by Janie Marie
He nodded, his lost expression breaking her heart even more. “They were going to kill us and leave us for her to see when they caught her. They promised she’d look into our dead eyes as they fucked her. And only when they were done would they put her out of her misery.”
Kylie squeezed his hand as it began to shake in hers. She could tell he’d never spoken about this. It was all rushing out of him like he couldn’t stop if he tried.
“I could barely think as they argued about who would die first. But I blurted out that it should be me. I knew it wasn’t much, but it might give Ryder the opening to attack them—or at least a chance to get away. They laughed, but they agreed I was the pussy out of us. They both aimed at me. One at my head, one at my heart. I swear, they got that shit from movies.”
He shook his head and closed his eyes. “I just surrendered to my end, closed my eyes, and prayed for her to forgive me, for someone to protect her. I heard them laughing, then two shots went off.”
He stared straight ahead. “I thought I was dead. I thought I must have gone to Hell or something because I could feel the blood on my face. And with the shit I’d done wrong, I would never get into Heaven. But then she was there, screaming and crying as she tackled me.
“My hands were secured behind my back with zip-ties, so I fell over, but she was really there. I felt her shaking, felt her tears soaking my shirt, felt her fingers shaking as she tried to cut me free. And that’s when I saw it. The silver gun on the ground in front of me, and the two dead boys.”
Logan’s entire body trembled beside hers. “Luc emerged from the darkness. He had some masked men with him, and he was furious as he watched Janie free Ryder. Then he started yelling about how we fucked the entire plan. I was still in shock, but I knew Ryder was preparing to run with Janie. But”—he smiled sadly—“she turned to Luc and gave him a single nod. And Luc shut up and started ordering the men to destroy the bodies and clean the area. Just like that, Janie became his. So we’d be safe.”
Her mind was reeling. “She made a deal with him?”
“Yes.” He sighed, shutting his eyes. “I can’t tell you about him, or her. It’s not the type of shit you learn and live to tell another person. But she’s forever tied to Luc. And it’s our fault.”
“It’s not your fault,” she said quickly. “And this sounds stupid. What could he possibly want with an eighteen-year-old girl?”
“She’s not exactly a regular girl.” He sighed, rubbing his face. “Her family alone makes her desirable. The Knights are powerful. They run major corporations all over the world, just like the Godson family. With her at his side, Luc is truly king. Now she’s just stalling him. Because when she takes her place with him, the Knights and Ryder are his to control.”
“She’s a tool,” Kylie said, bitter.
The word made him flinch, and he said, “Not to him. To Luc, she’s a queen with the power to help him rule the Knights, his brothers, and my family. Every Grimm inside the business would have to answer to him, because she’s family.”
Kylie could only stare at him in disbelief. He really believed this nonsense, that one teenage girl could help a man who believed he was some kind of king rule powerful men. And it had ruined Logan’s life, his entire future.
Ryder’s voice shattered her musings about the previous night. “Babe, take your pills.”
Kylie blinked a few times and stared ahead. Janie was sitting across from her and Logan, and Ryder was pouring Dr Pepper into her glass. He opened a few prescription bottles, and Janie held her hand out without saying anything, waiting for him to pour a pill from each bottle. When she swallowed the last pill, she gagged a little before receiving a kiss to her forehead.
God, she really is crazy.
Logan squeezed Kylie’s leg under the table because she was staring with her mouth open.
“Have you never seen someone take medication before?” Ryder asked, his harsh tone biting at her skin.
“Babe,” said Janie the same time Logan called out, “Ryder.”
Kylie swallowed and looked at Janie, who only smiled at her. It wasn’t the smile she’d given her yesterday though. It was forced.
“She needs to stop staring at you like you’re a fucking science experiment,” Ryder said, his voice louder as Janie cooed to him.
“She’s just curious,” Janie said, but even then, she didn’t sound the same. She sounded like a small child. Ryder didn’t seem to like that.
“Curious my ass.” He glared at Kylie.
“Enough.” Logan kept his eyes trained on Ryder.
