The Logan Brothers - Books 1-4: (EXPOSURE, CRASH, TWIN PASSIONS, and ADDICTED TO YOU)

by Shorter, L. A.

  I drove up through the gate, the guard passing me through, and up to the house, stepping quickly out and moving towards the main door. I went to open it but it was locked, so knocked hard instead.

  A moment later a guard came rushing up, opening it up.

  “Where's my father,” I said. “I have to talk to him.”

  The guard looked surprised to see me, as if I'd been expected to run away again at the first sign of trouble. No, I'd done enough running for now.

  “I don't know Miss O'Brien,” he said. “He may not be up yet.”

  I walked past him and towards the large staircase going up the left hand side of the main hall. There was a gallery at the top, looking down on the hall and marked with doors leading into bedrooms and other areas of the mansion.

  I went straight for the master bedroom right in the middle and knocked.

  “Dad, it's Amy. I need to speak to you.” I had a conviction in my voice now, ready to lay everything out on the table.

  I heard no response.

  I knocked again, slightly more loudly this time.

  Again, nothing.

  I opened the door slowly and peered inside, and immediately heard a voice in the darkness.

  “You went to see him again didn't you?” the voice growled in the corner of the room, where a large armchair sat against the wall. I focused my eyes to see the silhouette of a man, of my father, sitting there, watching the door.

  “I told you not to see him again, and you went anyway.” His voice was tense, like it was about to explode. He sounded like he'd been drinking, his words full of menace.

  “That's why I'm here dad. I want to put all of this straight. Yeah, I went to see him last night, yeah, I stayed over. He's a nice boy, why does it matter so much to you.”

  “BECAUSE HE'S A LOGAN,” he roared, standing up from his chair. “He's just like his father – ruthless, manipulative, and a fucking cheat.”

  The last words came at me more clearly than the others. “A cheat?”

  “HE SCREWED MY WIFE, YOUR MOTHER. He, and all of his family, are nothing. He's not good enough for you.”

  “But wasn't that just a rumor? Jude said it was only a rumor.”

  “Of course he did! He's trying to manipulate you, just like his father manipulated me, and my wife.”

  He threw a whiskey glass to the floor and it shattered loudly, crashing against the wall. I shook my head. “No, mom wouldn't do that to you dad. She just wouldn't.”

  He huffed. “You have no idea what your mother would have done. She wasn't the saint you thought she was Amy.”

  “DON'T SPEAK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT!” I shouted back at him. “You don't get to talk about her like that to me, not after what you did.”

  He stumbled forward, his voice a growl. “Whatever happened to her, she deserved it.”

  His words hit me like a ton of bricks. It was the most despicable thing he could ever say.

  I couldn't hear it any more. Why had I come back to hear this? I only wanted to make things up, but what was the point. He was never going to listen. All he'd do was spout these lies.

  I turned and ran away once again, straight down the stairs. I could hear my father roaring in the bedroom, lumbering out onto the landing as I reached the door.

  “I WON'T LET YOU LEAVE ME AGAIN AMY. I WON'T LET YOU LEAVE...”

  I didn't listen to him. All I did was run to my car and drive away, tears rolling again down my cheeks. It was useless. He was useless.

  Jude was right – I had to escape him.

  ….

  Jude

  Oh fuck, my neck.

  I arched my head up and looked around the poker club. I couldn't see Amy. Jesus, she hadn't run out on me again had she?

  I rubbed my neck to get some feeling back as I stood. I still felt achy from the beating I'd got the previous week, and sleeping awkwardly in a damn poker chair certainly didn't help.

  “Amy,” I said, peering into the kitchen.

  Nothing.

  I turned back around and saw a note sitting on the table.

  Jude, thanks for last night. It meant the world to me. I've gone to see my father. I know you think I should leave, but I have to try to talk to him. I'm not willing to throw in my hand quite yet.

  Amy xxx

  Shit, so she'd gone back to see him. Well, at least she hasn't skipped town already.

