Page 40 of Consuming Logan

He turned his palm up, waiting for her to release the grip she had around herself.

“Come here, Ava,” Logan extended his hand.

Holding his gaze, she placed her hand in his. Though his stare was fierce, he folded his fingers around hers. He pulled her into his side, shielding her.

“Don’t say anything you’ll regret,” she whispered.

Her scent, her warmth, weight and his warmth calmed the beast inside threatening to break free.

“I got this, sweetheart.” Logan lowered his head, placing a kiss to the crown of her head. Afterward he raised his head, speaking their private truth.

“I joined her…in Singapore. Ava conceived while we were abroad.” Logan had been a basket case during the deployment. The rare moments Ava could access an overseas telephone connection from the ship, he’d spouted quotes from infectious disease reports and the World Health Organization pandemic statistics. While he worried, she’d been fearless. Halfway through their separation, he’d surprised his salty sailor by greeting her on the pierside in Singapore. The three-day visit had begun with an impromptu berinai henna ceremony. That first night, they’d stumbled blindly to their Raffles Hotel room with their ornated-stained hands tearing away each other’s clothing. Not exactly a Crazy Rich Asians affair, but they’d been memorable guests.

Letting his eyes ricochet to each of their dinner guests, that the verbal attacks would end now, Logan felt as if he could take a breath without choking on the acrimony. Well, that was until his father dropped a bomb in the melee.

“Belle, I want a divorce.”

Maribelle paled. Her expression blank in a momentary shock before she regained her wits. “Not this again,” she intoned, but Logan heard the slight tremor in his mother’s voice.

“I’ll move into the guest house tonight,” his voice, clear and determined.

In the silent room, Maribelle’s humorless laugh seemed wildly inappropriate.

“You’ll divorce me for stating the truth. I raised my son to be a leader in this city. To dominate in his profession. To one day be the head of this family. Instead he falls for the wrong woman again. Oh, and then puts a Masters baby in her belly. Two times a charm,” she seethed. “Like father, like son.”

Logan stiffened, not believing his mother would drag Brooke into this. The woman had lost her life and… Logan had lost his legacy. He steeled his resolve.

Robert Lee looked at his wife, and then nodded. “Oh, darling. That’s just the beginning on your sins. I’m going home to pack. Call a car to pick you up.”

His father spun on his heel and walked out of the house.

“Robert Lee,” his mother called. His father kept walking. “Really, Lee? This is beneath you.”

Logan heard someone mutter, “Don’t leave her here with us.” It sounded like Shayla.

“Leave, mother. Stay away from us.” Logan growled.

“Listen to me, Logan,” his mother whispered. “I’m doing this for your protection. I love you.”

He shifted Ava against his body. “And, I love her.”

Maribelle looked at her sister. “You did this,” she screamed. “I wish you had stayed away from us.”

Marianne kept her voice level and her eyes fixated on his mother. “I did, honey,” she said, her voice filled with pity. “You destroyed the family without any help from me.”

The room erupted into raised voices before descending into an all-out yelling match. Red rage swam in Logan’s vision. What in hell was she talking about? He slammed his hand down on the table. A heavy “thump” rang out in the room; plates bounced and iced teas sloshed over the rims of glasses. The entire table shook along with his rattled hearing.

“Dinner’s over,” Logan said, his voice rising above the chaos. “Everybody get the hell out of our house.”

With everyone gone, Logan watched Ava collapse into a chair, hanging her head.

She ran a hand through her hair. “That was a helluva lot worse than expected,” she said, releasing a weighted sigh.

Would it always be a war zone when the Masters and Walters clans were in the same room? Would his child grow up with grandparents who despised each other? Worse yet, would Ava ever consider her father’s words? Would she leave him?

“Agreed,” Logan muttered, coming to stand behind her chair. Ava’s disappointment was palpable between them. Logan dropped his chin to the top of her head. “I love you, sweetheart.”

The chasm between the families had multiplied exponentially. He wondered if one had opened between him in Ava.