What They Don't See

Chapter 12 - all the cards on the table

Later that night, the apartment was finally quiet. The men that had been hiding in the corners, ready to intervene if things escalated, were sent away, and the two managers had been dismissed. The listening devices were all removed, and the security cameras were off.

Kate and Logan were finally alone. Although Kate knew her men were nearby, as they always were, ready to protect her at a moment's notice.

The two of them sat on the sofa, letting the quiet surround them for a moment. Logan sighed, shifting on the sofa so his head rested in Kate's lap.

"How much of what you've told me about yourself is true?" he asked, looking up at her.

"Everything. I never lied to you. I just omitted a few things sometimes," she answered, her fingers running through his dark hair. He sighed, closing his eyes in contentment as he nodded.

"Who are those men I met today?" he asked after a moment.

"Most of them are ex-military or former mercenaries. They are some of the best-trained bodyguards in the world. And they've all sworn loyalty to my father, and his father before him, and so on. Soon, they will swear it to me. But that loyalty does not come if you have not earned their respect," Kate answered.

"And have you? Earned their respect?" Logan asked.

"Yes. It wasn't easy, but I proved myself worthy of their loyalty and respect. Now every one of them would willingly die for me. Some already have," Logan stilled. That was not the answer he was expecting.

"Kate, what kind of business does your family run?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"Anything and everything. A lot of it is illegal, drugs, guns and other weapons, money laundering, etc. But some of it is completely legal. We own many restaurants and other businesses, all of them completely separate from the darker business," she explained in an even tone. Logan said nothing, completely stunned.

"Logan, I'm in line to be the next French Mafia leader."

And there it was. Kate had placed all the cards on the table. Now it was Logan's move.

The room was quiet. Everything was still.

Slowly, Logan raised his head and turned to look Kate right in the eye.

"That explains a lot. I mean I could tell you were a badass but this? This is on another level entirely."

Now it was Kate's turn to be stunned. She had never imagined that this would be Logan's reaction to her revelation. She had almost hoped he would be scared, just so that she could have an excuse to distance herself from him. But he didn't care who she was. Nothing could scare him away from her. Kate tried hard not to smile at that thought.

"This doesn't bother you at all?" she asked although she could already see his answer.

"Not in the slightest. If anything I'm even more attracted to you," he replied, before the realization of what he said hit him. But Kate only smiled at this news. But the smile quickly faded as she realized there was more.

"Logan, I wasn't joking when I told you to fear my world. It's a dangerous place. The very fact that you know who I am puts you at risk. I just need you to understand that your putting yourself in if we make that announcement tomorrow," Kate rambled, rather adorably in Logan's opinion.

"I know the risks. I'm not afraid," Logan told her, folding her hand in his lap.

"You should be. The Mafia code only does so much. Everyone else won't hesitate to take a shot at you to get to me," Kate forced herself to stop rumbling, It was very unlike her and it was beginning to freak her out a little.

"The Mafia code?" Logan asked, with one eyebrow raised.

"It's a code all mafia empires hold to, to help reduce the wars between us. It's not important. The point is that you will become a walking target and that you will be in almost constant danger if you do this. Do you understand that?"

"I understand, and like I said before, I'm not worried. I still want us to do this, despite the risks. I'm all in," Logan answered, a dangerous gleam in his eye.

No army would keep him away from Kate.