LOGAN (BAD BOY BIKER ROMANCE) (18 page)

Chapter 22

Oliver

Oliver sat in stunned silence for several minutes, trying to process what Gavin just said.

"Marriage? You think we're going to get married?"

Gavin grinned at him. He looked like a man who knew everything. That just by saying the words marriage would make it so. "Yeah. Legally, you will be mine. We'll move into a bigger place. Then we'll start to adopt kids."

Oliver could only stare at him. This man was a lunatic. After all this he really thought Oliver would just let such a thing happen?

"You're an idiot," Oliver heard himself saying.

Gavin's grin faltered. His eyes grew wide with anger. "What did you just say to me?"

Oliver's anger was growing, too. And so was his courage. "You're a complete moron if you think that will ever happen. Children?" he said incredulous. "Of all the stupidity. You'd think I'd want raise kids to end up like you? A bunch of losers - ."

Gavin's arm shot out and backhanded Oliver across the face. Oliver's head whipped back and he hit it hard against the window.

Oliver saw stars. He blinked, dazed.

Gavin was enraged. "You ungrateful bitch. Don't you ever speak to me that way again or I'll beat some sense into you."

This wasn't the first time Gavin had struck Oliver. There had been many times before. But it was the first time Oliver had spoken back at Gavin. He had always cowered and let him do what he wanted. Waited and prayed that his anger would pass.

But now Oliver knew Logan was out there. Probably looking for him. Oliver didn't have to do anything he didn't want to anymore. Certainly not for Gavin.

He wanted Logan, and Gavin could go to hell.

Oliver levelled him with a hard stare. "We will never be married. You and I are over. Forever. Period." His tone was firm. He was making a statement of fact. It didn't matter what Gavin said or did now. He was defiant.

Oliver was deciding what to do with his life now. Not Gavin.

Gavin was borderline apoplectic. But at the same time, he didn't quite expect this new Oliver, nor how to handle him. "Talk big all you want, bitch." He said. "You are mine. And you always will be."

Oliver found himself looking out the passenger window at the pavement. He could jump. Hell, he would jump. They were now approaching some semblance of civilization again. More buildings were passing them by. He could make a run for it.

Just then there was a loaded dinging noise.

Oliver looked over as Gavin cursed. The car was low on gas. He knew that the car would never make it even half way back to Silver Hound territory now.

"What a genius you are," Oliver sneered. It felt good to mock him. After the near countless times Gavin had done the same to him, belittling him, abusing him. "Try and kidnap someone on an empty tank of gas? Moron!"

Again, the backhand. But this time Oliver managed to get his hands up and block most of the blow. Gavin still hit him, but not as hard.

The low fuel alarm kept dinging.

As if on cue, a gas station appeared ahead of them at an intersection.

Gavin suddenly grabbed him by the neck, "Keep still, and sit there. Or I'll make it worse for you."

Oliver knew Gavin had to get gas. This would give him a chance to escape. It would be now or never. So he played it smart. He chilled out and nodded.

Gavin pulled into the station and drove up to a pump. At the pump next to them was a small van with a family inside. Two little girls jumped around in the back as the father pumped gas.

As Gavin put the car in park, Oliver gripped the passenger door handle.

"Don't," Gavin said. Oliver looked at him. Gavin's face looked smug. He looked down. Gavin had a pistol pointed at him from his lap. "You try anything and I'll shoot you dead. Then, I'll shoot those little brats, too. Then the parents." His tone was deadly, and Oliver knew better than to doubt his words.

Oliver released the door handle and sat back. He glared at Gavin.

Gavin looked around, then said to him. "Stay seated. If anyone dies here it will because of your dumb ass."

Oliver was fuming. This changed things. He knew, almost without a doubt, that Gavin would go ballistic here if he didn't obey him. Oliver might risk his own life to escape, but he wasn't going to let any innocent bystanders get hurt. Especially children. He would just bide his time.

Oliver nodded once. "Asshole," he said, and sneered at him.

Gavin's grin returned. "Just looking out for my future husband," he said, and slipped the pistol under his shirt and behind his waste band.

He got out of the car and closed the door. Oliver looked. He had taken the keys with him.

As Gavin started pumping the gas Oliver thought about Logan. So Logan wasn't beaten at the Clubhouse. That was Milo. And he wasn't in any trouble because of Oliver. That was all just a story to get him to leave.

He felt a flare of anger at Edward. Oliver had actually started to trust him. He allowed himself to be manipulated by Edward and Ryder to leave. No doubt, when Milo revealed his deal with the Silver Hounds Logan would have suspected Gavin might be involved. And Logan would have come looking to check on him. To protect him.

