Run the Risk

He checked the rearview mirror. “Are we expecting that?”

“No. But be prepared just in case.” He called Reese.

Reese answered with a blunt, “I saw. What do want me to do?”

He couldn’t believe he’d doubted Reese, even for a second. “For now, get out of there without being seen.”

“I left when you did. Want me to meet you somewhere?”

Knowing his friend wouldn’t like it, and aware of both Rowdy and Pepper listening in, Logan said, “Not just yet, but soon.”

Rowdy’s shoulders eased a little. Did he really distrust Reese that much? Or had he still been worried that Logan would betray them?

Not likely. He wanted to do many things to and with Pepper Yates, but betrayal was permanently off the list. “I have to sort this out, and it’ll be easier to slip away unnoticed if I do it alone.”

“That’s the problem, Logan. You’re not alone—you’re with people that, until only recently, you considered dangerous. Since you cut me out, I have no idea why you’ve changed your mind, but I do know that I should be there with you. I should—”

“Can you trust me on this?” He didn’t have time for explanations.

Without hesitation, Reese said, “One hundred percent.”

“Thanks.” At the moment, trust was a high-priced commodity—and in short supply with the siblings sharing his truck. “I’ve got a laundry list of things to be done, but for now, can you move Pepper’s car without being seen?”

Clearly puzzled by the request, Reese said, “I can do that, yeah.”

Logan gave him the details on the car and where to find it. “Put it someplace secure, all right?”

“No problem.”

“I have to switch phones, so it’ll probably be a few hours until I can touch base with you again. Find out what you can about the club before then, but be subtle. I’d as soon no one knew we were there.”

“Consider it done.”

“Appreciate it.” Logan disconnected the call and then turned off his cell. To Pepper, he said, “Where’s your phone?”

Subdued, she handed it over to him, and he turned it off. No reason to make it easy for others to track them through GPS.

“Rowdy?”

“Already done.” Vigilant, he glanced in the rearview mirror again. “But I’ll hang on to mine.”

Yeah, Logan didn’t blame him. “Take another left and then hit the highway. Go south for now.” He twisted to look out the back window, but he didn’t see anything suspicious. He gave his attention to Pepper.

So many sentiments flashed over her face, distrust and hurt at the forefront. She tried to conceal it with bravado, but her hands were shaking, her face pale.

“I’m sorry,” he told her, and he meant it.

“Jam your apology, Logan.” She leaned farther away from him, crowding close to Rowdy. “I don’t want to hear it.”

Rowdy briefly gripped her knee. “You’ll be okay now,” he told her.

Putting her head to his shoulder, she gave him a brief, hard hug.

God, she was beautiful.

And she wanted nothing to do with him. Knowing she’d need time, Logan said, “What the hell were you doing at the club?”

Rather than answer, she said, “I didn’t cause the explosion.”

“I told him that,” Rowdy said.

“Thank you.” She hugged him again while giving Logan a quick, disgruntled frown. “God, Rowdy, I’ve missed seeing you.”

For a second there, Rowdy looked overcome with emotion. “Same here.”

Logan touched her back. “Let him drive, honey. It’s doubtful, but if he suddenly spots a tail, he’ll need both hands on the wheel.”

Nodding, she straightened again. She settled her purse in her lap and, without further prompting, said, “I was counting on you to get there in time, but if you didn’t, I would have killed them.”

“Them?” Logan asked.

“Morton Andrews. His bully boys.” She rubbed her palms over the denim covering her thighs. “Anyone in his circle who got in my way.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

PEPPER SEEMED SO FRAGILE, Logan couldn’t keep from smoothing back her hair. She’d put a lot of faith in him getting to her on time, and in him not being involved with the corruption. “Morton was in the club?”

“I assume so.” All but oblivious to his touch, she chewed her bottom lip. “After I told the guard who I was and that I wanted to see Morton—”

Rowdy cursed low.

“—he made a call, and then agreed to take me into the club. We had just reached the back entrance, and the guard was ready to frisk me when…” She clenched all over.

Logan wanted so bad to hold her, but in the short time he’d known her, he hadn’t taken her preferences into consideration.

From here on out, he would.

She shook her head, swallowed hard. “When I heard that noise, I had no idea what had happened. At first I thought someone was shooting at me. But then the windows above us blew out, and an alarm sounded.”

Rowdy turned down the road that’d take them to the highway ramp. “While you were scoping it out, did you see anyone suspicious go in? Anyone who stood out in any way?”

“No.” And then to Logan, “It’s a busy place. Even on a weekday, people are coming and going at all hours, usually in big groups.” Seconds ticked by. “Used to be,” she whispered, “I’d have recognized Morton’s car and known if he was inside. But now, it’s just been too long. There were some fancy wheels in the parking garage, but who knows if any of them belonged to Morton.”