Chapter 185

Ella

When I finally tore my gaze away from the brilliant sky that hung over us, I was met with Logan’s blue-eyed gaze in the dim light of the car.

My eyes widened slightly, and for what felt like the longest time, we just looked at each other. I felt as though he was searching me, searching my gaze for any hint of insincerity in my words.

But it was the truth. Everything I had told him, everything from Marina’s threats to the hitman who she said she had hired to watch my every move, was the cold, hard truth. And honestly, I was terrified—terrified that, when I returned to my phone on the bleachers, there would be a missed call from Marina.

Somehow, I suspected that she had heard everything. Somehow, despite Logan’s attempts to get us out of her range of sight—or rather, hearing—I felt as though she was still here, watching and listening to my every move.

But it was too late now. The truth was out and it was up to Logan to figure out what to do next. My hands were tied; my first priority was to my sister, and I would stand by that.

And yet, instead, Logan remained silent, his eyes searching mine in the dim light of the car. His expression was a mixture of concern and worry, not the anger I had expected.

Finally, he broke the silence, his voice calm and steady. “I wish you hadn’t had to deal with this all on your own for so long, Ella.”

I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his unexpected response. “Wait… You’re not mad?” I asked cautiously, my eyes searching his for any insincerity now.

Logan reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from my face, his touch gentle. “No, Ella,” he said, his voice soft. “I’m not mad at you. I’m just worried about you. And your sister. And… I’m furious with Marina for putting you in this position.”

Relief washed over me, and tears welled up in my eyes. I had been carrying the weight of my secrets for so long, afraid of how people would react if they ever found out. Logan’s understanding meant more to me than words could express.

“I thought you would be angry,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “Hell, I thought you were going to take me out here and kill me.”

“Kill you?” Logan scoffed. “Is that what you think of me, Ella?”

I shrugged. By now, the tears were flowing freely, rolling down my cheeks in tiny rivers. It was funny, how I had somehow managed to hold those tears in and keep my chin up throughout the past few weeks; but now that it was out in the open, now that I had an ally in all of this, they poured out.

“I don’t know,” I murmured. “I don’t know what to think anymore, or who to trust. And I thought… I thought you would hate me for what I did. That you would think I was weak, or untrustworthy.”

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my cheek as he spoke. “I can understand why you did what you did,” he said gently. “You were trying to protect your sister, and I can’t fault you for that. That’s brave, Ella.”

“Brave?” I asked with a wry chuckle.

Logan nodded. “Ella, you put everything on the line to keep Daisy safe. You held onto this, fought this battle all on your own, for her sake. And I know you; I know you didn’t once think about yourself.”

I almost laughed. Logan was right; I had been so focused on Daisy’s safety that I didn’t once think about my own. Even now, all I could really think about was her.

“You’re really sure no one could hear us?” I found myself asking.

Logan grabbed me firmly by both shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “Ella, I’ve been in this business too long to not know how these things work,” he assured me. “Trust me. We’re safe here.”

I nodded. In that moment, I knew that I could trust him.

“But now we need to figure out how to fix this,” he continued, his voice turning serious.

I wiped away my tears and focused on him, determined to find a way out of the mess I had created. “How can we fix it?” I asked. “How can we stop her?”

Logan’s gaze shifted to the dark expanse around us, and he seemed to think for a moment before he nodded to himself.

“When we get back tonight, there will very likely be a missed call from Marina,” he explained. “I want you to call her back. Tell her that I took you on a wild joy ride around the desert and that nothing else happened. Got it?”

I nodded. “Okay. What next, though? What about the rest of the case? She wants me to put you in prison, Logan.”

As I spoke, Logan’s jaw hardened. Then, finally, he nodded curtly. “I have a plan,” he said, “but Ella, I can’t tell you.”

I furrowed my brow. “Why not?”

“Because… If she tries any methods to get information out of you, I don’t want you to know anything.”

I swallowed, feeling the weight of his implications. It was terrifying, the thought of Marina torturing me for information. But it made sense; if I really didn’t know anything, then it would be easier to convince her that I was oblivious.

And that could potentially save not just my life, but also Daisy’s.

“But for now,” Logan continued, his tone shifting, “I want you to move in with me.”

I stared at him in shock as the words sank in. “Move in with you?”

Logan nodded firmly. “Yes,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. “And I won’t take no for an answer. It’s for your safety, Ella. I don’t want this ‘hitman’ that Marina spoke of to hurt you, assuming he actually exists and that it’s not just all smoke and mirrors.”

I hesitated, my mind racing with all the implications of his request. Moving in with Logan meant being in close proximity to him, sharing my life with him in a way I had never imagined. It was a daunting prospect, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it.

Logan must have seen the uncertainty in my eyes because he reached out and held my face in his hands, his gaze intense.

“Ella, I need you to understand,” he said, his voice filled with urgency. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you and Daisy. I can’t bear the thought of something happening to you because of me.”

I stared into his eyes, the sincerity and determination in his gaze leaving no room for doubt. Logan was willing to go to great lengths to keep me safe, even if it meant putting himself at risk.

“Are you sure you’re not mad at me?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

He brushed his thumb against my cheek, his touch gentle. “I’m mad at myself,” he admitted, his voice filled with regret. “I should have protected you sooner. But I’m going to remedy that now.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I leaned into his touch, feeling the warmth of his palm against my cheek. “Logan,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “You don’t have to—”

“Shh,” he insisted, shaking his head. “It’s too late. I’ve made a promise, not only to your father, but to myself; and I won’t let any harm come to you, Ella.”

He paused, our breaths mingling in the cool air of the car as the stars twinkled overhead, before he continued.

“Even if I have to go to prison.”