But he had let himself be whisked away by a bunch of fast talkers. He let it happen.

He would never let that happen again. And, God help Eddie if he ever crossed paths with Oliver again.

Oliver couldn't dwell on that now. Instead, he needed to concentrate on an escape. Somehow.

The van with the family had finished, and drove away onto the road. Oliver looked back at Gavin. He couldn't see his face, but he raised his shirt enough for just him to see the pistol in his waist band.

What could Oliver do?

As if delivered from the God above, a black and white police car smoothly drove up off the road and into the spot the family had just vacated. Two police officers were inside.

Oliver's heart started to hammer in his chest. This was his chance.

Both officers got out of the car. They glanced in Gavin and Oliver's direction. Then looked away.

Now or never girl! He thought.

He gripped the car door handle again. Almost eagerly, he watched as one officer walked to the gas station entrance and went inside.

The other started to pump gas into the cruiser.

Gavin was still at the back of the sedan. He must have sensed that Oliver might try something because he stopped the pump long before the tank was full.

As he turned to put the pump back into its cradle, Oliver quickly opened the door and got out.

Gavin whirled around. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He hissed. He kept his voice low.

Without looking back at him Oliver said, "Whatever I want."

Oliver passed the cruiser and loudly said, "Hello, officer!"

The officer looked, and said, "Hello to you, too."

Oliver went inside. The first officer was over by a counter making himself a big take-away cup of coffee. A clerk was behind another counter, next to the register, playing a game on his phone.

Now what do I do? He thought. Run over to the cop screaming? Or take a risk. He didn't want anyone to get hurt. Gavin was capable of following through on his threat to start shooting people.

He quickly decided to wait and see before doing anything. He went over to a magazine rack that was next to the main window. Outside, Gavin was putting the cap back on the tank, taking longer than it should. He was obviously trying to decide what to do, too.

If the cops start to leave, I'll say something, he thought. His heart was hammering in his chest. His head felt light. He prayed he was doing the right thing.

If only Gavin would just leave!

Oliver watched, transfixed as Gavin calmly put the cap back on the tank, then opened the passenger door and put something inside. Then he turned and walked toward the station door.

What was he doing? Then he realized. He couldn't just drive away because he still had to pay for gas and the clerk would alert the officers. Plus, he was arrogant enough to think he could change Oliver's mind. He didn't realize Oliver was giving him a change to leave, or was too much of a bastard to care.

As Gavin approached the door, the second officer had finished pumping gas, too, and walked over to the door. He followed Gavin inside.

Instead of walking over to the counter to pay, Gavin headed over to Oliver. Oliver glanced at the officers. They were both at the coffee counter. The first officer glanced in his direction.

"You stupid bitch," Gavin said. "Do as you're told. You're only making it worse for you. Be a good little hubby and get back in the car."

Oliver had had enough. "Shut up, asshole!" he said loudly. "I want nothing to do with you! Can't you get that through your thick skull."

Gavin paled and looked over at the officers. They were both looking in their direction now.

He was desperate. "Chill out and this will go a lot easier for you. Keep your voice down, I don't-"

"What?!" Oliver yelled. "You'll do what? Want to say that louder so everyone can hear?"

Gavin was really shaken by this. His defiance. The presence of the officers. But Oliver knew what was really rattling him: he had no control over the situation.

"You brainless moron, if you-" Gavin started to say.

"Is everyone okay here, sir?" said the first officer as he appeared beside them. Gavin gave a start in surprise.

"No problem," Gavin said. "He's just a little high strung."

Oliver would have laughed at that if he wasn't so pissed off. "Yes, officer there is a problem." He pointed at Gavin. "He is the problem!"

The second officer approached, but from a different angle. They were positioning themselves to cover Gavin, Oliver thought.

Gavin glared at Oliver, then blurted out, "Don't make this worse!"

Oliver blinked at him. What an idiot. He said, "How much worse do you think this can get?"

Outside, there was a sudden screeching of tires. Everyone turned to look.

A car surged up into the gas station lot. Oliver could see the driver, clear as day. His heart leapt in his chest.

It was Logan.

Chapter 23

Logan

Logan drove his car as fast as he could push it, and cursed when it couldn't give any more speed.

He estimated that Gavin and Oliver had a good five minute head start on him, and he hoped to catch up well before Gavin got into Silver Hounds territory.

Not that entering another Club's territory bothered Logan. Normally, he would go through proper channels, but screw all that to hell. Oliver was in danger.

If he had to shoot his way straight in through the Hounds Clubhouse to get Oliver, he was going to do it.

