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I force myself to breathe and don’t look away as I unbutton my jeans. I shove them down and step out of them. Awareness prickles at my skin, knowing that I’m fullyexposed now, standing in front of him in my underwear. Every nerve in my body is on high alert as he tilts his head slightly to look at me, his eyes flickering over my torso, making their way down my stomach. It’s disgusting.

I step back, trying to walk into the shower, but Kyle’s voice stops me.

“You’re not ready yet, angel. You forgot something.” He smirks at me. “Remember what we talked about? About listening?”

Kyle’s voice is expectant, like he knows I’ll listen to him now because he threatened me with death.

But fuck him, I’m done. I’m not stripping and losing the last bit of dignity I have to appease him. I’m not giving him that. At this moment, I’d rather die than hook my thumbs under the waistband of my underwear and give him what he wants.

I turn without a word and step into the shower, knowing I’ll pay for that later, but unable to find it in me to care. I grab the bottle of shampoo and start washing, and it feels like the first moment of relief since he barged into the apartment.

30

LOGAN

The second I have the address from Matt, I’m done waiting. I’m not trusting the cops to handle this. I’ll only call them when I know for sure that Ryder is there. Right now, my only priority is getting there.

I’m going to get him back, if it’s the last thing I do.

I strip to put on the fresh clothes Dad brought back from my place, barely noticing what he packed until I see one of Ryder’s shirts in the pile. It makes the need to get out of here even more pressing.

The nurse cleared me, but even if she didn’t, I wouldn’t stay here another minute. I’m not feeling one hundred percent, but I’m good enough. I can rest more after I get Ryder back in my arms.

I grab my keys, turning toward the door, but Mom steps into my path.

“I know you’re going after him, and I know nothing I say will stop you.” She inhales sharply, her hands twisting together. “But Logan, we love you. Your dad and I—you’re our whole world.”

The words hit me like a gut punch, and I feel like a horrible son. I know she’s scared I’m walking into a death trap, but she doesn’t know what it’s like to love someone so much that you’d tear apart the entire world to save them. Or maybe she does, and I’m breaking her heart right now.

“I love you too, Mom,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “But I have to do this. He’smywhole world.”

She nods with unshed tears in her eyes, and she steps out of my way.

“I’m coming with you,” Dad says, clapping a firm hand on my shoulder.

And that does it. Mom breaks out into an uncontrollable sob, andnowI officially feel like the world’s worst son.At least they have Michael. The worst thing he’s done is move to Baltimore.

“Dad, no,” I say, shaking my head. “You can’t. You need to stay with Mom.”

“I can’t let you go alone. We have to swing by the house first. I have to get something, then we’ll go.”

I have a feeling I know what he’s getting, so I nod. We both hug Mom and tell her we love her before we make our way out of the hospital and to the car.

After a quick stop at my parents’ house, we pull up a block away from the address Matt sent. As expected, the place looks dark and abandoned, with dozens of broken windows, and it’s right near the old harbor. It feels eerie. All I want is to get Ryder and get the fuck away from here as fast and unharmed as possible.

I swallow hard and look at Dad after taking in my surroundings. His face is set in stone, and I’m grateful he came with me because my nerves are at an all-time high. When I reach to open the door, he stops me. “Wait.”

Dropping my hand away from the handle, I turn to him and watch as he pulls a gun from his jacket. Then he shows me a second one tucked in his waistband.

“Just in case,” he says, handing me the one from his jacket. “I need you to be protected this time. Do you remember how to use it?”

Shit, do I?

It’s been years since I’ve been to a shooting range with him. It was something he insisted on when I was probably around twenty-one—one of those ‘just in case’ lessons. He always said it was better to be prepared and never need it than to need it and not be prepared. Turns out, I’m glad he took me, even if I feel a little rusty.

I wrap my fingers around it, and the weight of it makes my stomach sink with the reality of this situation.

“I think if it comes down to it, it’ll come back to me. Right? Like riding a bike?”