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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Vera hated Logan’s obsession with her. When Ben told her about Logan flying into Phoenix, she almost suggested that she go there and confront him. She was tired of hiding, and tired of having her friends in danger. She wanted to be able to live without constantly looking over her shoulder.

“I hate this.”

Ben held her, kissing the top of her head. “I know. I hate it for you. I think we should tell Frizz and Justin now before they go to bed. That way, they can sleep the anger off.”

“They should stay in Colorado.”

“Hey, why should we stay in Colorado?” Frizz asked from the doorway of their bedroom.

Vera sighed and turned to face her. “Logan is looking for me in Phoenix. He isn’t giving up. He’s going to keep looking for me. I feel like there is nothing I can do to get rid of him.”

Frizz stepped into the room and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry you have to deal with this prick.”

Vera shook her head. “No, I’m sorry you’re dealing with him. It isn’t fair that you and Justin have to go to Colorado.”

“Why are we going to Colorado?” Justin asked as he stepped into the room.

“The bastard is looking in Phoenix,” Ben said.

Justin’s eyebrows shot up. “But why does that mean we have to go to Colorado?”

Worry filled Vera. “What if he comes looking for you all? You’d be in danger in Texas.”

Justin’s lips curled into a snarl. “I’d like to see him try.”

“He’s dangerous,” Vera said.

Frizz tapped her husband on the shoulder. “He did set her building on fire. And look at her wrists. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill us.”

Justin rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t mind meeting him on a level playing field.”

Ben shook his head. “You know he wouldn’t do that. He would make sure whatever situation you were walking into was weighted for him. He’s a bastard, and there isn’t an easy way to deal with him. You need to keep Frizz safe.”

Justin ran his hand down his face. “I know. It just pisses me off. It makes me mad that we have to run away.”

Ben nodded. “Thario will be here tomorrow. He will give us an update on where Logan is. Maybe he isn’t looking for you. Maybe he’s going there on business.”

Vera didn’t like the threat hanging over their heads. She hated that her mess had become Frizz’s mess. Justin was right, she hated having to run away. But she’d found something great when she’d run. It wasn’t fair that Frizz was being affected by this. If she could keep her friends safe, she would.

Logan’s father had sent him to Phoenix for business, but while he was in the city, he planned to flash Vera’s photo around and ask if anyone had seen her. He only had a good photo of her with long hair, but it would have to do.

He checked into his hotel, ready to go out and start canvassing the town for Vera. He would start at the mall and then head to a few bars. Someone had to have seen her. He pulled up the maps application on his phone and stared at the screen as he zoomed out to find the edge of the city.

Shock coursed through him. Why hadn’t anyone told him how huge Phoenix was? There was no way he would ever find her. The city stretched out on all sides, filling in almost all the space between the mountains. How would he find Vera here?

He pulled up a list of malls and was overwhelmed. There were so many places. How could there be so many places to shop? This was supposed to be easy. He needed contacts in this place, but no one knew him.

He was here to get this location of his dad’s business back in line. They’d missed a payment. That wasn’t acceptable, and he had to convince them they needed to pay now or their license would be pulled. He thought the threat had no meat behind it. He wanted to tell the licensed extensions to fall in line or else, but his dad wanted him to keep it civil. Logan thought it was ridiculous to fly all the way out here for something that could have been a phone call, but he’d come thinking he could kill two birds with one stone. Now he knew that wasn’t realistic.

Finding Vera here would be impossible. Unless he could convince the people who work at the extension to look for Vera for him. The benefit would be he would have someone working for him here while he went home to Texas. But his father might find out. The man would be pissed. His dad wanted him to forget Vera and concentrate on work. But he wouldn’t let Vera win. She had to pay for the damage she’d done.

He struck out asking if people had seen her at the two malls he’d gone to. The bartender at the one place he showed up told him to leave. Said his story sounded sus and he wouldn’t help him do something illegal.

Anger pumped through him as he left. The asshole had said something about him sounding like a human trafficker. What was that about? He was just looking for a woman. Why did that guy have to get weird about it?

The next morning he headed to the shop, ready to get the people in charge of this location in line. They needed to be shown who was boss. He wouldn’t follow his dad’s lead and be wimpy. These people needed to learn who was in charge.

He stepped into the place, and the door chimed loudly throughout the shop. The sound of metal clanking in the back area stopped, and then a huge hulk of a man stepped into the office, wiping his hands on a rag.

Logan swallowed, trying to come up with words to speak. If he pissed off this guy, he might end up in a dumpster. He’d seen that movie before and didn’t need the pain.

He cleared his throat and tried for a smile before he explained why he was there. For a second, Logan thought the guy was going to hit him.

The man spat on the ground and shook his head. “Tell your dad I ain’t paying nothing. I’ll take the name off the shop before I pay that slimy bastard.”

Logan hadn’t encountered anyone who hadn’t apologized for being late on a payment. This guy was scary, and he didn’t want to get into a fight. His father would have to count this as a loss. The man would never be intimidated by Logan. This wasn’t a successful visit, and his father would be pissed. He had no way of making this guy pay up what he owed, and he certainly couldn’t ask him to look for Vera. His plans were falling apart. He wasn’t used to being told no or having to give up.

He drove away from the business, a hollow feeling inside. No one turned him down or told him no. He should go back there and show that guy who was boss. Fear slid through him, and he rejected the thought in an instant. Instead, he focused on getting to the airport. It was like a block had gone up in his mind, shielding him from the full reality that he was nothing when it came to anything outside his tiny Texas town.

The only way to get his power back was to find Vera and make her his. She’d started his downfall, and she would pay. There wasn’t any other option.