“I’m sorry,” Kylie whispered, her heart racing under Ryder’s stare. He might not be the killer, but he was willing to be.
Janie put her hand over Ryder’s as she replied, “I take medicine to help with my PTSD and other stuff. Ryder helps me remember to take them because I don’t like to. Swallowing pills bothers me now.” Janie finally smiled, but it was all for Ryder.
“It’s none of her business.” Ryder’s voice was so loud it hurt to listen to him speak.
Gawain spoke up, putting authority into his order. “Boys, you both need to relax, or we’re sending Kylie home and taking Janie away till this mess blows over.”
“It’s fine,” said Janie when Ryder let out an angry noise at the threat being issued.
Janie kissed Ryder’s cheek and whispered in his ear until he turned to peck her lips. He started eating.
“He just doesn’t like people staring,” Janie said when Kylie still couldn’t look away, “or judging me.”
“I wasn’t judging,” Kylie said quickly, her voice a hushed whisper while she covered Logan’s shaking hand.
“Yeah.” Janie smiled, but it was clear she didn’t believe her. “Everything’s fine, right, babe?”
Ryder grunted and stuffed more food in his mouth.
Janie returned her focus to Kylie, her eyes flashing with fire. “Sleep well?”
Kylie tensed. “I slept fine, thanks.”
Those vibrant hazel eyes stayed on her for a moment longer before shifting to Logan. He was still glaring at Ryder, which might’ve been why Janie’s tone darkened. “Logan, put yourself in his shoes. You wouldn’t like someone staring at Kylie over any of her personal issues either. You know why it bothers him, and you know why he’s really mad.”
Logan fumed as he glared between the couple but said nothing.
Janie’s eyes narrowed. “And don’t forget you’ve reacted worse when something was said to her. This is the same.”
“It’s not the same,” Logan said between clenched teeth. “She didn’t say shit about you!”
Ryder slammed his hand down on the table and stood, glaring at Logan. “No, you just opened your fucking mouth and spilled every one of her secrets.”
Logan stood up, his eyes dangerous. Kylie grabbed his hand as Janie wrapped her arms around Ryder to keep him from lunging over the table.
“I had no choice,” Logan yelled back.
“Bullshit.” Ryder carefully peeled Janie off him and nudged her over to Gawain before stepping around the table. “We made one rule, Grimm. And that was to keep our mouths shut. I warned you not to say anything. Everyone warned you.”
“Stop.” Janie tried to break free from Gawain, but she was held tightly against her brother as Logan and Ryder stood toe to toe. “Babe, please let me handle this.”
Ryder ignored her and smirked at Logan. “You’ve been good on your word this whole time—but Blondie sucks your dick, and suddenly you’re confessing like a church girl who touched herself for the first time.”
Logan swung before the gasp finished leaving her lips. He hit Ryder right in the jaw, and it was total chaos from there. They exchanged blow after blow. It was nothing like the fight they’d had yesterday. Each punch was full of hatred.
“Stop them,” Janie screamed, but her brothers simply held her back and watched.
Kylie didn’t even know what she was screaming. She just kept yelling and hoping the hits hurt l
ess than they appeared to.
Finally, someone whistled, and the brothers sprang into action to pull them apart.
“You keep your goddamn mouth shut,” Ryder hollered, shoving Gareth and one of the other brothers so he could take another swing at Logan. It hit, but so did Logan’s punch to his side. It took every brother but the one holding Janie to get them apart.
“And you better pray your little girlfriend learns from this.” Ryder spat out blood as Janie broke free. She ran to him, sobbing as four of her brothers dragged Ryder away. Though Ryder’s threats didn’t end. “You’re dead if she says anything. You’re both dead!”
Logan shouted right back, “Don’t threaten her.”
“Fuck you, bitch.” Ryder shoved Janie’s brothers and started to come back, but more of them joined to help, and they pushed him completely out of the room.
Gawain glanced at the mess they’d made before focusing on Logan. “Enough, Logan.”
