LOGAN (BAD BOY BIKER ROMANCE) (12 page)

"He's the Macabre Jesters' newest dancer."

Chapter 13

Oliver

Oliver beamed at Gavin. If he was ever going to gloat, now was the perfect opportunity.

Gavin glared at all of them. But now he had nothing to bargain with. No shield. He was just an interloper in a rival Club's backyard.

"You can keep him," Gavin said to Logan. "I don't care. He's not worth it."

Logan just watched him squirm. "Okay," was all he said.

Everyone seemed to be waiting for something to happen. Oliver suspected Logan wanted to make Gavin sweat it out. He found himself enjoying the spectacle.

"You can't touch me," Gavin finally said. "Anything happens to me, the Hounds will raise holy hell!"

Oliver was genuinely stunned at Gavin's stupidity. Why make things worse?

Logan took a deep breath, as if keeping himself from just shooting the rival biker out of annoyance. "Get in you shit box, and leave town. Now. You come back, and it will be the last thing you do."

Gavin glared at Logan. Glared at Oliver. Then he pointed at his Mustang. "It's not a shit box!"

Everyone laughed at this. Everyone except Gavin.

Oliver could not comprehend Gavin's behaviour. Was he that unhinged? Or maybe he just couldn't handle that he lost Oliver at his moment of ultimate triumph.

"Go," Logan said.

As if finally coming to his senses about the situation he was in, Gavin got into his mustang and started up the engine.

Parker walked over to Logan. "What's the deal? We let him walk?"

"Yup," Logan said, watching Gavin pull around the truck, then out of the parking lot. "We can't let some hot-head create a headline for us, here on the side of the road in broad daylight."

Gavin peeled out of the parking lot and zoomed down the street. His version of indignation.

"Follow him," Logan said to Adam, who had been driving the car. "Make sure he leaves town. But don't mess with him."

Adam nodded, hurriedly jumped into the car and drove off to catch up with Gavin.

Logan hugged Oliver a little closer. Oliver was all putty, smiling up at him. Oliver had never felt happier than he did right then and there. He had actually been rescued, like from a scene in a movie.

"You okay," Logan asked him.

"I am now," Oliver said. He buried his face into his chest.

Parker said, "So, what next?"

Logan smiled for the first time, "I think we need a break. I know Oliver does. It's been a hell of a long day."

Parker laughed. "Okay, we'll talk later." He and the remaining men jumped into the van and drove off.

"What do we do now?" Oliver asked. He didn't care what it was, as long as it was with him.

"Want to go to your motel room? Chill out for a bit?"

He was amazed at how cool he was at that moment. He had faced down Gavin. Gavin! And it was like nothing to him. Bad ass biker.

"No," Oliver said. "Let's go to your place. That okay?"

Logan nodded. "Whatever our new dancer wants."

They both laughed as they climbed into the truck.

As they drove Oliver allowed himself a moment of concern. "What about Gavin?"

Logan shrugged, "What about him?"

"He's not the kind of guy to let this go. He's going to get the Silver Hounds involved. He maybe a loud mouth at times, but he's got pull in the Club."

Logan seemed to mull this over. "If something comes up, it will be dealt with. You don't have to worry about him." He looked at him. "Not any more. I promise."

The relief Oliver felt was like a tremendous weight lifted from his chest. He could breath again. He suddenly burst into tears.

Logan put one arm around his shoulders, pulled him closer. "Hey, don't worry. It'll will be okay."

"I know," he said between sobs. "But, I thought it was you."

"Thought it was me, what?"

"Someone had to have told Gavin where I was. And I thought... Oh, I'm so stupid." He kept crying.

"You thought I told that idiot where you were?" Logan sounded more amused then angry.

He nodded. "I've only told you about where I'm from. I thought... I don't know what I thought. When I saw Gavin at the audition I could only think he found me because of you." He couldn't stop crying. "I'm sorry I doubted you. I was wrong."

Logan chuckled softly. He wasn't the least bit angry. "Well, I think it's obvious I said nothing to no one. But you know the Biker scene, babe. A lot of gossip. A lot of big mouths. People in our type of life use information about others like a weapon, to get what they want." He shrugged. "It could have been anyone who told him about you. Someone passing by in a car recognized you on the street or something."

If Logan's intent was to make him feel better, it was working. He stopped crying and wiped the tears on his face.

