What They Don't See

Chapter 17 - The safest place in the world

Later that night, they arrived at the private airstrip just outside town. On the well-lit tarmac, a large white and beige jet stood waiting for them. The pilot waited for them by the entrance, and as they got to the top of the steps, Kate and Marcos greeted him, before introducing him to Logan. Once they were inside, Kate, relieved to be out of the hospital and the dreadful hospital gown, beelined straight to her favorite seat on the plane and plopped down while the flight attendants shut the door and secured everything for takeoff.  

 Turning on the little tv in front of her seat, she paused to glance beside her as Logan sat on the seat closest to hers.

"Breaking news. We've just received word that our favorite couple was in a major car accident that killed both drivers earlier today. The couple was reported to have been on their way to the charity gala hosted by Bianca Taylor. Thankfully, we have heard that both Logan and Kate survived the accident, and are still receiving treatment in hospital. We send them both our prayers and wish them a speedy recovery."

Kate let out a heavy breath as the E! News presenters moved on to the next story.

"Watching the news about yourself never stops being interesting," Logan remarked from the seat beside her. It was meant to be a joke, but neither of them could laugh.

For the rest of the trip, neither of them spoke a word. They simply sat in each other's presence, both deep in thought. And before long, they were in France. 

As they sat in the limo that picked them up from an airstrip just outside Paris, Kate rested her head on Logan's shoulder. He smiled softly, kissing her hair and resting a hand on her knee. 

Marcos watched the interaction silently from the front seat and smiled softly to himself.

Jacob was right, that boy is good for her. This is what she had been lacking in her life, someone to comfort her in a way her father and I could not. He thought to himself as he glanced out the window, paying close attention to the surrounding as always.

But the moment the car pulled into the long driveway, Kate's vulnerable moment was gone like it had never existed. 

In its place was a cold mafia leader, determined to get what she wanted. 

Stepping out of the car, Kate was met by several people Logan did not recognize. Behind the group, Jacob stood on the grand porch of the chateau, silently watching as his daughter, who had been unconscious in the hospital nearly 8 hours ago, give instructions and orders to find who was responsible for the death of one of her men.

Logan also watched this affair as he leaned against the open door of the limo, and he couldn't help but notice how, even in a T-shirt and sweatpants, Kate looked every inch a leader. At that moment, despite the difficulties of the moment, she was completely in her element. 

Going up the front steps of the chateau that led to the raised porch, Kate stopped to greet her father with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, before walking further inside. Declining the offer of food from a maid, Kate walked to the grand staircase at the end of the room but paused at the bottom step.

Marcos leaned to the side from his position beside Logan at the car, where they had both silently watched Kate for the last few minutes. "I think she's waiting for you," he murmured. 

Instead of replying, Logan rushed to catch up to her, pausing to greet Jacob on the way.

The two walked up the grand staircase silently, and Kate led them through a maze of hallways, before coming to a stop at a large door. 

Once inside, Logan only had a moment to admire the large, four-poster bed in the center, when he realized Kate had dropped to the floor not far from the door. 

Rushing over to her, he didn't say a word as he cradled her head against his chest. Tears silently rolled down her face. She could no longer hold them back.

"He was my first sparring partner," she whispered, letting a quiet sob loose.

"Tell me about him?" Logan asked, his hands rubbing her back in a soothing pattern.

"His dad had been recruited by my grandfather, so Luc was born into this life just like I was. I practically grew up with him. We trained and sparred together for years. Once I was so mad at practice that I broke his arm. That day I'd already beat him seven times back to back, and Marcos decided it was time I had a new partner. I got too good at predicting his every move," she smiled faintly at the memory, her hands wiping away some of the tears that continued to rain down her cheeks.

"He had an obsession with candy. Especially American candy. I once saw him inhale a line of Nerds like it was cocaine," she continued, letting out a laugh at that particular memory, but it quickly became a sob that shook her whole body.

"Back when we were in high school, he was the only one brave enough to call me out on my shit. I guess he figured he was gonna take a beating from me either way. But he was one of the few people who weren't afraid of me. I pretended to be annoyed by it, but I loved it. I could trust him to be honest with me, even if I wasn't going to like it. But now, he's gone." 

More sobs racked through Kate's body as she grieved the loss of her close friend. He was gone, and there was no way to get him back.

Logan never once let her go, holding her as she grieved. When the tears began to slow down, he gently picked her up and carried her over to the large bed. Once Kate was nestled within the covers, he stepped back. Panicked, Kate glanced up at him, only to find him removing his tear-soaked shirt and the shoes he had been wearing. Leaving his sweatpants on, he crawled into the covers beside her and pulled her closer until she was flush against his chest. 

And there they lay, in the bed Kate had slept in since she was 15 when her mother decided to move out of the chateau. Kate didn't want to stay in the suit she and her mother had shared up until then, so she moved here. 

Now, here she was, 12 years later, cuddled up with Hollywood's untouchable star.

As her eyes began to close, she couldn't help but think about the fact that she had never felt so safe in this bed, within the walls that for all of her life, had always been impenetrable. 

The safest place in the world had never felt this safe before.