Page 58 of The Burnt Heart

“That makes no sense.” Logan argued. “What about the Crimson Claw at the greenhouse?”

I shook my head. After my meeting with Kinsley at the cafe, we had been in further communication. She’d rang and reconnected with a bright, blissfully innocent tone. Insisting that ‘girl bosses’ need to stick together. There was no way she was involved. There wasn’t a ruthless bone in her body. But someone had pounced on the chance to use them as a threat.

“I was never dating Ray. It was always fake,” I admitted, my shoulders hiking up when the boys’ noisy exhales reached me. Now they knew the truth. “But only Ray, Lara, and I knew about our arrangement. I think everything that has happened was done with the purpose of driving me into his arms. Everyone knows I hate being told what to do, and being told to stay away from Ray? They wanted me to do the opposite. Crimson Claw was an opportunity to combine our efforts and make me believe we were stronger together.”

The admission festered in the room, and I looked at the three men across from me. Understanding carved through their features, and Jesse ground his teeth.

“So, you don’t want to get back together?” he accused. Sharp pain twinged through my chest. Guilt. When Nicole had admitted someone had been paying her to insinuate herself into my relationship, it had frightened me. I didn’t know who I could trust right now. So, I’d run to the three people who could help me. I needed them. But I also felt safe with them. I should have never let them touch me again. Now my nerves tangled under my skin, knotted with guilt at my selfish actions. I pushed aside the nausea and nodded, my chin lifting.

“I need to flush out who is behind this all, whether it’s Ray or his dad. Nothing will enrage them more if I end up back with the guys they worked so hard to cleave from my side.”

Pain, crisp and bitter, made them sag. The glow of their touch felt oily on my skin. My knees were watery with regret. I swallowed bitter bile, letting my walls drop. I was vulnerable right now. Hunted. My usual methods wouldn’t work in this situation. Despite everything, I knew they would protect me, help me. Buried under the hurt were three hearts who beat in time with mine. They had sung together in unison just moments before.

“Will you do it?” I asked, prepared for them to turn me down. I flexed my fingers. In and out. In and out. But their answer surprised me.

“We’d do anything for you, Adelaide. But you need to tell us what is going on. Starting with your intrusive thoughts.”

28

Adelaide

Six years ago

“What are you thinking about?” Logan asked, smiling down at me.

There was the slightest breeze in Calder Place today. I shuffled closer to Logan as a determined gust rippled past us. Only because the wind gave me a chill, not because I wanted to steal some of his warmth. My thighs soaked up the warmth he exuded, luxuriating in it.

“Remembering the day, I came back. I’m so glad you were still here.” I bumped my shoulder against him, sharing a smile. After Ray had humiliated me and I’d crossed paths with Briar, Jesse and Logan. I couldn’t stop thinking about them, returning to find them curled on the decrepit couch. Logan had been sprawled on the ground in a sleeping bag.

“Glad we were homeless?” Logan reached out and squeezed my knee. Heat fluttered in my stomach at the friendly touch.Friendly touch. I scolded my heart, which thumped harder, oblivious. They’d tried to hide it, but the reason they were in the abandoned lot was because they’d aged out of the foster home. The streets were cold and dirty, but still kinder than the care they’d received there.

“Not anymore. How is the new place?” I blushed, something I did often in their company. It had become routine to see the boys at least every second day. I’d come to Calder Place and one or all of them would be there. It was easier for me to slip away here without my security following. I would read books, watch movies on a phone or even play cards. It didn’t matter. As long as we were together. Lately they’d been splitting up, like they were rotating days with me. I liked the one-on-one time, but I missed us together as a group. There was something magic about it. Heaven was being pressed between these three men. Logan stared at me; his lips softly tipped upwards.

“What?” I whispered, and he moved closer to tangle his finger in my hair. The soft movement sent off tingles down my body. The lucky lock swung when he let it go. My vision swirled, narrowing in on his lips. They looked so soft. I ached to kiss him.

“Nothing,” his voice was hoarse.

“Tell me.” Our lips drifted closer, and he searched my face for something.

“I worked out what it is about you.” He cupped my cheeks with roughened hands. “You’re a siren. Designed to destroy men with your beauty, your intelligence, your spirit. I can understand why men used to throw themselves overboard.”

For a man who was quiet and guarded, his sudden admission made me gasp in shock. My body trembled with the need to do exactly what he asked. I laughed in disbelief, but he caught myhands, threading his fingers through mine. His clear blue eyes drilled into me.

“I can’t do this with many people. I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” he whispered. He looked down at our hands, almost ruefully. “Jesse and Briar are the only other people whose touch I can handle.”

I had seen Logan flinch away from touch since I met him. Even his fingers grazing against someone else bought an expression of disgust on his face. But it was the shocked, awed expression that Briar and Jesse shared every time he touched me that convinced me.

“I noticed, is there a reason?”

Logan half shrugged, his thumbs stroking my hands. Logan liked to touch me constantly, as if the luxury of it sustained him.

“I came into the foster system when I was nine years old. I don’t even have any memories from when I was younger. All I know is that people touching me makes me feel like I want to tear my skin off. It’s the most intense, crawling, uncomfortable feeling you can imagine.”

I tried to pull my hands out of his firm hold, horrified he might feel that from our touch. Logan made soothing noises and held tight until I stopped wriggling.

“You ran right into me the day we met. I should have recoiled. If it were anyone else, I would have. But touching you feels so right, so peaceful. I would give anything for just one taste of your perfect lips.”

He stared at me with such intense hunger that my breath swelled, frozen in my lungs.

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