  I turned to the stairs and walked up them gingerly, opening the door to the morning air. The sun was beating down, but there was a chill in the air, flowing up the alley from the bright street beyond.

  I locked the door and began walking towards the street. As I went I heard a sudden screech and the loud revving of an engine up the road. I rounded the corner of the alley to see Amy's car rushing down the road towards me.

  She pulled up outside and jumped out, her face looking slightly frantic.

  “Jude, I'm so glad you're still here.”

  She ran into me, hugging me.

  “What, what's going on?” I asked quickly.

  “It's my father. You were right, I should have gone, I shouldn't have seen him again. He's lost it, Jude, he's saying that the rumors are true, that my mom cheated on him with your dad. I'm scared Jude...I don't know what he'll do.”

  She was speaking fast, her words tumbling over each other.

  “OK, we need to get to your hotel, get your stuff. You need to leave town, today.”

  “But what about you?”

  “We'll worry about that later. Come on.”

  I jumped into the car and she saddled up next to me.

  “Where are you staying?”

  “Top of town. There's a small motel just outside the city on Mountview Road.”

  “Right,” I said, nodding. I knew just where it was.

  I gunned the engine and we sped off, shooting up the street. It was still early morning and the traffic remained heavy in the city center, so I detoured off to the right, taking the long route.

  “So what happened,” I asked as we went, glancing over at her. She looked almost frightened, her eyes wide and staring forward.

  “I don't know. He wasn't in his right mind. He'd been drinking. I don't even know if he'd slept. His men must have followed me to your club last night and seen me go in. He's not thinking straight Jude, he's convinced that your dad slept with my mom, that you're all the same. I don't know what he might do to you.”

  I put my own concerns to one side as she spoke, reassuring her that things would be fine once he'd calmed down, that he'd see sense and nothing would happen to me, or her. I was convinced by the latter, but had no idea what he might do to me. I didn't want to think about that right now.

  Within about 20 minutes we were cruising out of town, pushing the car to the max as we shot out onto the open road.

  “There,” she said, pointing over to the right.

  There was a basic motel set back against the road, small cabins lined up next to each other. It didn't look anything like the other hotel she'd been staying at before.

  “Right there in the middle. Number 5,” she spoke again as I pulled off the road and parked outside her cabin. I looked around, scanning my eyes across the other cars parked on the plot. None of them looked like the sort of cars Conor O'Brien or his men would use.

  I put the car in park and we both jumped out, running over to her room. She opened it up and quickly rushed to her drawers, pulling out her clothes and stuffing them into her bag. It reminded me of when she did the same thing that morning in the hotel. I guess she was used to moving from place to place, upping and leaving at the drop of a hat.

  I kept my eyes on the window as she went to work, looking out and suspiciously checking any car that passed by.

  “OK, done,” she said, pulling her bag upright.

  “That's all?” I asked, slightly surprised that she could drag her entire life around in such a small bag.

  A realization crossed her face. “Not quite. My car, my Porsche – it's parked in that underground par
king lot.”

  “Right, that's fine. We'll go get it, and I'll take your hire car back for you.”

  A sudden silence hit as she looked at me, her eyes turning upset. Then she ran in and hugged me, pulling me in for a kiss. “I'm so sorry about all this Jude. I wish...”

  “No time,” I said, cutting her off. “Come on, let's go.”

  I didn't want her telling me how thankful she was. I didn't want her saying that she'd never forget me, or what I'd done. I didn't want her saying anything like that. All I wanted was to get her out of town, and make sure she was safe. If there were to be any repercussions, they'd be mine to deal with.

  ….

  Amy

  I sat in the car, my bag thrown onto the back seat. The adrenaline that had been pumping through me was beginning to drain away, leaving my emotions bare.

  I looked over at Jude, who's eyes were set on the road. He was taking such a risk helping me like this. If my father knew he was doing this, I don't know what he'd do. Ever since I came back into town he'd seemed different – reverting to the perfect father one minute, and overly paranoid and unhinged the next.

