Page 140 of Bloom: Part 2

They pushed me in. The door slammed shut with a metallic clang. Trembling, I faced the dog, saliva dripping from its mouth. A chicken leg was flung into the cage and landed between me and the dog.

It was time to eat or be eaten.

The memory twisted into itself, merging with the present as the rope around my neck tightened further. My vision blurred, and dark spots danced in front of my eyes as I gasped for air. The metallic taste of panic filled my mouth, and my ears rang with the echoes of laughter and snarls.

“Get the fuck away from him!”

The voice pierced through the haze like a shot, sharp and commanding. The pressure on the rope vanished, and I collapsed forward, sucking in ragged breaths. My head spun, and my chest heaved, the gulps of air barely enough to chase away the crushing panic.

Warm arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, and I flinched instinctively, expecting pain. But the voice came again, softer this time. Familiar.

“Bloom… it’s okay. I’m here. You’re all right. You’re safe now.”

Logan.

I blinked. My vision slowly cleared, and his face came into focus. His arms were tight around me, his body pressed against me, shielding me from everything else. His voice was a steady rhythm, pulling me back from the edge of the abyss.

“You’re okay,” he whispered, his breath warm against my temple. “I’ve got you.”

I buried my face against his chest, trembling, my body refusing to calm, even as his words wrapped around me like a lifeline. The memory clung to me vividly, but Logan’s presence was stronger. He was here. He’d found me.

“Logan,” I croaked, my voice barely a whisper, raw and broken.

“I’m here.” He ran his hands over my back in soothing circles, grounding me. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

“Technically, that’s not true.”

We weren’t alone. I stiffened. Logan’s uncle stopped a few feet away from us, a harsh grin on his face. He was behind this. I snarled, lunging forward, but Logan held me back.

“Bloom, stand down. Relax. You’ll be okay.”

But what about him?

“He is absolutely fascinating, Keegan,” his uncle said. “Gorgeous, wild, and completely untamed. A beautiful creature.”

Logan bristled, his growl low and threatening as he stood before me, shielding me with his body. “You said you’d leave him alone if I followed you.”

“I suppose I did say that. Didn’t I?”

“Then release him. Take him back to his family and let this end right here. He has nothing to do with the Mafia.”

I shoved myself against Logan’s leg. “What are you talking about, Logan? I’m not going without you.”

“You will.” Logan didn’t look at me. My heart galloped against my ribs.

Why won’t he look at me?

“Logan, please look at me.”

“There’s nothing to say, Bloom. This whole mess started because of me, so I should end it.”

“You can’t make me do it, Logan! I’ll never leave you.” Why wouldn’t he look at me? I sank my teeth into his leg hard. He hissed but didn’t pull away, so I bit down some more until I tasted his blood. It wasn’t nearly enough.

“Dammit, Bloom!” He grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. “Cut it out. I’m doing this for you. This is the only way I have to save you.”

“It isn’t. We can fight them together. It’s you and me against them.”

“They have guns, Bloom.”

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