Page 6 of Bloom: Part 2

My chest heaved, and my labored breathing filled the room. “I said I don’t fucking need you. Why do you insist on prying into my life?”

“Because I care about my patients, Bloom,” he said earnestly. “You came to me, a unique young man without a last name—a young man without an identity, questioning his place in this world. It’s my job to help you find out who you are.”

“I know who I am.”

“Dr. Collier’s lover is not an appropriate answer. Think about it, and if that’s all you can come up with, you know I’m right. You need me even more than you need him.”

He was wrong. Being Logan’s lover was enough. It was everything. That was my purpose, and whenever I was with Logan, I felt fulfilled. Plus, I was still a Blood Hound. I didn’t need Dr. Simms. Logan loved me just the way I was.

Where is he?

Left alone once more, I called Logan two more times but got no response. Maybe I should go and find him myself. I pulledback the sheet and swung my legs over the side of the bed, grimacing as a sharp pain shot through my chest.

The door opened, and Sven entered ahead of a young woman in a white uniform wheeling in a tray of food.

“What the hell are you doing?” He rushed over to the bed and took me by the shoulders. “You’re not supposed to stand without assistance.”

“I need to find Logan.”

“You won’t even make it out the door without falling flat on your face. Now lie back down.”

“You don’t understand. He said he would be here at nine. It’s almost noon. Something is wrong.”

“I doubt it, and even if it is, what can you do to help? You’re recovering from surgery. Now for god’s sake, stop being difficult and—”

“I’ll yank the needles out if you don’t release me.” Why the hell was I so weak? I couldn’t even push him to release me.

“Don’t make me order you to be strapped down, Bloom. I will do it if that’s what it takes to—”

“What’s going on here?”

Logan filled the doorway, his short hair messy as though the wind had been caressing the strands.

His casual jeans and a black tweed trench coat over a dark blue pullover made my breath hitch. My heart punched against my ribs, and I bit my bottom lip, unable to take my eyes off him.

Mine.

Forever mine.

2

LOGAN

I’d spent the day in a paranoid state, convinced someone was following me, which delayed my visit to the hospital. The winding streets of the city offered no solace, and neither did the bustling crowds at the mall, where every stranger’s glance felt like a potential threat. Each turn and detour did nothing to alleviate my anxiety, spurred on by the phone call from the US Marshal almost two weeks ago, warning me of potential danger.

The news of the hospital hostage situation had dominated both local and national television. Someone from my past must have made the connection by now. My face had been flashed on screens and in print too many times to count. Too many times for me to do anything about it.

Why hasn’t there been any action? Is it possible they’d stopped searching for me?

No one had shown up at my doorstep to drag me back to the family I’d betrayed.

I held no illusion about what I had to face if they caught up with me. A fate worse than death. I knew firsthand whatthe Agostis were capable of. Their retribution was slow and merciless.

Normally, I would have left town and had the Marshals settle me with a new identity. They’d done it before when my cover was blown, but this time I couldn’t. I’d promised Bloom forever. I had to keep my word to him. But what if my promise brought him more danger?

You knew you’d forever be on the run when you decided to testify against your father.

But I never expected a day would come when I was unable to run. I never expected to meetthe one. I never expected to care about anyone to the extent I did for Bloom.

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