Moonlight on Nightingale Way (On Dublin Street 6)

“No Dad.” Maia shook her head, coming down the hall toward me.

“He’s not there,” Shannon said, obviously having heard.

“Have you checked the club?”

“That’s where I was. God, Grace, I would never have told him, but he was there. I didn’t have a class today and sometimes I take lunch to Logan when I don’t. The school admin office had a letter for me, and I opened it up in Logan’s office. It was from Ollie. When Logan saw my reaction, he snatched the letter off me before I could stop him. And then he just left and he won’t answer his phone. Oh fuck, Grace, what if he does something? I can’t let this happen to him again.” She started to cry, and there was a loud rustling sound. “Grace?” I heard Cole say. “Look, I want to murder this guy for contacting her more than anyone, but he’s not worth it. Do you have any clue where Logan is?”

I tried to breathe over my mounting fear. “There would be nowhere specific, but he knows people, Cole. He could be trying to track down Ollie. Our best bet is to try to do the same and get there first.”

“It could be too late. He’s been missing for a few hours.”

“Oh, Jesus, don’t say that… this… How is Shannon? Is she going to be okay?”

“She’s not afraid of that piece of shit anymore. She’s just afraid for Logan. I don’t know…”

His words faded for me at the sound of the front door opening, and both Maia and I spun around, relief pouring over us at the sight of a haggard Logan stepping inside the flat.

“Cole, he’s here.” I cut off whatever he had been saying. “Logan’s home.”

“Thank fuck. Is he okay? Did he do anything?”

“Dad!” Maia hurried past me and threw herself at him.

Logan immediately wrapped his arms around her, squeezing his eyes shut. I saw the strain on his face, but also the love. And I knew. “No, Cole. He didn’t do anything.” He wouldn’t jeopardize his life with Maia.

“Good. I’m coming over and I’m bringing Shannon. We need to talk.”

I agreed and hung up.

For a moment I could do nothing but stare at father and daughter, the sudden relief from such fear causing the adrenaline levels in my body to just drop. I felt exhausted.

By everything.

Maia eventually pulled back from Logan and he cupped her face, swiping her tears away. “I’m okay,” he promised her. “We’re okay.”

“Shannon thought you’d gone after that bloke.”

His jaw clenched and he shook his head.

He hadn’t gone after him, but he was fighting the urge.

“Maia,” I said, “I’m going to take your dad next door for just a minute or two. Is that okay?”

She frowned, clearly not too happy with me hijacking him and leaving her out of the loop, but she nodded.

“Grace.” Logan held up a hand, his expression horribly blank. “Not now.”

Although I was hurt, I glowered through it. “Yes, right now.”

His answer was to brush by me, not even looking at me. He strode down the hall into his bedroom and closed the door behind him.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at the closed door.

I knew what he was doing.

Shutting me out because he thought I’d shut him out.

“Grace?” Maia touched my hand, staring up at me with sympathy and concern.

So what did I do?

Did I avoid confronting him? Take my hurt and let it fester just as he did his?

He was in that room, probably stewing over every moment he’d spent in prison because of that bastard who had attacked Shannon.

And that was bigger than my hurt feelings.

I grasped Maia’s hand as I dug my keys out of my bag. I handed them to her. “Go next door, sweetheart.”

She gave me a watery, relieved smile before leaving the flat.

I in turn threw my shoulders back, preparing myself for battle as I marched down the hallway and pushed open his door.

He looked up from his perch on the bed. He was sitting on the edge of it, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tightly together. His eyes flashed at my intrusion. “Go home, Grace.”

“No.” I slammed the door shut behind me and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’ve never been afraid of you, Logan MacLeod, and I’m not starting now. I’m not leaving you.”

“Is that it?” he sneered. “I’m only interesting when I’m playing the wounded ex-con? First it was Maia; now it’s Shannon’s fucker of an ex coming back. And here you are all concerned again.”

I winced at his cutting tone. “I’m going to let that slide since you’re having a particularly bad day.”

“Kind of you.”

“Logan, don’t. I’ve spent all night and all day berating myself for just standing there like an idiot when you told me you loved me. I was just coming to see you when Maia came rushing up the stairs in a panic over this news of Ollie.”

He shook his head and looked at the floor. “Don’t. I don’t want to hear it.”

Anger spilled into my blood, momentarily eclipsing my sympathy and concern. “Don’t you dare,” I said, voice soft, but my tone drew his head up. “Don’t you play the rejected hero because I failed to say the words you bloody well know I already feel. You’ve known I’ve been in love with you since my reaction to you walking away after you screwed me against my kitchen wall!” My chest heaved as I tried to draw breath.

Logan lost the blank look in his eyes. “Are you ever going to let me live that down?”