Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

24. Logan

TWENTY-FOUR

LOGAN

LOS ANGELES, NINETEEN YEARS OLD

Logan checked to make sure he was alone in the office before he worked to open the carefully folded star that he’d found tucked between two books on his desk.

Seven , was all it said.

To him, it shouted a million things.

I miss you.

I need you.

You’re worth every risk.

It’s your birthday and I cannot wait to spend it with you.

Warm excitement dripped like honey into his bloodstream.

He couldn’t wait to see her. Hold her.

Aster Rose had become the minutes that counted in his day.

The reason he would fight, steal, cheat—anything to find a way to set her free.

She was his soul’s destination.

The three hours passed like oppression. Every second the building blocks of a fortress that endeavored to keep them apart.

He ran his thumb over the star he’d returned to his pocket.

Let it soothe.

When it was finally time, he all but sprinted out of the office, so eager to get to her that he could hardly think straight. He stepped out into the last vestiges of daylight and into the labyrinth at the back of the property. Glittering rays of light slanted in through the drooping branches of the trees that concealed the grounds in obscurity.

The ground below him was soft and damp, and with each step that he took his pulse beat harder.

Anticipation.

A newfound greed.

Aster Rose.

It was all he wanted.

He slinked under the cover of the trees in the direction of their meeting place, keeping low, angling down, his breaths coming shorter and shorter the closer he got.

It was then that he heard the voices.

One hard and condescending.

The other soft. The poetry of his heart.

“Is there a reason you’re acting this way? You already belong to me, no?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

Hatred squeezed Logan’s chest in a fist.

Keeping himself concealed, he peered over a hedge of shrubs.

Jarek Urso had Aster backed into a corner where she’d been following along the trail she’d taken from the house.

A riot of fury burst in every cell of his body.

A thirst to destroy.

To defend.

To fight for the one who he’d offer everything.

Jarek laughed a disgusting sound that rippled through the fading light. Arrogant and vile. The asshole was dressed in slacks and a button-down, his hair black, shaved on the sides and curly on top. He was only a couple of years older than the two of them, though his overinflated ego made the prick think he was the ruler of this world.

The problem was, if this wedding happened, one day he would be.

“I think we both know you have absolutely nothing to say about it.”

Jarek grabbed Aster’s hand.

Jerking it free, she tried to back farther away. “Don’t touch me.”

Revulsion and terror twisted through her features.

Logan knew she was doing her best to remain brave. To stand her ground when some asshole thought he could have his way.

“You’d do well to learn from the start not to fight me.”

“I’ll die before I ever let you touch me.”

Low laughter rolled from Jarek. “We’ll see about that.”

Without warning, Jarek flew forward, fisted a hand in her hair, and yanked her head to the side.

Aster shrieked in surprise.

In pain.

In fear.

Logan was on him before the bastard knew what hit him. He grabbed him by the shirt, spun him around, and slammed a fist into his pompous face.

In the back of his mind, Logan realized he’d likely sealed his fate.

Death’s signature scrawled on the dotted line.

He didn’t fucking care if it meant this girl might have the life she deserved.

Jarek’s head snapped back, and blood spurted from his nose.

Howling, he bent in two.

A second later, he rebounded and came rushing at Logan. The prick hit him at full force, wrapping his arms around his waist and knocking both of them to the ground.

Jarek had the upper hand, straddling him as he let his fists fly.

One.

Two.

Three hits landed on Logan’s face.

His jaw, his eye, his cheek.

Pain ruptured over his skin.

But Logan sensed it like fury.

Like a madness that would take him over.

He struggled to get his arms free where they were pinned under Jarek’s legs, while Jarek landed another hit to his temple. “Do you have any idea who you just fucked with, you stupid cunt? You’re dead.”

Logan got his right arm free and grabbed Jarek by the wrist before he could land his next blow.

Logan twisted.

Hard.

“I’m dead? I don’t think so, fucker.”

Jarek wailed, bending to Logan’s crushing fist. He slid off the side onto the ground, on his knees with his arm bent behind him.

Logan didn’t let go as he climbed to his feet.

Logan kept Jarek’s wrist at the harsh angle. Not quite hard enough to break it, but enough to feel like that was exactly what was happening.

Jarek tried to get loose, asshole sniveling when Logan tightened his hold, the words curling off his tongue in a rash of hot hatred. “I’m pretty sure that’s going to be you when Aster’s father finds out you tried to touch her before you’re married. That’s forbidden, isn’t it? He’ll have your balls strung up before he puts a bullet in your head, won’t he?”

It was the one fucking saving grace in the whole mess. That tiny spec of humanity Aster’s father possessed. It made Logan irate that once Aster was married, it gave this piece of shit the go ahead to do whatever the fuck he wanted with her.

Like some alliance gave this monster the right to touch on this beauty.

