When We Met

CH 31 Rosaline

Getting Mateo to Logan's private quarters unseen wasn't the challenging part it was ensuring the nurse could tend to his grievous wounds discreetly, without alerting the family physician or arousing suspicion. But after tense hours of furtive care, Mateo now rested fitfully in one of the lavish spare bedrooms, clinging to life.

I sank into the plush settee in Logan's opulent sitting room, every muscle in my body throbbing with physical and emotional fatigue. Alejandro paced before the crackling fireplace like a caged panther, the taut lines of his back radiating tension. When at last he whirled to face Logan, his expression was thunderous.

"If what you claim about Yelena is true..." He bit out each word through a clenched jaw. "That she's already agreed to whatever scheme you're hatching here..."

Logan met Alejandro's piercing glare impassively, giving a solemn dip of his chin. "She has. Daniel's counselling finally wore through her...hardened defences toward my family."

Something flickered in the depths of those obsidian eyes an emotion buried so deep I couldn't parse it. "For now, the plan is to systematically extract you all from my father's clutches. Get you embedded as soldiers and servants within our ranks, hidden in plain sight."

My breath caught in my throat at the audacious implications. Could he truly mean to install us as a Trojan horse at the heart of their regime? Alejandro seemed to be weighing the same possibility, his glower morphing into guarded consideration.

"All except Yelena herself," Logan continued, turning that implacable stare on me. "And you and Mate you three will still be placed in the cells as a direct link to the Fernandez operations. But you Rosaline, You're...different"

Alejandro bristled protectively, but Logan raised a placating hand. "My father suspects you may be more involved in this outfit than a mere foot soldier, Roalsine. He's been keeping eyes on you specifically."

A tremulous chill skated down my spine at his words, the air thickening around us. Logan's next utterance dropped like a lead weight.

"The only feasible way to deflect that scrutiny is to bring you directly under my protection. As my personal...servant."

The lewd implication threaded through that last word made my jaw clench. Of course, he would seek to deprave our arrangement, to strip whatever dignity remained.....

"You'll be treated as an honoured guest," Logan interjected as if sensing my simmering revulsion. "Afforded every comfort, within reason. And your virtue will remain utterly inviolate, you have my word on that, I mean unless you want something else, id be delighted to oblige."

He leaned forward, bracing his forearms on his knees and holding my mistrustful stare right at me with a little smirk playing on his lips form his last comment, I directed my gaze at the vase to his left ignoring his ludicrous invitation, and he goes back to being serious. "This is the only path that can keep your identity concealed from my father for now. Can secure your safety while we...realign matters to our mutual advantage."

My lips twisted in a bitter moue at the hypothetical comforts he offered. As if gilding a cage could erase the stain of being viewed as a prized pet. And yet...if there was even a shred of sincerity in his audacious promises, securing my position as heir could be paramount.

"And what of Alejandro, Mateo and yelena they will be caged like animals again?" I found my voice at last, carefully neutral. "Where do they fit in this grand ruse?"

Logan's gaze slid to my hermano, assessing. "A high-ranking officer in my ranks would be exceeding the suspicion he'd no doubt attract as hired muscle. But...I may have an alternative role bereits suited to his talents they could be my spies after of course confessing a small truth to me so my father is not suspicious of any alternative motives but Yelena will remain in solitude ."

The way Logan's eyes glinted in the firelight's orange glow promised nothing beautiful about said "role." I opened my mouth to protest but Alejandro beat me to it.

"If it keeps my bother and I from being leashed like a dog and separated from mi familia?" His jaw muscle jumped from the strain of holding Logan's stare. "I'll play whatever part you have in mind for now, cabrón, but Yelena must be kept in a safe cell and fed regularly."

Silently, Logan inclined his head in acceptance of the bravado-laced bravery and his condition. No further words were exchanged, leaving the chamber awash with the leaping firelight and a tension thicker than the oak-beamed ceiling above.

Step by calculated step, we were being lured into the viper's embrace, wherein one errant breath could spell the constriction of iron coils. All that remained was to see which of us would remain standing when the final dust settled.

"I guess it all settled them the boys will be in cells till they fake a truth so they can get out Yelena will be stuck in the cell till further notice and I'll play your little obedient servant" I say with all the snark in the world and hold in my anger and fire from burning this whole place down. Logan looks at me expecting more but I don't give him the satisfaction of being right and turn my head to Alejandro " Ro, I think this is the best option to gain power so we can oppress your uncle rein and you can have your title back" he says with such a solemn expression and lays his hand onto of my knee and he bends down and looks me in the eye to show me his thoughts.

I guess there is nothing else to do but to pretend, if that will get me out of this hole then that what ill do....