"After what we shared yesterday I just couldn't handle thinking the worst about you. I kind of feel ridiculous now." How could he have been so dumb? He thought.

Logan pulled into an apartment complex and parked. "Here, let's get you inside."

He led Oliver through the lot and up a set of stairs. He followed him in a daze. He still could not believe he had escaped Gavin. It seemed like such a sure thing just a short while ago. And now here he was, with Logan.

Logan! He was awash in guilt and happiness all at the same time.

Logan let him into a corner apartment. It was large, but austere. There was almost no furniture, except for a couch, a chair, and a bed.

"So you're a hoarder," Oliver said, and they both laughed. It was good to laugh now. He had thought he would never laugh again.

Logan took off his jacket and threw it across the chair. "You want to just relax and maybe..." He didn't get to finish.

Oliver was on him. Leaping up into his arms, wrapping himself around him. They kissed and their was a frantic hunger to it that wasn't there before. A deeper passion.

For several long, passionate hours, Oliver showed him how happy he was. It was even more intense and gratifying than the night before. It was wonderful.

After, they lay naked, sweaty and entangled with each other on the bed. Oliver finally said, "Well, that was nice."

Logan chuckled and kissed his on the forehead. "Very nice," he said.

After a few quiet moments moments of bliss Oliver said, "I can't express how happy I feel right now."

"I think you just did," Logan said. They laughed.

"No, I mean I thought I was really done for. Doomed, even. Gavin... he could be a real asshole, you know."

"I know the kind."

"But now I don't have to worry," he said looking up at him. "Because of you." Oliver smiled. "You know rescuing me from assholes has become a bad habit for you."

"I like bad habits," he said.

Logan smiled at him and they kissed again. Just as things started to get hot again, his phone rang.

Gently, Logan pulled away from im. "Sorry, I got to take this." He got out of bed and walked over to his jacket on the chair. Oliver enjoyed watching his sweaty naked form as he walked.

God, damn, he thought. He is magnificent.

Logan answered, and listened intently. Oliver realized that it could be about what just happened with Gavin, or maybe something to do with the Silver Hounds.

To add to his frustration, Logan's entire side of the conversation was just, "Yup. Yup. Yup."

He hung up, and tossed the phone onto the couch. He didn't appear to be agitated at all.

"Everything okay?" Oliver asked. He was really concerned now.

He walked back to the bed. His body was like that of a Greek god. "Nothing to worry about. That dick-head left town as he was told. Adam made sure of that."

Logan crawled back into bed with him, and Oliver wrapped himself around him.

"But what if he does?" he asked. He knew Gavin. He would never let this slide.

"Then he's a dead man," Logan said emphatically.

Oliver found that such a thought didn't bother him. Not in the least.

Then Logan said, "There is stuff going on right now. In the Club. That is real high priority stuff. I just happen to be in the middle of it. So if I come off as a little cold, just take that into consideration."

Oliver nodded against his bare chest. He massaged his flat stomach. "Yeah, I understand." Then he thought he read something into what he was saying. He looked at him, suddenly serious. "Have I created a problem for you? With the Club."

He smiled. "Babe, everyone has got a problem within the Club. Every member, every hang around, every deal we make, every boy toy. The whole thing is like one giant soap opera. So maybe there will be a little grief for me over you. Big deal. It will be dealt with and everyone will move on to the next drama. It will ever end. But don't worry. Everything is cool."

Knowing this didn't really make Oliver feel any better. The last things he wanted was to cause a situation for Logan with the Club. But he was right. If it wasn't this, then it would just be something else that would have everyone all riled up. It never did end.

He pulled closer to Logan. "Stay with me tonight. I don't want you to leave again. Not now."

Logan said, "Well, since all the excitement of the day appears to be over, I think I will. If there is any business to attend to I'll try and keep it cellular. I swear the only thing that could tear me away right now is if Henry called looking for another beating. Okay?"

Oliver grinned at him. "You know, I want to properly thank you, again."

"For what?"

"For your bad habit."

He chuckled. "Well, I'm sure you'll think of some proper way."

"I already have," Oliver said, and over the next several hours he thanked Logan properly many times.

Chapter 14

Logan

Logan woke in the morning to the sound of his cell phone vibrating.

He blinked his eyes, and felt something heavy pressing against his side. It was Oliver. He was sound asleep with a slight smile on his face.

Based on the events of yesterday he could understand the smile.

The cell phone kept vibrating.

