I brushed my hair and pulled it back in a ponytail, then decided the Advil was probably a good idea.

The black toiletry bag sat on the vanity and I opened it. The bottle of Advil was right beside a partially empty box of condoms. An odd wave of jealousy hit me from out of nowhere. That was one emotion I’d never had to deal with.

Where was this coming from?

Logan’s words whispered in my head—“I’m not really good at anything when it comes to women except fucking”—and my fists clenched at my sides. The thought of him with someone else was something I couldn’t think about, whether it was before or after me.

Those kinds of feelings weren’t healthy. Not for me. Not for him. Not for us.

I swallowed the pill in one gulp and turned the bathroom light off. Out of sight, out of mind.

Sunlight gleamed through the bedroom window in abundance. Maybe spring was making an appearance today. I grabbed my phone to check the weather and saw I had a text from Michael telling me he’d be back late afternoon and that he would be stuck in mediation all day. I texted back that Clementine was fine and we’d see him later, and then pulled up the weather app. With the prediction of a sunny, 60-degree-high day, I decided it was a perfect day for a walk in the park.

The living room was quiet and as soon as I walked in, I knew why.

Logan was hovering near Clementine with his shirt pulled up to his nose, exposing those washboard abs I had run my fingers over last night.

I wet my lips at the sight.

It took me a moment to find her, but Clementine was hiding behind one of the chairs, making the noises that I knew only too well.

A soft giggle escaped my throat and caused him to glance up from his vigilance over her.

The look on his face was one of sheer horror. “I don’t understand it. How does something so small smell that vile?”

Laughter rolled through me as I waved him away from her. “She likes to poop in private.”

He raised his hands in defeat. “No problem by me.”

Leaving her alone to let her finish, I started to gather our things.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Packing up. It’s time for us to go.”

“Elle.”

My gaze shot to him at the sound of my name. I liked the way he said it.

“O’Shea back?”

“No, he texted me that he’d be home late afternoon.”

Logan crossed the room. “I don’t want you going back to his house until he returns.”

Goose bumps rose on my arms under my fleece. “Logan, this has to stop. All of this talk is making me paranoid.”

The most serious hazel eyes stared back at me. “It’s not paranoid if you are in trouble. Your sister, and now Michael, got into bed with the Mob and didn’t deliver. Patrick doesn’t tolerate fuck-ups for any reason. I don’t know the specifics, but there’s a reason O’Shea is still alive, and the only reason I can think of is that it has to do with a shitload of cash flow. And once Patrick secures that pipeline, who the fuck knows what he’s going to do.”

I looked automatically toward Clementine, suddenly fearing for her safety. “Patrick is the Mob boss?” I couldn’t believe I was even having this conversation. “The same Mob your grandfather once headed?” I accused.

His eyes closed as if that fact haunted him, and he gave a slight nod. “Yeah, but things are different now. Patrick Flannigan runs things with his only son, Tommy. They’re both sick bastards and you need to stay clear at any cost.”

This picture Logan painted sounded so dismal. From what Michael had told me, it all sounded so simple. But then again Michael never mentioned the word Mob or Mafia, either.

Hot breath blew across my neck. “We need to figure out if someone was in O’Shea’s house. I’d have already gone there, but if Patrick is watching the house, he can’t know I’m involved.”

Fear bloomed to life within me. This was the two sides coming to a crossroads, and it was clear Logan was on one side and I was on the other. What wasn’t clear was why he was trying to step toward the divide.

He lifted my chin. “Elle.”

My name was spoken again with concern in his voice. Everything about him was incredibly confusing and as I looked into his eyes, I wished it weren’t. “What happens if he finds out?”

“He can’t.”

“And if he does? Will you have to choose sides? Should I be afraid of you?”

Logan inched closer. “What kind of question is that?” he snapped.

“One I need to know the answer to before I spend another minute with you.” I regretted those words the second they left my mouth.

Everything about him went hard. “If you don’t already know the answer to that, then maybe you should just leave now.”

I wasn’t surprised by his response. He’d asked me to trust him and now I was questioning everything about him. It was just that the situation I was finding myself in was nothing any level of preparation could manage, and I couldn’t stand that. I’d endured helplessness with my mother because I was too young to do anything about it. But when I feared for myself, I taught myself how to fight back. This was different. Clementine could be in the car with Michael and he could get run off the road. He could be anywhere, at any time, with her, and out of nowhere danger could strike.

Clementine pulled on my pants.

I hadn’t even realized she’d moved beside me.

I looked down.

“Don,” Clementine cooed.

Which was her way of saying “done.”

I picked her up. “Okay, silly girl, let’s get you changed.”

My eyes softened of their own volition as I glanced back at Logan. “You have to understand the situation I am finding myself in isn’t only about me,” I glanced at my niece. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, but you need to see things from my point of view.”

His demeanor made me want to reach out to him, but I didn’t. We had to trust each other; it wasn’t one-sided. He was going to have to realize that.

“I’m going to go change Clementine and then take her for a walk in the park. No one knows I’m here. I’ll be safe. If you want me to leave, I’ll put our things in my car. If not, then when I get back we can head over to the boutique and see if the opener is in my other bag.”

Logan grabbed for my hand and looked at me for a few moments. “Look, I’m sorry, but I had to warn you. It was time you understood just how serious this is.”

I didn’t want to sound as scared as I was, so I went for strong. “I think I’m well aware of just how serious this is, but there’s more to it.” I looked at Clementine. “I’m not only responsible for myself here.”

“I know that.” His voice dipped low.

My body was trembling as my strength diminished, but I clung to it and crossed the room quickly. I had to get out of that room. Away from Logan. Behind the closed door of the bedroom, I set Clementine down and found myself crumpling to the bed.

What had my sister done?

Where was she?

Did she know her child was in danger?

Anger flared up inside me, and it was what I needed to pull myself together.

I had to make sure Clementine would be safe.

I didn’t need a man messing with my head.

I’d avoided it too long to let it happen now.

LOGAN

Terrific, I thought.

When she slammed the door, I couldn’t breathe. I felt as if I’d stabbed myself in the heart.

Guns, I could handle. The torture of high-society galas—a piece of cake. Fuck, even the threat of physical pain didn’t faze me anymore. But women—I didn’t know a damn thing about how to cope with their feelings. Just the word feelings had my stomach in knots.

I let out a forced breath. At least I’d told her just how serious things were. She needed to know. Thinking about it now, I felt a surge of relief. And something else—a strange feeling I couldn’t quite describe.