“She’s mine. Mine to do with what I please, and I’ll fuck her when I want.”

Logan couldn’t help it. Jarek’s wrist snapped.

He screamed in agony.

A guard shouted in the distance. “Jarek?”

Jarek raged as he stumbled to his feet, protecting his arm against his chest. “You’re dead.”

Aster laughed a maniacal sound. “And my father will kill you. Logan has become invaluable to him. To the family. See what happens if you touch him.”

She was reaching. Logan might have been an asset, but he didn’t hold the position Jarek did.

Still, hatred flared in Jarek’s eyes.

The guard suddenly broke through the foliage. It was a man named Toban who often accompanied Jarek when he visited the compound.

Toban’s gun was drawn and pointed Logan’s direction.

Aster stepped between them. “Put your gun down.”

“What happened?” the man demanded instead.

“I fucking tripped.” Jarek spat it in Logan’s direction rather than at the guard.

He’d tripped , all right. Logan wished for a way to make sure he didn’t get back up.

Toban’s attention jumped between them. There was no missing the hostility that fizzed in the space.

Finally, he slowly lowered his gun while his eyes narrowed in concern. “Are you okay, Sir?”

“Just meet me at the car, Toban.” Jarek never looked at the man since he was glaring at Logan.

Chaos spun through Logan’s being. The urge to end it right there.

Do or die.

Except he could feel terror radiating from Aster. Her sweet spirit crying out in horrified desperation, at the truth they would never be together if Logan touched him again, the truth that it might already be too late.

Toban hesitated. “Are you sure, Sir?”

“Yes.”

Jarek stared Logan down while Toban retreated through the garden toward the front. A sneer curled his face while Logan stood there wanting to go back to tearing the asshole to shreds.

Aster spun and got in Jarek’s face. “I want you to leave.”

“I don’t give a fuck what you want.”

She pulled out her phone, all kinds of fierce bravery. “Fine. Then we’ll take this up with my papa.”

Jarek tried to bottle the fear that flashed through his expression, and his teeth gritted when he spat, “I’m leaving.”

He started to walk, only he grabbed her with his other hand, dragging her close by the upper arm. “But don’t think I’m finished with you.”

It curled through the air.

Logan almost went for him again.

Jarek lifted an arrogant chin like there wasn’t blood smeared down his face, stepped around Aster, and leaned in toward Logan as he passed, “Or you.”

Then he disappeared into the shrubs.

Logan sagged.

Aster rushed for him, taking him by the hand and hauling him into their secluded spot. “Oh my god, are you hurt? That asshole.”

“I’m fine.” It was pure frustration.

Aster touched the bruises that were undoubtedly forming on his face. Tenderness wept from her fingertips.

Logan’s raging heart slowed the barest fraction.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Logan met her eyes. “I would die for you, Aster Rose.”

She took his hand, and her voice shifted to a plea. “I know. And that’s why I’m asking you to live for me, Logan. There is no point in any of this if you’re dead. We have to be careful. We have to be smart about it.”

“I want to end him.” Logan gave voice to the violent impulse that still boiled in his blood.

“No, Logan, we have to do this together, or neither of us will ever be free.”

Logan exhaled a long, heavy breath, and he let his forehead drop to hers. “Is that what we’re doing, Aster? Setting ourselves free?”

She ran her fingertips over a swollen spot on his jaw. “Yes, together.”

“Whatever it takes.” He murmured that as he held her gaze.

The air shifted as the last of the daylight drained away. Darkness wisped over the heavens to take its place.

“Yes,” Aster whispered. Her lips were an inch from his, their noses touching, their spirits joined.

Logan’s hands slipped around both sides of her neck, and he exhaled his greatest confession near her mouth. “I love you, Aster Rose. I love you so much.”

He’d never said it before.

She gasped before her fingers curled in his shirt. “I thought I’d never get to experience it, Logan. The kind of love that makes you feel as if you’re soaring. As if you’re flying. But I do…I feel that love for you.”

Logan gave on a groan, and he jerked her toward him and kissed her like he’d never kissed her before.

Desperately.

Madly.

Wholly.

His hand spread over the back of her head while his other took her by the hip and dragged her close. So close he could feel her soft curves pressed against the straining muscles of his body.

The kiss was hungry and impatient.

As impatient as her hands that worked under his shirt and the words that whispered from her lips. “Please, Logan. Please.”

“What do you need, Little Star?”

“You. I need you. All of you. I need you with me. I need you standing beside me. I need you inside of me.”

Logan moaned as they toppled to the soft ground. Their kiss grew more frantic as Logan wound himself between her legs.

Aster’s hips rose to meet with him, rubbing, begging, her breaths shallow and her heart pounding so hard that he could feel it like a plea against his chest.