Kylie looked away from the doorway six of the brothers had pulled Ryder through. Would he come back—would he kill Logan? Kill her?
“You know better than to start a fight in our home,” Gawain said, shaking his head. “And you know he’s right—you should have talked to them before saying anything. The whole house heard you last night.”
Logan shoved the men off him. His cut had opened back up along with another on his lip. “I know that, but he needs to watch how he talks about Kylie.”
One of the elder brothers, she thought his name was Lamorak, handed Logan a towel. “You know that wasn’t what happened just now.”
Logan snatched the rag from him, his heavy breaths not slowing as he stared the man down. This brother was bigger than Logan, about the size of Ryder, and there was accusation in the look he gave Logan.
One of the other brothers guided Lamorak away, but the man kept his gaze on Logan until he was out of view.
It was only then that Logan turned, searching for her. “You okay?”
She nodded, his image blurry through her tears.
His face softened and he crooked his fingers. “I’m sorry, baby. Come here.”
She didn’t even wait and ran right to him, wrapping her arms around his body.
He was hot, sweaty, and breathing heavily, but he hugged her, murmuring in her hair. “I’m sorry, Hood.”
She shook her head and looked up at him. His face was flushed and smeared with blood, but she didn’t care and stood on her toes to try to kiss him.
Chuckling softly, he dipped his face down and kissed her. She tasted his blood and the moistness of his skin, but there was still that sweet taste of Logan there to overpower it. In fact, she wanted more of his kiss and would have taken more if Gawain hadn’t interrupted them.
“A moment, Logan?”
Logan pulled back, smiling at her before looking over her shoulder to nod. “Yeah.” He looked back at her, pecking her before he lifted his rag to wipe her lips. “I’ll be right there in the hall with him. It’s going to be okay . . . Stay here.”
She shook her head and gripped him. She didn’t want anyone taking him anywhere.
“Easy, love,” Gawain told her. His voice was friendly enough, but he wasn’t smiling like he had been yesterday. “I just want to make sure we’re clear on a few things. Gareth will bring your bag. Janie and Ryder will have to be late for school, but you should go so your family doesn’t give you more trouble.”
“Okay,” she said before Logan walked off with him.
She could see them where they stood. Logan was still angry, but she could tell he was calmer with Gawain.
“Here you go, Kylie.” Gareth handed her backpack to her.
“Thank you.” She shakily put it on. “Should I run for my life? He’s not going to come kill me, is he?”
He looked her in the eyes, silent for a few seconds before he shook his head. It looked like he was clearing it, not that he was telling her no. “She’ll hold him steady. Always has.”
His response didn’t comfort her. “Do you know what he was talking about?”
Gareth stopped what he was doing and nodded. “You should keep it to yourself.”
“I swear I won’t say anything. I don’t know why he’d think I would.”
He frowned, giving her an easy shrug. “You’re a stranger to all of us, and Ryder trusts very few. But he trusted Logan with this. Janie trusted Logan. Now Logan’s sold her out for a stranger.”
His words were like knives. No one ever cherished her, and she was here receiving lectures because Janie was cherished while she was simply forced to be around them.
Gareth sighed as he cleaned up some spilled food. “It’s not your fault. This is Logan’s fault, and Ryder’s not a person you cross. Logan crossed too many lines last night—we all heard, darling. Maybe Logan wanted Ryder to come and stop him—I don’t know, but don’t expect to be in Logan’s life and not find yourself witnessing those two go at it. I’m with Ryder on this one; Logan messed up.”
Kylie bit her lip. Her heart and mind were at war. She wanted to scream at him that Logan had every right to tell her, and that she had every right to know, but she was afraid. The man before her wasn’t as easy-going as he’d appeared the night before. “It’s still no reason to fight.”
“Logan swung first,” he replied without looking away from the mess he was cleaning.
She balled her fists, her eyes pricking with tears. “He shouldn’t have said that about me. Logan was just taking up for me.”
