Page 108 of Bloom: Part 2

I gasped. “But, Logan—”

“No, sweetheart, I know. But this is the first contact I’ve had with family since…well, since everything that happened. Your entire family—the people who mean the most to you—will be at our wedding. This is my chance to have someone from my family, who wishes us well, in attendance.”

“Does it mean that much to you?”

Logan linked our fingers and squeezed. “I didn’t think it bothered me before, but it actually does.”

I let out a breath slowly and glared at his uncle. “You do anything like that again, and I’ll make you regret it. As long as you are who you say you are and you don’t hurt Logan, you’re welcome at our wedding, but then you leave.”

“I’ll need the address where you’re staying in town,” Crowe said. “And anyone who is here with you as well.”

“Sure thing. We have nothing to hide. It’s just us three.”

Crowe took down the address his uncle gave while I pulled Logan to the side.

“You scared me.”

“I’m sorry.” He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand.

“Why didn’t you make a sound? You just went with them willingly?”

He didn’t respond, but the answer was obvious. I would have reacted. I let out a sigh. “Let’s go. I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but I don’t care much for your uncle.”

32

LOGAN

Just as the weight of exhaustion finally pulled me under, my phone buzzed against the nightstand, prodding me awake. The device vibrated impossibly loud in the stillness. Afraid it would wake Bloom, who needed his rest after the terrible day we’d had, I quickly grabbed it, squinting against the harsh screen light. The caller’s ID was withheld.

Every instinct inside me urged me to ignore the call, but I swiped the button to answer.

“Hello,” I whispered.

“Keegan, are you free to talk?”

Uncle’s urgent voice came across the line a little too serious for my liking. I glanced over at Bloom, whose back was to me. “Give me a sec.”

Carefully I peeled back the sheets and slipped out of bed. The floor was cold beneath my bare feet, but I dashed to the bathroom, leaving the door ajar. I sat on the closed toilet and pressed my toes into the plush mat.

“You can talk now,” I said.

I’d sensed there was a lot more he wanted to say to me, but not in front of the Blood Hounds.

“Are you okay?” Uncle asked. “Did they make things difficult for you?”

“The Blood Hounds aren’t a threat. You don’t have to worry about them.”

He chuckled. “Your fiancé is like a little savage, but I can see you care about him.”

“He’s not a savage. He’s just…Bloom, and yes, I care about him. That’s why I’m marrying him.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Keegan.”

“I’m not going to leave him.” Bloom would never recover from such a betrayal. Unlike with my family I would never betray him.

“What if it’s the right decision for you both?” he asked. “The longer you’re in Smoky Vale, the more risk you bring on to both of you. Do you really want him involved in this war with your father?”

He was right. I didn’t want Bloom to get mixed up with my mess. I wanted him to be safe and happy. But we’d passed the point of me walking away. It was too late now. It was no longer my choice but Bloom’s, and he’d made it clear he’d chosen to be with me.

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