He knew he was more than willing to die for Oliver. This came as a shock. He never really had strong emotions for anyone, all his life. Even with men he was involved with. And he had only known Oliver for a short while. But the feelings that he had awoken in him were as terrifying as they were thrilling. And he didn't want to lose that.

He would not lose Oliver.

Flying down the road he was still careful to check each vehicle he passed. In the back of his mind he wasn't entirely sure what he would do if and when he came across them. Try and run them off the road? Oliver could be hurt. Shoot out a tire? That was an option. He would have to wait and see. Right now, he was running on pure emotion. Rage for Gavin, and what he had done. And something deep and wonderful, for Oliver. Both feelings roiled in his heart and mind.

He returned his thoughts to the road. He was fast approaching a lighted intersection, and started to slow down only a little. There was a gas station coming up on the right hand side. He noticed the black and white squad car but forgot it instantly when he saw the blue sedan parked at a pump.

Slamming on the brakes, he wrenched the steering wheel, and skidded into the gas station lot. He brought the car right up to the pavement just outside the entrance and stopped the car with a screech.

His eyes locked with Oliver's inside the station. There were other people with him, including some cops, but Logan didn't care. He'd found Oliver.

Despite the hammering in his heart, he had the presence mind to ensure that his pistol was hidden beneath his shirt. Then, without even killing the engine, he slammed the car into park and jumped out of the car.

He walked through the entrance briskly and headed straight for Oliver.

Everyone there, Oliver, the cops, Gavin, gaped at Logan in a mix of surprise and fear.

With a deadly glance at Gavin, he moved past all of them and stood next to Oliver, slipping and arm around his waist.

"You okay?" Logan asked him. He tried to keep any emotion out of his voice.

Oliver's eyes were welling the tears. The relief on his face was palpable. "I am now," he managed. Then Oliver hugged his side, burying his face into his jacket.

Logan levelled Gavin with a glare. "I told you what would happen if you came back."

Gavin was throughly thrown off now by the whole situation. Oliver was no longer his, the cops were standing right there, and Logan had a murderous look in his eyes.

"Came to collect what was mine," Gavin said. But it sounded weak and futile.

"Nothing is your's here," Logan said. He was having trouble keeping his rage in check. "And if we weren't standing out in public right now, I'd take you out back and bury you in a hole."

"Ahem," said the first officer. He had been following the two bikers discussion with great interest. His partner still kept a few steps back and at an angle, one hand on his gun. "I take it this is a domestic situation?" the officer continued.

"No," Logan said. He looked right at Gavin. "This is business."

The officer nodded once. Looked at Gavin, then back at Logan. Then he asked, "So, how do you want us to handle this? Take him in? Introduce him to some new cell mates?"

Gavin's face fell.

Logan allowed himself a few moments of Gavin's discomfort. He had to handle this just right. Meeting up at the gas station had changed his short term plans. That didn't mean long term plans couldn't be made.

Logan looked at the officer. "Get him out of here. Make sure he leaves town."

The officer nodded again, then fixed Gavin with a don't-mess-with-the-police glare. "Sir, get back to your vehicle. Now."

Gavin was paralysed for several long moments. As if he really didn't know what to do. But there wasn't any options here except to leave.

Grudgingly, Gavin turned and headed to the door. The two officers followed, hands on their weapons. Oliver and Logan, still holding each other, followed them outside.

Gavin walked to his car, and as he opened the driver side door, Oliver called out, "Good bye, forever, asshole!"

Logan barked a laugh.

Gavin glared at them for a moment, but the first officer said, "Get in." The biker did as he was commanded.

As Gavin started up his car, and pulled out to the street, the officers got in their cruiser and quickly followed. In moments, both vehicles were out of sight.

Oliver sighed with relief.

Logan said, with a grin, "I take it you had an exciting day?"

Oliver laughed, then pulled Logan toward him. They kissed passionately and deeply. As if both had felt they may never have had a chance to do so again. Now they could make up for that.

After several long involved minutes, Oliver suddenly pushed away from Logan, his eyes wide. "Ryder! Milo! They took me to some dairy farm! They had some sort of deal with Gavin! There was a van full of - ."

Logan put a finger to Oliver's lips and smiled. "I know," he said. "I know all of it now. Well, most. You can fill me in with your side later. But first, there is a very important task we need to do."

Logan took his hand and led him around to the passenger side of the car. Oliver blinked at him in confusion as he got it.

When Logan got into the driver side and closed the door, Oliver pulled closer to him. "What? What's this important task?"

Logan backed the car onto the street, then started in the direction he had come.

"We need to get you home right away," he said with a grin. "And get you naked."