Gently, he untangled himself from his beautiful lover and padded quietly over to the couch. He checked the phone's display. It was Logan.

"So there is an issue," Logan said in way of greeting.

Logan sat on the couch, furthest from Oliver so as to not wake him. He tried to rub the sleep from his eyes. "There always is," he said. He knew the Gavin confrontation would have a price.

"Or friend from yesterday needs assurances now," Logan said.

Logan sat up and blinked. "Friend? You mean the new one?"

"Yeah, who else?" Logan said. He sounded like mornings didn't suit him either.

Okay, no Gavin. At least not at the moment. Logan thought. Just the Evil Masters.

"He shook on it," Logan said, feeling a little pissed off.

"Yeah, well, that don't mean anything until his upper management gives the green light anyway. Just preamble."

Logan sighed. Nothing was easy in this business. "What kind of assurances? Should we send some girls over, make him feel better?"

"Funny, but no. I guess that little show outside Rocks has him hesitant."

Ah, crap, Logan thought. So this is the price.

"Yeah, well that had nothing to do with him at all. What's his problem?"

"I dunno. Maybe he was never gonna sign off on a deal. Maybe he was just sniffing around to see what was up with us. He could be using that little drama as a reason to snuff it all out, just to mess with the Club. Regardless, he wants another sit down."

"Okay, at Hot Rocks again?"

"Nah, over at Maggie's Diner. Tell him what he wants to hear. We need this thing moved up the chain of command to get things going again. Understand?"

"Yeah, I got it."

"Be there in twenty minutes," Logan said and hung up.

Logan couldn't really read Logan. Was he pissed off because the deal was at risk over Logan's antics, or was he just plain grumpy over the whole situation with the Club?

Logan could only shrug.

He looked over at Oliver. Sweet Lord, he was beautiful. Being with him made Logan feel different than when he was with other guy. By a long way, too. Oliver was nothing like Edward, or anyone else. When he watched him leave with Gavin before, he was at complete odds with himself. But to discover it wasn't what Oliver really wanted, that it was him Oliver wanted, not Gavin, it made him feel a lot better.

Logan shook his head. Keep your head in the game, fool, he thought to himself. Right now, he had business to tend to.

He quickly got ready, grabbed his car keys, but paused at the door. He looked at Oliver.

I could get use to seeing that every morning, he thought, watching him snooze away. It was right then, at that very moment, he realized he could be his boyfriend. His one and only man.

Such a thought made him happy.

He quietly closed the door behind him.

He pulled into Maggie's Diner a short while later. Only after he parked and was walking to the entrance did he notice a sedan pulled over across the road. He couldn't quite tell at this distance who it was, but he was certain they were wearing suits and sunglasses. They appeared to be watching him.

Oh, wonderful, he thought. I gotta tale. He decided to just ignore them. There was nothing to worry about. For the moment.

Inside, he located the Evil Master, who was practically elbow deep in some pancakes, and guzzling coffee.

Logan sat across from him. "They don't have breakfasts in your town?" he said, a little amused at the other biker's gusto.

"Yeah," Bob said. "But I knew you'd be picking up the tab for this, so I wanted eat as much as I could."

Logan smirked. Funny guy.

After watching Bob shovel food into his mouth for a few minutes he finally decided to ask, "Well, I understand you have a problem with our deal, now?" He didn't try to hide his annoyance.

Bob seemed unperturbed. "Well, not a problem really. The deal is good, at least from my point of view. Others need their say first." He then managed to jam an entire pancake into his maw.

Logan was nonplussed. "Okay," he said. "So, why did you want to meet if the deal was cool?"

Bob chewed for a few moments then swallowed. He chased the pancake down with coffee. "It's about that guy from yesterday."

Uh oh, Logan thought. Here it comes.

"See, I know who he is," said Bob.

"Yeah, so do I. So?"

"So, I know he's got problems. With his own Club. Like really serious ones." The Evil Master munched on some bacon.

"Really?" Logan said, now very interested. "Don't we all have those in one way or the other?"

Bob shook his head. "Not like this. Guess he's a real hot head. Can't be controlled, or at least, kept in line. Doing stupid things that gets the Hounds' name in the newspapers, and not in a good way."

Logan thought on this. It wasn't uncommon for Biker Clubs to take issue with members, or anyone in their inner circle for that matter, who give them bad press. Bad press leads to scrutiny. Scrutiny leads to investigations. Investigations can land members into jail. If John Q Public is unaware of the nefarious dealings of a Club, all the better. But if they were aware, John Q Public might demand something is done.