  I couldn't remember him being like that when I used to live with him, with him and mom. He'd been cold, distant almost, his work his absolute priority. He was always lusting for more power, more control, more money. Me, and even my mother, seemed to fall by the wayside.

  Maybe the rumors were true. Maybe she did seek comfort from another man. Frankly, I couldn't blame her if she had. No, whatever he said, my mother was a saint. She was my support, my best friend, my shoulder to cry on. Her death changed my life completely, and my dad would never be able to change it back.

  The car lurched forward after stopping at a set of lights, pulling away from the traffic behind. Jude was silent behind the wheel, keeping his mind to the task. Get to the car, and get out. That's what he'd said. From then, he hadn't looked at me or said a word.

  The traffic continued to gather as we entered the center of town, but we made good progress, pushing forward at the lights, zipping in and out between cars where possible. Soon we were there, rounding the corner of the street and heading towards the parking lot where my car was stashed.

  I just hoped to God that my dad didn't know where I was. If he knew my car, he'd be able to track me. If that was the case, I'd be forced to sell and find a new motor. But then, if he did know, by then it would be too late.

  It was intensely ironic that I found myself in this position, forced to flee as I had before. Things had been going so well, our relationship slowly mending, but he could only keep the real Conor O'Brien inside for so long. I knew, eventually, it would come roaring back out. I guess, in a way, it was better it was sooner, rather than later.

  Jude turned down into the parking lot and through the barrier.

  “It's right there,” I said, gesturing to my Porsche, parked immediately to the left.

  He pulled in beside it and shut the engine down. For a moment we sat there, in silence, staring at the wall in front of us. This was it. I was leaving now, and just like last time, I wasn't sure I'd ever come back.

  “I'm sorry Amy,” Jude said, breaking the silence. “I've screwed things up for you, for you and your father.”

  I turned to him but he kept looking forward, staring blankly at the wind-shield.

  “You did nothing wrong. It was all him, his own insecurities and hang-ups that have done this. Please don't blame yourself.”

  “I wish things were different,” he said lightly, now turning to face me. “I wish you could stay.”

  “Well, come with me!” I said without thinking. “We can travel together, escape together.”

  A smile creased his mouth at my words, but his head was shaking slightly. “I wish I could, but it's not possible for me. My life's here. I've got responsibilities, my family. I can't leave.”

  “But if you stay, I don't know what might happen. Please, come with me, at least for your own safety. It doesn't have to be forever, just for now.”

  “I'll be fine Amy. He won't do anything to me. When he calms down, he'll come to his senses. Maybe, one day, the two of you can move past this, with me out of the picture.”

  “But I don't want you out of the picture. I want you in my picture.”

  He smiled, his eyes dropping to my lips and back up to my eyes. “I've never met a girl like you, a girl who I clicked with like you. I'll always be in your picture Amy.”

  I tear was building in my eye again. Jesus, I could have filled a bathtub with the tears I'd shed recently.

  “Don't cry,” he said, leaning over to me and putting his palm to my cheek. “I'll come see you, when all of this settles down. Maybe we could meet in a casino somewhere, just like how we met.”

  He smiled as he did before, before all of this shit descended onto us, and I saw the charming, confident, beautiful young man I met. I couldn't quite believe that that had been only a few short weeks ago. When I thought about it, I didn't really know him, not properly.

  But I did know one thing. I knew that I didn't want to say goodbye.

  He slid his hand off my face and stepped out of the car, opening the door to the back seat and dragging out my luggage. I followed, pulling my keys from my handbag and clicking the button to unlock my Porsche.

  “So, I guess this is it,” he said, putting my bag into the car. “You've got my number so....call me. Jesus, it's the first time I've ever said that! Isn't that your job?” He laughed lightly, bringing a smile to my lips.

  “There you go,” he said, “there's that pretty smile.”

