laughs darkly. “Better off how? Better off without you? Better off with some other man? How exactly is she better off?”
I lift my chin. The thought of her with another man makes me crazy. “She deserves better than me.” I slap my hand to my chest. “Look at me, Logan. I couldn’t even protect her. I couldn’t—”
He interrupts me. “You fuckin’ saved her life!”
I grit my teeth and fist my hands at my sides. “He shouldn’t have been able to touch her. That’s on me. That’s my fault.”
Logan laughs. “Zach, we’ve been friends for a long time, but ever since that incident in Afghanistan, you’ve been different. Any time you’ve had a chance at being happy, you’ve fucked it up. You act like Randall dying that day, our friends getting hurt… I don’t know. You carry that shit like it was your fault. Like you were the one that set the bomb off.”
I turn away from him, not wanting him to see how much just thinking about that day still devastates me. “I was the only one not hurt that day. I was—”
He throws a hand up. “You are alive and uninjured! You helped save them, Zach, but I’m tired of seeing you punish yourself, and now… Now you’re punishing my sister. You think she deserves a better man? Well, I don’t think there is a better man. You think I would have you protect my sister if there was someone better? I wouldn’t.”
He takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. “Listen, Zach, we’re partners in Stronghold, and you’re not going anywhere, regardless of whether you’re with my sister or not, but listen, do something for me.”
I turn and look at him. “What?”
He puts his hands on his hips. “I’m going to say this, and I need you to believe me. That accident years ago was not your fault. This with my sister was not your fault. You saved her.”
I want to argue with him, but I stay silent, and he continues. “Do you love my sister?”
I nod as the ache in my chest intensifies. “Yes, but—”
He doesn’t let me finish. “Okay, you love her. Well, she’s young, beautiful, smart, talented, she’s all the things. Do you really think she’s just going to be single forever? Alex told me about all the men dropping in her DMs. This is Whiskey Run. You’re going to run into each other. You going to be okay seeing her with another man, seeing her pregnant with a child that’s not yours?”
Anger fuels me until I see red, and I’m shaking my head. “No, no, I won’t be okay with it. I’ll lose my damn mind.”
Logan slaps me hard on the chest. “I know you will. Figure this shit out, Campbell, and you better figure it out quick. I don’t like knowing my sister is sad.”
Before I can answer him, the front door jingles, letting us know someone has come in. Logan looks at me, and my stomach drops. Shit. I should have warned him. I should have prepared him for this, but I’ve been caught up in my own shit. “Logan—” I start just as Bree walks up to my open door.