Page 108 of Break the Barrier

I wouldn’t change marrying Logan. I love that man, and if God did one thing right, it was letting me feel what real love was before I die.

“Why did you ruin everything, Thea? Why did you tell people I murdered someone? I didn’t hurt anyone, Thea.”

He’s good. Really good.

If I didn’t know him, didn’t know the true evil heart that rests beyond his chest, I would almost believe him to be sincere.

Since I saw him do it and have been a victim of his lies before, I know this is all a ploy.

“Eric, let me go,” I say, pulling on my wrists again.

His face turns to me, and he taps the knife in his hand against his other one. Leaning close, close enough that I can smell the bitter tinge of alcohol on his breath, he says, “No. I’m not done with you just yet.” He winks. “We’re just getting started, wifey.”

Without warning, he reaches up and grips my hair, pulling my head back. With my shoulders already wrenched in an uncomfortable position, I cry out in sudden pain.

“Bookie!” a voice from outside the door calls just seconds before the door is thrown open, and Bones stands in the doorway looking worried. “You gotta come see this.”

Eric growls at the interruption, and I breathe a sigh of relief when he lets me go. His hand skims down my neck and over my breast, giving a firm squeeze before he stands.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”

His heavy booted steps scuff against the floor, and I try totake some deep calming breaths, but they turn on me, and sobs of grief leave my body.

41

logan

The buildingI pull up outside of is an old rundown hotel and restaurant. It’s one of the original buildings built here in Fall Springs back in the late 1800s when the city was just getting started.It was falling apart but had been maintained enough by the MC that ran it for its members to take residence inside of it.

CT, Mitch, Stetson, and I climb out of my truck and approach the building, our tension thick as we do so.

This could go one of two ways.

The old as fuck president could be gracious and willing to help us, given that this technically had another club involved.

Or he would tell me to fuck off.

I check my phone quickly, wondering if Annmarie or Juniper have gotten any news from Thea or, hell, from the piece of shit we know took her.

Nothing.

My gut has been in a knot since she went missing, and as it neared pitch black outside, I was growing increasingly worried.

“Stop where you are,” a deep voice barks at us from somewhere I can’t see. “Show your hands.”

I raise my hands, as do the boys. None of us are holding weapons on our person, leaving them in the truck, knowing that these guys wouldn’t take too kindly to us packing while we were trying to ask for their help on their turf.

“Who are you?”

I clench my jaw. “It’s Logan Cash.” I almost sigh, wishing I could see the person in the shadows and only getting a glimpse of the tip of a burning cigarette. “I need to talk to the prez.”

I know most of these guys, some I went to high school with. Some have joined from out of town, sure, but there was a larger percentage of them I grew up with.

Mad steps out of the shadows, and I grow even more tense. He was definitely one I knew. Unfortunately, his road name came a little too easily because “Mad” is actually insane.

He used to be called Bradley.

“Logan Cash,” he says to someone I can’t see, and Mick, the sergeant at arms of the club, steps out of the shadows and heads confidently in our direction.