Run the Risk

“Yes.”

Pepper glanced at Logan with sharp worry. He understood her concern, but he didn’t know what he could do about it.

“You’ll watch my dog?” Reese asked her.

Alice stood there, lost in thought for too many heartbeats until she finally pulled herself together. “Yes, Cash will be safe and waiting for you when you return.”

“I want you to be waiting, as well.”

She lifted her chin. “I’m not running off.”

“Good to know.”

Logan figured there was a whole lot going on there, but now wasn’t the time to ask about it.

“Let’s go.” Reese hauled the other man off the floor and, ignoring his complaints, half dragged him from the room. Alice took the dog’s leash and followed Reese.

“Dash?”

Being a cop’s brother, Dash knew enough to stand just outside the perimeter of destruction. Smart. Logan drew his attention. “Would you mind making sure that no neighbors wander in?”

He scrutinized Logan, glanced at Pepper, and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, sure. No problem.”

Amused, Logan said to Pepper, “My brother is concerned for me, but he’s manning up so he won’t upset you.”

“He’s considerate.” She narrowed her eyes at Rowdy. “Unlike my brother.”

Rowdy tossed a sheet over Andrews. “How’s that for consideration?”

She shuddered. “It’s morbid but…thank you.”

Logan would have worried about him taking off, except that he knew Rowdy wouldn’t leave his sister.

Pepper was damn good insurance toward a new life for Rowdy. And that pleased Logan, because they both deserved so much.

Pepper gazed in the direction Alice had gone. “I think something very tragic must have happened to that poor woman.”

“Probably.” Logan drew her closer to kiss her brow. “But she’ll be okay.” Reese would see to it…somehow. “What about you?”

She stroked back his hair, touched a bruise on his jaw. “What about me?”

He’d already told her that he loved her; no reason to belabor the point right now. “You’re doing all right?”

“Andrews is gone, thanks to you.” She exchanged the bloody towel for a fresh one and winced. “Where are those damned paramedics, anyway?”

Peterson said, “I’ll check on them.”

Logan struggled to his feet.

“What are you doing?” In a near panic, Pepper scrambled up beside him.

He didn’t want her to be in the same room with a dead body, and beyond that, he had no intention of sitting on his ass while others around him handled things.

Unfortunately, he barely made it out of the room before the paramedics were on him. He clasped Pepper’s hand. “I want you with me tonight.”

“Ha!” She kissed him again, quick and hard. “Just try getting rid of me.”

* * *

IN THE PREDAWN HOURS of the following day, after a lengthy stint at the hospital, too many questions and far too much time away from Pepper, Logan finally got into his own bed, in his own home. Peterson had called just a few minutes ago to update him on the progress with the human trafficking ring.

They’d busted a lot of people and were now en route to intercept a transfer…of women.

Over and over, Logan had to remind himself that Morton Andrews was dead, and Pepper was no longer in any danger.

He sank into the mattress with a great sigh of relief.

“Okay?” she asked while touching his jaw.

“Yeah.”

“Do you want something to drink?” She smoothed back his hair. “To eat?”

This was a quirky mood for her, being so touchy-feely while pampering him. “No, I’m fine.”

“Thank God Reese brought you a clean shirt.” She opened the buttons while saying that. “Tell me if I hurt you.”

As long as she didn’t leave him, she wouldn’t hurt him.

She eased the shirt away and went to work on his shoes and then his pants.

“I’m not an invalid, you know.”

“No, but you are right-handed and the doctor said your deltoid is going to hurt like crazy for a while, so I’m helping, end of story. Now, can you lift your hips?”

Charmed by the mix of bossy and nurturing, Logan did as directed. “Okay if I keep my boxers?” he teased.

“If you insist.” Her hair fell around her face as she dragged the pants down his legs. She plumped a pillow behind him so he could rest back on the headboard, then drew a sheet up and over him.

Trying to ignore the constant throbbing in his arm, Logan watched her move around the room, putting his clothes on a chair, tossing his shoes in a closet.

He had her in his house, in his bedroom, and whatever it took, he’d keep her there.

Strain showed in her drooping shoulders, the shadows under her eyes. Her hair hadn’t seen a comb since early the previous morning.

“You are so beautiful.”

A secret little smile peeked through the fatigue as she dug in a drawer and found a clean T-shirt. She shook it out. “Pain must be affecting your vision. Are you sure you don’t want a pill?”

“Not yet.” He’d already gotten a shot for pain along with a load dose of antibiotics in his backside. He’d be taking more antibiotics for a week and wearing the damned sling for longer than that. He had pain pills to take, but he wanted to be clearheaded for his conversation with Pepper.