His hands rushed to feel her everywhere, her face, her breasts, riding up the outside of her bare leg and pushing up the skirt of her dress. In a frenzy, her hands fumbled with the button of his pants as he pulled her underwear aside.

She freed him, and they both were gasping for air when she had him poised at her center, the head of his cock pressed to the hot, needy flesh between her thighs.

He looked down at the girl who stared up at him. His lungs were close to failing.

“Are you sure?” he managed on a ragged breath.

She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and lifted her face so their noses touched. “Take me.”

He pushed into her, swift and deep.

She cried out as her body bowed from the damp earth. He covered it with a kiss, and Aster dug her blunted nails into his back, held onto him tight as she whimpered, “Take it all.”

Maybe he should have been gentle, but he moved in frantic, urgent strokes, driving into her while she fought to meet him thrust for thrust.

Her fingers burrowed so deep he was sure she drew blood, the same as he knew he’d drawn hers.

He shifted so he could touch her, his fingers rubbing at her clit.

Their gasps filled the air as their devotion filled their hearts as he recklessly fucked her beneath the stars that never quite shined, though his little star would never dim.

She burned so bright he knew he’d been singed. Seared. Scarred by her light.

They came apart together, like the bonds that held them shattered. They soared and flew. Stumbled through a faraway paradise that only belonged to them.

They clung to each other as they floated through the aftershocks. They both searched for the missing air, their chests heaving with fractured juts as they clung to the other.

Then Logan choked out a shocked, affected breath.

Because he loved her. Loved her in a way that he hadn’t believed possible.

She blinked up at him, her expression soft and awed. “Happy birthday, Logan.”

He let go of another disbelieving shot of laughter as he pecked a tender kiss to her lips. “Best birthday ever.”

Her demeanor shifted to worry. “How can you say that after what happened?”

Fingertips barely brushed over the welts on his face that he’d almost forgotten existed.

He edged back so he could meet her gaze. “Because I’m here, with you. And with you is the only place I want to be.”

She cast him a soft smile that hit him like wonder. “That’s the only thing I want in my life, Logan, is to find a way to be with you. I’ll convince my father. Somehow, I will.”

She offered it like an oath.

He took her hand and pressed her knuckles to his lips, then he tucked their joined fingers against his heart that battered in his chest. “We’ll find a way, Aster. No matter what happens, I’ll always find my way to you, Little Star. There is nothing in this world that could keep me away from you.”

She cupped his cheek, her voice a low promise. “My North Star. My direction. My heart’s destination.”

He smiled down at her, then he gently resituated her clothing, glancing up at her when he did. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“You would never hurt me.”

He sat up, tucked himself back into his pants, and shifted so he could lean against the building. He situated her between his legs and pulled her back to his chest. Then he dug into his pocket and pulled out the necklace he’d had hidden there, not saying anything as he leaned forward and slipped the chain around her neck and fastened the hook at the back.

He glanced over her shoulder at the little star charm that rested just above her cleavage. It glinted and shined in the bare light that seeped through the leaves of the trees.

She touched it, her voice a thin strand of surprise. “Logan. What’s this?”

“Do you like it?” he whispered against her ear.

“I love it, but it’s your birthday.”

He pulled her closer, wrapped her up, and mumbled into the night, “And you, Aster Rose, are the only gift I want. My Little Star. Even if I can’t see you, I’ll know you’re there, and I’ll find my way to you.”

It was late when Logan pulled into the drive of the small house he shared with his brothers.

He was almost surprised to find both Trent and Jud’s bikes parked beneath the carport since they spent most nights at the clubhouse. Nathan’s bike sat on the other side of them in its normal spot.

He killed the engine and sat in the silence for a moment, gripping the steering wheel while a thousand emotions raged inside him.

Even with his face throbbing from the cuts and the blows, he couldn’t remember a day in his life when he’d felt better.

When he’d felt more alive.

Logan knew tonight, he’d found his true purpose. He had to believe he’d been set on this path for a reason—that he was bound to collide with a girl who’d become his hope just like he’d become hers.

Like the two of them had been called to meet at this very time and place.

Their soul’s destination.

Joy riding on his face, he climbed out of his car and strode up to the house.

He put his key into the lock of the side door and let himself into the kitchen. He almost stumbled when he walked in and found all three of his brothers sitting around the table drinking beers.

“Ah, there’s the birthday boy,” Jud said, lifting his bottle as Logan stepped farther into the kitchen and shut the door behind him.

Trent had been wearing what could have been construed as a smile until he focused in on Logan’s face. He was out of his chair and on his feet in a flash. “What the fuck happened to you? Who did this?”

Trent was already halfway to the door, booted feet thudding with retaliation.

Fuck.

Logan hadn’t anticipated an encounter with Trent. He’d figured he’d be able to slink into his room the way he did most nights, patch himself up, and no one would have been the wiser.