And that can easily get a Club member killed.

Logan was reminded of what Oliver had said of Gavin, that he had problems with his Club. This more or less confirms it. But that left a question to be asked.

"Why you telling me this? What makes you think it's important to me?"

Bob grinned. "Because everyone knows your with his guy, now. And that kind of slight to a man like Gavin won't go unanswered. I'm sharing this with you because we've had dealings with the Hounds in the past. And we don't want the stink of your situation getting onto us."

"Okay, I get it now," Logan said. "You don't want any deals you got going on with the Hounds going sideways, because your also got something going on with us? Right?"

Bob shrugged, wiping grease from his mouth. "Hey, it's just business. And the more of it, the better. It's this Gavin idiot who could muck it up for everyone. Understand?"

Logan was now reading between the lines. If he could trust what Bob as telling him, it meant that Gavin was considered a rogue element within the Silver Hounds. And a bad one, too. One who's antics could be bad for business for multiple clubs.

An element that could be eliminated.

"Is this sanctioned?" Logan asked. He was finding it hard to believe the Hounds would kill one of their own, but it wouldn't be unheard of.

Bob held up his hands. "Hey. I don't know nothing about nothing. We're just a couple of fellas sitting around eating pancakes together." He looked down at his empty plate. "Well, one of us was."

The Evil Master stood to leave. But then he spoke in a quieter tone. "But if, say, you needed confirmation of anything we just talked about, then here is a contact I have. Over on the other side."

He handed a folded piece of paper to Logan. As he walked away from the table he called out, "And thanks for breakfast!"

Logan stared down at the paper. He unfolded it, showing a phone number written down with no name or indication of who it was.

But Logan knew. And this could be very good news if he decided to act on it.

Logan paid the bill at the till, then headed for his car. His mind was almost completely on what Bob had told him that he didn't notice the two men in suits standing in front of of his car.

Logan stopped and glared at them.

"Hey, Logan, how's business?" asked the taller of the two.

"Better than yours, Detective Richards."

Richards snorted, then asked, "Well, we know what kind of business you're into. Why don't you tell us what our business is?"

"Proctology," Logan said. "You two are always up someone's ass."

Richards bristled, but his partner, Detective Sutherland raised a hand.

"We're not here to fight with you, Logan," Sutherland said. "We just need a few minutes of your time to answer some questions."

Logan had dealt with these two before, many times. Murder investigations always overlapped into the Biker world. This was all standard operating procedure. But it didn't mean Logan had to make it easy for them. Beside, he would never really cooperate. It was more fun just to mess with them.

"If you are here to enquire about the food here at Maggie's Diner, I can tell you the pancakes are great, if not a little on the greasy side," Logan said. He wasn't concerned that they would have seen him speaking to a known member of the Evil Masters.  Bikers talk to other bikers all the time.

Sutherland held up a photo. Logan recognized it instantly. It was Silas, the dead driver of the stolen van. "You know him?" Sutherland asked.

"Of course I do," Logan said, letting a tinge of annoyance into his voice. It would be stupid to deny knowing a known Hang Around of the Club. To much evidence supporting that. It was easier just to say yes and save some hassle.

"Do you know what happened to him?"

"He's got himself killed," Logan said, firmly.

Richards perked up at this. "You know he's dead? How?"

Logan looked at Richards like he was the dumbest human alive. "Because it was in the newspaper," Logan said.

Richards cursed. "You gotta be a real smart ass all the time?"

"Only when I'm being blocked from entering my vehicle," Logan said. "Do you mind."

The detectives moved.

As Logan walked over to get in, Sutherland asked, "Do you know who killed Silas, Logan?"

"Someone with a gun, probably."

Richards again took the bait. "Yeah, and how do you know that?"

Logan gave the hapless detective a look of pity. "Because the newspaper said he was shot."

"Very funny," Richards said.

"Not to him," Logan said. He opened his door.

"Okay," Sutherland said. "No need to go busting our balls, Logan. You know we gotta ask, right? It's our job."

"You two really got to work on your good cop, bad cop routine," Logan said. "And you can ask all the questions you want but it doesn't mean I have to answer them."

Richards looked over at Sutherland. Sutherland gave a small shrug.

Richards said, "Do you hear that noise, Detective Sutherland?"

"What noise, Detective Richards?"