  He moved in and hugged me, his arms wrapping around me for the last time. “Seriously, though, it's been a blast meeting you Amy O'Brien. Perhaps a little crazy at times and well, downright dangerous....but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'd happily take a million beatings if it meant seeing you again.”

  “You will,” I croaked as he released me. “Soon.”

  He smiled, knowing that's all I could give him. “So, I guess this is it. I'll look forward to your call.”

  Those were the final words he said to me, before his lips hit mine. The kiss was soft, tender, lacking the passion we shared before. No, this time there was more behind it. It meant something. It was real.

  And then, before I could reach out and hold his hand and stop him from leaving, or tell him how much he meant, he was gone. He turned with a final smile, walked over to the hire car I'd left with him, and sped away out into the bright morning sunshine.

  Chapter 14

  Jude

  I'd never had to say goodbye to anyone before, no one I cared about anyway.

  I felt strangely empty driving away from Amy, like a part of me was suddenly gone. I mean, Jesus Christ, I'd only known her for a few weeks, so why the hell was I feeling like this?!

  Pull yourself together Jude and man the fuck up. She's just a girl, there are plenty of them out there. And maybe I'll see her soon....maybe?

  I was cruising along now in Amy's hire car, driving back to the lot where she'd rented it to drop it off. I glanced in my wing mirror and saw a black car pulling up close to me. Its windows were blacked out so I couldn't see the driver.

  It revved its engine and suddenly lurched forward, pulling right in front of me and blocking my path. I hit the brakes and tried to swerve round it, but it moved with me, causing me to bump into it with a heavy thud as the car came to a halt.

  My heart starting pounding as I put the car in reverse and prepared to shoot backwards. I arched my neck to look behind me and saw another black car drive in and block my path. I gunned the engine and shot back, bumping this time into the oncoming car behind.

  I was locked in, nowhere to go.

  Before I knew it men starting jumping out of the cars and rushing forward towards me. They opened the door and hauled me out, violently pushing me up against the side of the car.

  “WHERE'S THE GIRL,” one shouted, “WHERE'S MR O'BRIEN'S DAUGHTER?!”

  He punched me hard i
n the stomach, causing me to bend forward and splutter.

  “ANSWER ME!” he shouted again, grabbing at my neck and pushing me hard against the car.

  “Gone,” I gasped, “and out of his reach.”

  The man let go of my neck and stepped back, pulling a phone from his pocket. He dialed quickly and then spoke.

  “Boss, she's not here. We found her car but she wasn't inside. It was the guy, he says she's gone.”

  I saw him listening intently and nodding slowly.

  “Yes sir, of course.”

  He shut off the phone and clipped his fingers to the men holding me up against the car. They thrust me back, dragging me along the road towards the back car. I tried to struggle and resist but they were too strong, throwing me into the back of the car and shutting the door.

  I fell into the seat and immediately jumped forward to open the door but it was locked. There was a divider blocking the view to the front seats. I punched at it but it was solid.

  Then a man stepped into the driver's seat and the engine began rumbling. I shouted at him but he couldn't hear, my voice contained within my moving prison.

  I was trapped, and I knew exactly where they were taking me.

  ….

  The car pulled to a stop outside a grand mansion on the outskirts of town. The place was huge, as large and intimidating as the man who owned it.

  I heard doors opening and shutting quickly and suddenly a man appeared at my door, reaching in and grabbing me to pull me out. I didn't resist. I knew there was no point. I was in the lions den now, and there was no escape.

  I stumbled out into the sunshine outside the mansion and was dragged up the steps towards the main door. The door opened and I was forced inside, dragged through a large hall, and down some steps. I was being taken under the building, down into a cellar, dark and cold and lifeless.

  We continued down a corridor, the walls built of bare stone, and towards a metal door. A guard opened it with a heavy metallic creek and I saw a single chair, fixed to the floor in the middle of the room. It looked like some sort of torture or interrogation room, wrist and ankle locks built into the chair.