“Something like that,” he says, downing the rest of his drink. “Ready to go?”
I whip the knife away from Debbie, who lets out an audible sigh, and wave it threateningly at Coltello instead. “I’m not going anywhere,” I snap. “So fuck off.”
His smirk deepens. “Look at that. Our little Lia’s got spunk, huh? I’m sure your husband will appreciate hearing about that, right before he rips you to shreds.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Debbie’s mouth hanging open. “Your… your husband? But you told me… you told me he’s dead!”
There’s a loud chuckle, and the man sitting across from Coltello turns around. When I see him, my stomach sinks to the ground.
Fuck! I’m fucked now!
If some part of me had hoped I stood a chance against Coltello, I know it’s no use with Logan. Not because he’s stronger than Coltello, though he sure looks like he is. But because there’s no way I could ever resist him.
Even now, as he slowly stands up, I stumble backward, completely destabilized. It’s all I can do to hold onto the knife with one hand, and Aurora with the other.
I can barely stand to look up at him as he walks over to me, and when I do, his cruel eyes burn me.
Fuck, I’ve never seen him look so cruel.
“Logan…” I stammer. “Please, Logan…”
He eats up the distance between us, and by the time he’s standing in front of me, his warmth radiating off my skin, I’m a shivering mess. I can’t even do a thing as he takes the knife from my hand, his smile just as cruel as his eyes.
“Missed me?” he purrs.
“Please, Logan.” I try my best to blink away my tears. “Please, I did it… I did it for Aurora…”
“Uh huh.” I shiver even harder when he rests his hand on the small of my back, prompting me forward. Then Aurora reaches out her arms for him with a broad smile, chirping, “Piggyback ride! Piggyback ride!”
“Shh, baby,” I whisper. “Shhh.”
Another glance at him, and I’m sent into a turmoil of emotion as I note his warm glance when his eyes meet hers, before he turns them back to me. They’re so harsh that I wonder if I imagined the look he spared my daughter.
“Sit,” he invites quietly, as he settles back in his chair.
There are only two chairs at the table, and I look around hesitatingly, before I feel him start to push me down into his lap. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Debbie stare, fear and confusion battling it out in her eyes. Some twisted sort of pride keeps me from allowing Logan to pull me all the way down.
“Sit your ass here,” he growls, “or I’ll have you lying over my knee instead.”
I’m far too scared to be embarrassed, giving in at last to Logan’s insistent hands, but bile rises up in my throat whenColtello chuckles.
“Cute,” he says. “I’d be happy to watch.” I bite down on a whimper when Logan’s arm squeezes my waist. “But then I’m bringing her back,” adds the underboss.
“Already told you,” says Logan gruffly, “you’re not taking her.”
“Oh yeah?” answers Coltello, as I allow myself to feel a pinprick of hope. “I have a feeling Wells will have something to say about that.”
“I don’t give a fuck about Damien or anyone else,” snaps Logan. “I’m not handing her over to you. If Moretti wants her, he can come take her.”
“Right.” Coltello pours himself another glass. “I think you’re forgetting yourself, man. I’m the don’s underboss. His son Carmelo answers to me. You’re not even a speck of dust on the sole of my shoe. So I’m taking the girl, and you’re gonna sit there like a good boy and watch me. Okay?”
He leans over the table and hooks his hand around my wrist. I gasp as he pulls me over to him, while Logan keeps an arm of steel around my middle.
“Ow! Let go of me!” I snap.
“You might be bringing her arm back if you continue tugging on it like that,” smirks Logan, “but I’m keeping the rest of her.”
“Let go of me!” I lash out again, trying to wriggle out of Coltello’s hold. “Asshole! Fuck! That hurts!”