“I woke, and you weren’t next to me. I searched the house and thought…” He stops in front of me, a frown creasing his forehead as he takes in the bruising of my face. I could hardly look at myself when I crawled out of bed. Cuts, scrapes, and purple marks are all over me.
“Thought what? That I’d leave, someone would get me? We’re safe here, right?”
“Yes, we’re safe. I’m worried about you is all. I don’t like seeing you hurt.”
“I don’t like seeing you hurting either, Logan.” Sadness sinks to the pit of my stomach as I take in the pain behind his eyes.
“I know.”
Sorrow spins around us, and I search his expression to make sure he’s okay.
He’s far from okay.
A fist grips my chest when I notice a tear. One lonely tear stuck to Logan’s eyelash. A hushed conversation transpires between the two of us — remorse and misery and pain.
“I told you I wouldn’t keep things from you. There are—”
“Don’t. Please, not today. Not now. I know there’s more behind what happened. Give us time before we have to talk about anything else except us.”
Logan clenches his eyes closed tightly, and I frame his face with my palms, pressing my lips to his.
“I know there’s nothing we can do about what happened. I want you to know I would have loved our child. I would have taken care of both of you. Protected you the way I promised. If it’s time to yourself you need, I’ll give it to you. Just promise me that you and I are okay.”
My heart stalls, the agony in Logan’s voice slicing through me.
Tears burn my eyes as I wrap my arms around his waist. My face planting into his chest. He feels so good. So comforting. I wish I could dig inside him and take this all away.
If only I knew how. If only life would let us be and the struggles would quit dropping out of the sky.
I melt into him when he starts rubbing my back in slow, lazy circles.
“We’re more than okay, Logan. I’m sorry I acted out at the club. It was wrong of me to not think about you wanting to do things for me. I think you’ve done more than enough for a while.” I glance at the house. If a storm wasn’t coming, I’d sit here all day and stare at it. “There’s not much we can say. We lost a baby; we didn’t lose each other. We’ll get through this as long as we don’t blame ourselves.” If only I could stop blaming myself.
“Ellie, this has nothing to do with our disagreement. That’s over and forgotten. I love you. As far as me doing things for you. Don’t even start.”
“I love you too.” A smile crests my lips. It’s a small one. It’s welcomed though, and it’s a start to healing.
For a minute we stand there and let the weight press in on us while the wind whips up and thunder rolls in the distance. If Logan wants to get in a run, he better leave soon.
“I know I said I didn’t want to talk about it. I also know the type of men you, Lane, and Gabe are. You all blame yourselves. I lied to the police to protect every one of us. Mostly Lexi. Please tell me those women are alive. Sadie, she wanted to frame you guys for murdering them.”
“I know you did. The women are alive. Come to find out, Sadie isn’t stable. I don’t know where she is or what’s to become of her. Honestly, I don’t care. Lane will take care of it.”
I cling to him, feeling a chunk of weight lifting off my shoulders that she’ll never get her hands on Lexi, as he tells me Sadie’s father is the governor and how he’s not a good man, but they don’t believe he knew she was after me, or that she confessed to killing Stephanie. God, what an awful mess. I’ve heard the rumors that people think he’s on the shady side, still, he has to be heartbroken over it all.
Pressing my cheek against Logan’s chest, I stare at the house.
“Are you going to be alright? Is Lane okay?”
Logan’s arms wrap around me tighter, his chin resting on my head.
“We’re all going to be okay, Ellie.”
Sometimes I wonder if those words are true, especially with what waits on the other side of this mountain, I can’t seem to take a step forward to climb.
Shadow.
“I love everything you did to this house. My mother would love the bright kitchen and my dad would love the gym you put in the basement. I never want to leave here. Before my mom became sick, we used to spend a lot of time on the beach. The minute my dad came home, we’d eat dinner and swim in the pool or the ocean. There’s so much of me here, so much I want to show you. I can’t thank you enough for this gift, Logan. It means more to me than words can express.” Lifting my head to look at him, I try to smile, but the intensity of the miscarriage hanging heavy between us weakens my trembling lips.
“You’re welcome. I wish I had more of them to give you.”
God, this man who came at me like a tornado, churning the depths of my broken life into something I never thought could be fixed never ceases to amaze me.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips, my mind filling with memories that come rushing in with the waves.
“Sometimes my dad would make breakfast and the three of us would find a spot and eat on the beach. You want to give me more of them, let me make us breakfast and sit with me until the storm gets closer. Then we can watch it from the house. There’s nothing like watching a storm on the ocean. Maybe later I can take you to their graves and you can meet them.”
His thumb brushes across my lips, and I’m pinned in place by his rapt stare.
“Okay. You probably shouldn’t carry the food down here. Let me help?”
“I’m fine, Logan, please don’t treat me like I’m fragile. I noticed the fridge was fully stocked when I grabbed a bottle of water on my way out here. I haven’t cooked in that kitchen in a long time. You want to give me something, give me that just this once, please. We have plenty of time to cook together. Stay here and enjoy the view, I’ll be back soon.”
Logan must have called someone to let them know he was coming because the place was all lit up and the fruit was fresh.
“I called the contractor who remodeled about seeing if there was a food delivery service. His wife volunteered to grocery shop. Let me know if there’s something you need. If you’re up to it, we can stop at the store.” He slides his finger to the pulse on my neck, his eyes lighting up when it begins to race under his touch. “You’re not fragile, Ellie, you’re the strongest woman I’ve met.”
I don’t feel strong, I feel weak and lost. Being here is the best medicine to get it all back. I’m not about to admit that to Logan, he’s not going to let me out of his sight for more than the few minutes it will take to make breakfast as it is. He’d hover if he knew how lost I am.
“Okay. Fifteen minutes and then come help me.” I’ll give him that to ease his mind.
Gathering my flip-flops, I make my way toward the house, rinse my feet by the door and my heart squeezes in happiness when I enter the light green and earth tone colored kitchen. My mother would have loved this kitchen and Renita is going to go crazy when she sees it.
Smiling, I take two steps and my smile falls along with thinking the bad that had tried taking over this house would never stain it again when my eyes land on the man with his hip leaning against the refrigerator door.
Bald head, long beard, and a gun pointed in my direction.
“It’s good to be home, Ellie. I’ve missed you. By the looks of it, you need a reminder of who you belong to.”
Shadow. He found me. He’s here.
Fury ignites dangerous, deadly flames in his eyes, and I scream in alarm as he lifts the gun and pulls the trigger.
Thank you for reading Undone, book 2 in the Unbound Trilogy.
TAP HERE to preorder Untwist, the conclusion to Ellie and Logan’s story, releasing November 5th.
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About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Kathy Coopmans is a Michigan native where she lives with her husband, T
ony. They have two son’s Aaron and Shane.
She is a sport nut. Her favorite sports include NASCAR, baseball, and football.
She has recently retired from her day job to become a full-time writer.
She has always been an avid reader and at the young age of fifty decided she wanted to write. She claims she can do several things at once and still stay on task. Her favorite quote is “I got this”.
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Undone (Unbound Trilogy Book 2) Page 20