He returned his focus to her. “Darling, I won’t argue with you. Logan had a right to defend your honor, and he did. It doesn’t excuse what he’s done. Ryder had every right to call him out. He simply chose to do it by forcing Logan to strike first. In his mind, Janie will hurt less this way.”
“This was about her?” Kylie’s heart felt like it had been lit on fire.
Gareth studied her, frowning. “Of course it was. You have nothing to do with their past together, and this was a betrayal of their past. Logan’s betrayal, not yours. He put you first, which is fine, but you don’t do it at the expense of your best friend—the person who saved your life. Not at the expense of other people’s lives.”
“He didn’t even put me first.” She wanted to leave. She had no idea how this went from her being insulted to being all about Janie.
Gareth leaned against the table. “You’re upset. Logan’s put you in the middle of something you have no business being in, but I’ll tell you this, he put you first, and that’s going to cause a lot of problems.”
She almost slapped him. “Am I not supposed to be first for my own boyfriend?”
A tight smile came and went on his face. “You’re missing the point. Logan betrayed her last night. Yes, you deserved to be aware of what type of people you were with, but Logan asked for a favor, and we gave one. She welcomed you here, knowing you probably hate her guts . . .” He watched her, shaking his head when she didn’t argue with him. “His brother and father will have his ass for this, not just Ryder. They’re worse than my brothers—and as you can tell, some of them don’t like Logan. They respected him a tiny bit until last night. You don’t toss those you love to the wolves. You don’t sacrifice the one who sacrificed everything for you.”
“You might as well say what you’re getting at,” she spat. “She’s more important than me, and he’s supposed to do everything for her because he was in love with her.”
“Love has no rules, darling.” He smiled, and it was full of pity, infuriating her. “Logan is afraid of losing you, and he proved last night he’s willing to do anything, even sacrifice her, for you. Actually, he proved that before last night, didn’t he? I’d say that tells you a lot about his feelings. But it’s still not right. There’s still a consequence for it.”
She had no idea what he was getting at now. She didn’t do anything wrong.
When she stayed quiet, he chuckled. “Be careful with Logan. He’s being reckless. You should be curious about why he’d have Luc brought in.”
Kylie was confused. “He brought him in for Janie.”
He shook his head, walking away as he spoke over his shoulder. “Ryder didn’t need Luc’s help. Remember that.”
Five
Faith
Kylie sniffed as she lightly traced her fingers over Logan’s swollen knuckles.
“Don’t cry, Hood,” he said, lifting their hands from her lap to place a kiss on the back of hers. “I’m fine. I promise.”
She shook her head. Everything was overwhelming her. She wasn’t used to feeling so much, and it was making her angry. So angry she was crying and unsure of what she was doing anymore. “It’s my fault though. Everything is my fault.”
He sighed, letting go of her hand so he could make a turn. “It’s not. That had nothing to do with you.”
Again, fury bubbled up inside her. “Yes, it did.”
“No.” He kept his eyes on the road. “He was going to pick a fight with me sooner or later.”
“I didn’t even do anything wrong.” Kylie rubbed her eyes, her mind all over the place, never settling, always jumping from one thought or feeling to the next.
“I told you—it wasn’t anything to do with you. It’s about me.” He gripped the steering wheel and let out a few curse words under his breath. “I shouldn’t have told you anything without talking to them first.”
“I deserved to know,” she told him. She just hated that Logan was so entangled with the truth she thought she was going to unravel about Ryder.
“I know, Hood. It was stupid to send you with her, but I trust her more than anyone, and the Knights’ estate is a safe place. It just wasn’t my secret alone to tell.” He put his hand on her thigh. “But I promise this wasn’t really about you—it was me. Things will calm down.”
She relaxed under his touch, and she let go of the hatred brewing. “I was just angry and scared. And I guess I’m sorry for staring at her like that. I’ve never seen someone take medication for their—whatever it is she was taking it for.”
Logan squeezed her leg. “Baby, she’s used to it. Well, no, she’s not. It sucks. I guess it was just as hard for him to see her go through people making fun of her. You weren’t—I know—but he was already pissed. He was going to use whatever he could to start a fight.”