Jud got to his feet, too, hand in a fist around his bottle and murder written on his face. “Just need a name or two and Trent and I will be on our way.”

“It’s fine.” A war went down inside of Logan. He had to be careful. Like Aster had said. He couldn’t mess this up before he even figured out how he was going to get Aster out of there.

“It doesn’t look fine to me.” Concern moved through Nathan’s expression, unease billowing from him in waves as he slowly stood from where he’d sat. “Are you okay, man?”

It was funny that Nathan was Trent’s twin. They basically looked like replicas of the other in that kitchen, yet Nathan’s vibe was the opposite. Anyone could see Nathan was the softest of the Lawson Brothers. Quiet and reserved. Working at a local hardware store. One-hundred-percent outside the business.

Logan had heard their father tell another Iron Owl that Nathan couldn’t hack it.

That he was a pussy.

A weak link.

The way Logan saw it, Nathan was likely the bravest of them all.

Standing his ground. Living his life right.

Logan forced himself to crack a smirk like the altercation hadn’t been a big deal. “Yeah, stopped for gas on the way back. Couple of pricks thought they’d scored themselves an easy target.”

“Looks like they scored to me,” Trent spat.

“Nah, man. Fuckers got what was coming to them. Not to worry. It’s all taken care of.”

Logan silently swore one day that statement would be true.

Jud frowned, then laughed. “Well, shit, man, here we came to take you out. Show you the town for your birthday. Find you a sweet girl to sit on your lap. And you stroll in busted to shit.”

Unease stirred.

He hated keeping secrets from his brothers, but there was no chance in hell he could dish about what was going down with Aster. The mess he’d found himself in, a mess he wanted more than life, the truth that he didn’t want any other girl.

He only wanted her.

And if Trent found out he’d gone up against Jarek Urso?

Dude would lose his ever-lovin’ mind.

“Honestly, a beer or two here with you guys sounds about right tonight.”

“Hell, yeah.” Jud squeezed his shoulder, strolled to the refrigerator, and pulled out another round. He passed one to each of them. Everyone twisted their caps and lifted them to the center of the kitchen.

“To our baby brother who’s sure as hell not a baby anymore.” Jud gave the toast.

Everyone tapped their bottles together. “To Logan. Happy birthday, man.”

Logan smiled, joy seeping all the way through because this was the only thing that mattered.

His brothers.

Their devotion.

And his girl.

It was on him to make sure all of them were safe.

The four of them sat around drinking through the night. Talking shit. Reminiscing.

And Logan thought for the first time in a long, long time, since they’d all suffered the most brutal blow, witnessing their mom go down in cold blood, that maybe, just maybe, things might turn out right.

The dull haze of morning appeared at the windows when they finally called it. Trent hugged him tight and whispered, “Proud of you, Logan. So fuckin’ proud. Stay smart, brother. Stay safe. Want the world for you.”

Jud hugged him just as tight. “Happy birthday, little brother. You amaze me, you know. So damned smart. You’re gonna own this whole fucking place. Can’t wait to watch you do it.”

Logan nodded. Emotion clotted in his throat, close to overflowing. “Thanks, man.”

Jud stepped back and squeezed his shoulder. “Mean it.”

The two of them rambled off to their rooms, and Nathan remained there, watching Logan from where he was leaned against the wall.

Logan roughed a hand through his hair. “Well, think I’m gonna hit it, too. It’s late.”

Nathan hesitated, then quietly said, “Know you’re in deep, man.”

Logan froze before he swiveled back to look at Trent’s twin. “What are you talking about?”

Logan attempted to play it cool, to play it off, like he didn’t have a clue. Like his limbs weren’t shaking so hard the bones clanked.

“You think I don’t see you come in here every night with that look on your face? You’re fucking flyin’, man. And you know I want that for you. For you to find that happiness. To get that love I see blazing in your eyes. But you can’t do it with a Costa. You’re gonna end up in the ground and put the rest of the family there, too.”

Agitation gathered as sweat at the nape of his neck.

How the fuck did he know?

“I’m not.” It tremored from his mouth.

Nathan sighed without any anger. “You are, man. I know you are. You can’t wait to get there every day and you come home later and later every night. Not sure how Trent and Jud bought that bullshit you fed us when you walked through the door, but you and I both know it’s exactly that—bullshit.”

“Nathan…” He drew it out like a plea.

Nathan pushed from the wall and came toward Logan. He set a hand on his shoulder, looked him straight. “I’m just scared for you, Logan. I mean, I’m fucking terrified every day for all three of you. But what you’re doing? An Owl moving in on a Costa? One who’s already pledged to another? You’re signing over your life, man.”

A heavy sigh pilfered from Logan’s lungs.

“You’re right, Nathan. I’m signing over my life. Because that’s exactly what she is. My life.”