Page 32 of Bound By Thorns

But the horror didn’t end there. She had touched my face gently, her gesture starkly different from the violence of moments before, and whispered, “First and last, Logan,” before her lips brushed mine in a soft kiss that lingered even now. Her tears still coated my cheeks.

“Logan?” Leora’s voice snapped me back to reality.

Had I actually choked her? The room was quiet, heavy with the weight of my actions.

Unable to look at Leora, I muttered, “Did I just…?”

Her silence confirmed my fears. I had indeed strangled Kaylan Bennett in front of everyone.

“Is she okay?” I forced the words out, dreading the answer.

Leora’s eyes were glossy with unshed tears as she struggled for composure. “I don’t know. She left.”

The air left my lungs completely, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe at all.

What the fuck have I done?

FOURTEEN

Logan

I leaned against the wall outside the lounge after everyone had dispersed for the night. Zarek and Leora had crossed over to their apartment in the adjacent Blackthorn building. I had lingered outside Kaylan’s room for a few moments before knocking, but received no answer. Resolved to find her, I sought out Zane, certain he would know her whereabouts.

Now, I found myself standing just out of sight, eavesdropping on Sebastian and Zane as they relaxed on the couch, whiskey in hand, with Zane’s laptop balanced on his knees.

“I can’t track her quickly the old-fashioned way,” Zane was saying, frustration coloring his tone.

Sebastian let out a frustrated grunt, “Why the hell do you have an untraceable car in the fleet?”

“I needed a car completely outside of Crazon’s control,” Zane huffed and then muttered in a low voice, “Guess I didn’t expectthisto happen.”

I leaned in closer, my interest piqued as Sebastian lounged back, his demeanor too relaxed for my liking considering Kaylan could be in danger. The memory of my hands around her neck surged up, fueling a mix of fury and remorse within me. Shaking off the guilt, I focused back on their conversation.

“Where do you think she’s headed?” Sebastian asked.

“Probably Boston,” Zane replied without hesitation. “She wants to know about her parents.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, thick with implications.

“Out with it, Specter. What’s the situation?” Sebastian’s voice was sharp.

Zane exhaled deeply, his next words heavy, “She’ll find them at Massachusetts General Hospital, in the morgue. They’re listed as unclaimed.”

“Fucking hell!” Sebastian exploded. “Garret?”

“It seems likely.”

My breath caught in my throat as the gravity of the situation sank in. Kaylan’s parents were dead, and she was about to discover this horrific truth alone.

“She shouldn’t be out there alone, Sebastian,” Zane said, his concern evident.

“She shouldn’t be out there, period. In her condition–fucking hell, Zane. She shouldn’t be–”

Unable to contain my confusion and growing concern, I stormed in, “What condition?”

They both turned to stare at me as if I’d lost my mind.

“What condition?’ I repeated, needing answers.

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