BOUND TO HIM (Book II: Captured series)

30. Logan

I hadn't slept.

I hadn't even sat down for more than a few minutes.

My body was in a constant state of rage and desperation. I had been this way ever since she disappeared. I should've been upset with her for risking her life like this but the rational part of me knew why she'd done it. More so I was mad at myself, I shouldn't have left her on her own, she had already been through a lot. I should've taken her with me or waited until someone was there to give her company.

I am someone who learns from their mistake and this one is the kind I shall never repeat again. Not when it comes to her. 

My hands shook as another wave of anger flooded my blood stream. The grainy footage from the airport security camera is still fresh in my head. I had no idea who the two men were but they were going to pay with their life for laying a hand on my wife.

I was in the middle of checking my weapons, when my phone buzzed. It was an unregistered number and I answered it without any hesitation.

“Logan, thought you might want to chat a bit before you make your appearance” Came Costello's voice, low and filled with mockery.

I wasn't even surprised he was the one behind all this. Between his running away and Elle's disappearance, it was too coincidental to be anyone else.

“What do you want?” My voice was razor sharp. We had a few minutes before the jet landed and I didn't have time to waste chit-chatting with him. Especially when I was going to kill him the second I saw his face.

“I want to give you a choice.” His tone dripped with false generosity.

“You want her back? Come get her. Alone. No weapons, no backup, no plans. Just you. Or don’t come at all, and we’ll see how long she holds out under the pressure.”

I gritted my teeth, blood roaring in my ears. He really must have a death wish, taking my wife away and now using her to blackmail me. For her I'd give in to it.

“Put her on the phone. Now.”

Costello chuckled. “You really think she’s up for conversation? Your girl’s not doing so hot. Seems the idea of you walking into your grave didn’t sit well with her.”

“Put her on the goddamn phone.”

Something in my voice must’ve cut through, because after a beat, Costello muttered, “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I could barely hear anything over the static but when she whispered my name, I forgot how to breathe. Her own breaths seemed chokked, ragged like she was being strangled by her own fears. 

She was panicking. Badly. Because Costello had dangled my life in front of her like a bait and now she was drowning in the what ifs. How I was going to torture the bastard once I get my hands on him.

I wanted to reach through the damn phone and touch her—ground her. But all I had were words, and even they felt too thin to carry what I needed to say.

I walked her through the breaths, counting with her like I had when she woke from nightmares. I let her cling to my voice.

And for one moment—just one—her voice steadied.

“I love you,” she said.

Everything in me fractured and fused again in the same breath.

When the line abruptly snapped, I dropped the phone with a dull thud. I stared at it like that might bring it back to life but I got nothing.

The map of Costello’s compound is spread across the table like a taunt. My hands rest on either side of it, fingers splayed, weight pressing down as if I could crush the danger out of existence.