So much trouble.
“No. I’m going to get you into trouble.”
He couldn’t help but smirk at their little game. “Do I look like the type of guy who really minds?”
Besides, there would be no more hiding soon.
“I’m afraid you will.”
“I’ll do anything for you.”
He moved forward, through the dense foliage to where she waited. Her chest heaved, making the necklace he’d given her twinkle in the bare light. He touched her belly that had barely begun to swell, felt the joy spring up from the places he’d believed he’d never feel.
Aster tipped her face up toward him. A fire burned in her agate eyes. “Then take me away from here. Let’s just go. Disappear forever.”
He blinked. “We can’t just leave, Aster. How am I supposed to take care of you and the baby? What about my family? We have to play this smart.”
Moisture filled her fevered gaze. “Family is what we’re supposed to be now. And if I stay here any longer…”
She choked on her fear.
He stole forward, wrapped her in his arms, and breathed out a weighted sigh. “You are. And I’ll do anything for you. I just…what if we tell your father? Convince him you belong with me? I don’t want you to have to hide for the rest of your life. For the rest of our lives. There has to be a better way. I mean, I’ve been making him a shitton of money, Aster. He respects me. What I do.”
Pride carved itself into the middle of him. Logan’s cut had gotten bigger and bigger, and Aster’s father had told him he’d never met another so promising.
Aster edged back a fraction, and her gorgeous face pinched. “He’ll kill you, Logan.”
“And what if he doesn’t? What if he gives us his blessing?”
“He won’t.”
“Then I’ll ask Trent and Jud for help.” He didn’t believe it would come to that.
In despair, she blinked. “And how many members of our family have to die for us to be together?” Her hand fisted at the hem of his shirt. “Let’s just go.”
He rushed to gather her up, pressed his lips to her forehead, and murmured, “Okay.”
Okay.
Whatever it took.
He’d already promised her that.
Something rustled in the bushes about twenty feet away, and they jumped apart. Logan peered into the dusky shadows where the leaves waved and lapped.
He couldn’t make out anything.
But he felt it.
The grim darkness that flashed over the night.
Swallowing hard, he turned back to Aster, grabbed her by the outside of the arms, and squeezed. “If you really want to go? Then we have to do it soon. We’ll leave this week. Be ready.”
* * *
A fist pounded on his bedroom door, and Logan jerked upright in bed.
“Logan, get up, family meeting in two.” Trent’s voice radiated through the air, lined in a hard, manic edge.