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His eyes met mine as his fingertips trailed over the back of the mind. “We don’t know that.”
I sighed. “No, we don’t know that. And if you want to think negatively, Logan, then fine, you do that. But it isn’t going to change the situation nor will it bring her home.”
To my complete and utter surprise, he laughed. It was brief and he tried to hide it, but I heard the rumble in his chest and the way a smile graced his lips. “You really push my buttons, you know that?”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
We were silent for a few minutes and when I squeezed his shoulder again, he dropped his chin to his chest. I stood and moved behind him, kneading my fingers into his muscles as he groaned, reaching behind himself to wrap one arm around the back of my leg. Slowly, my hands lowered to his chest and I crossed them, wrapping my arms around him to pepper his scruffy jaw and cheek with kisses. “We’ll find her. Together.”
Later that morning, I was sitting on the couch flipping through the channels when I stopped on the news, seeing a picture of Nicole appear on the screen. It must have been when she was younger because her hair was shorter and she looked healthier. More vibrant, No raccoon eyes and she wasn’t as thin. Life- Conlon- had seemingly gotten the best of her since then.
But it was what I heard next that had me standing and moving toward the tv, my heart dropping to my stomach.
“Nicole Arbour’s family and friends couldn’t be reached for comment on the girl’s whereabouts or her relations with longtime boyfriend, Gregory Conlon. There has, however, been a break in the case as police recovered Arbour’s phone at the scene, and an inside source revealed that acquaintance Logan Ashford was in contact with her just a week prior to her disappearance. Our source also revealed that Ashford was making it a point to try and get Arbour away from Conlon, something he’s made a career out of. Conlon, who is a prime suspect in the apparent assault and kidnapping of twenty four year old Arbour, hasn’t been seen in days. Reporting live from Charlestown, this is KC Kinsley with Seven News, New England.”
“Logan!”
He cursed upstairs and then I heard him amble downstairs, his cane gripped tight in his left hand. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but you’re not.”
Logan gave me a questioning look and then glanced at the tv as the news replayed what KC Kinsley had just said. There was no photo of Logan, but the name was loud and clear. Not only had he been revealed as someone who clearly knew Nicole, he’d been exposed. To everyone who didn’t know what he did for a living. To his friends. His-
“My family,” he whispered. “They know. They know everything.”
There was nothing I could say, so I simply hooked my arm through his and leaned against him, lacing our fingers together and squeezing tight. No matter what happened with his family, no matter what happened with Nicole, he wasn’t alone. I was with Logan all the way. I’d help him search for her. I’d be next to him when he faced his family and told them the truth. I’d be there.
Because I loved him.
Because I couldn’t turn my back on him now.
“I’m so fucked,” he whispered, and I couldn’t help but think the same about myself.
Chapter 16
M y first thought as we pulled up to Logan’s parents’ house was, they’re loaded.
My second thought was, I want to vomit.
As soon as the news broke, Abby had been texting and calling both of us nonstop. Logan had repeatedly ignored his parents’ calls and told his sister to have everyone at the house by one, and he’d explain everything. Surprisingly, he hadn’t freaked out a
bout the fact that he was now completely exposed. I figured it was because he was so overwhelmed with everything going on with Nicole, that everything else just seemed minor.
I was sure that would change as soon as we entered the house. Based on what he’d said about his family, his mother was somewhat overbearing and his father could be harsh when it came to his children’s career choices. So I could only imagine what his father’s reaction would be at the news that his son was a… whatever he was.
“Who would have leaked your name to the press? Who would she have told?” I asked as he put the car in park and pulled the key from the ignition.
Logan cleared his throat and shook his head. “I don’t know. As far as I knew, Nic didn’t have any close friends anymore. Conlon isolated her from everyone and eventually the shitty friends that she did have just gave up. I don’t know who she would have talked to.”
He didn’t look nervous about “going into the lion’s den” as he’d previously said on the way over. Too bad I couldn’t say the same for me; I was terrified to meet his family. I couldn’t imagine that this whole scene was going to play out nicely with us eating dinner and his parents getting to know me.
No, I had a feeling this was going to be a bloodbath.
We walked up the driveway with me trailing slightly behind, my heart in my throat. We’d barely made it to the door before it was opening and a big, burly man that resembled Robbie stepped forward. His blue eyes were icy and his jaw was clenched, tie loosened at his throat with the top button of his shirt undone. He looked very much the part of stern father and I was instantly aware of the tension that surrounded him.
“Logan,” he said as a way of greeting.
“Wait to give me a hard time until the door’s shut. We don’t want the neighbors to see, right?” he responded and reached back, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the foyer.
