Page 107 of Bloom: Part 2

“If we wanted to kill him, he would have been dead already.” The old man placed a hand on Logan’s shoulder. “Keegan, why don’t you introduce us to your friends.”

“Right.” Logan gestured at the man. “This is my uncle Mickey. He wanted to talk to me.”

“So he kidnapped you?” I snapped. “What happened to knocking on your door or calling you on your phone?”

The man smiled at Logan. “He’s feisty. I can see why you’re keen on marrying him.”

Logan smiled, his eyes soft when he looked at me. “He’s one in a million.”

“He brought an army just to rescue you. Impressive.” He held up his arms and nodded at the man with the eye patch. “Bishop, put away your gun.”

Only when the man called Bishop holstered his gun did I rush forward and fist my hand in Logan’s shirt. “Are you okay?” I looked him up and down, patting his chest. When I got to his stomach, he winced.

“Bloom, I’m fine.”

“Then why did you just wince?” I raised his shirt, exposing his stomach, which had a bruising as if someone had hit him. I inhaled sharply. “Which one of you assholes do I gotta kill?”

“It’s all right. I’m all right.” Logan gently removed the gun from my hand. “You’re right. They could have done without kidnapping me, but they didn’t bring me here to kill me. Sorry everyone.”

“Are you sure?” Crowe’s frown was still hinged with suspicion. I didn’t blame him. Something about the situation didn’t feel right with me, though it could be that I was pissed someone got to him right under my nose.

“Positive. Uncle and I were really close before I left New York,” Logan said. “He’s been informing me of my father’s plans, that’s all.”

I tilted my chin, meeting his uncle’s gaze without flinching. “Why are you here in Smoky Vale? This is our town, and you’re not welcome here.”

“We had a feeling that would be the case, which is why we went to all this trouble kidnapping Keegan so we could talk to him.”

“Logan,” I shot back. “His name’s Logan Collier.”

“It doesn’t matter what he calls himself now. He will always be an Agosti. And not justanyAgosti. He’ll always be the Agosti who betrayed the family, and for that, his life will always be in danger.”

“And what about you? Is his life in danger from you?”

“If we wanted to kill him, he would already be dead before you got here. It’s been over a decade since I’ve seen my nephew. Is it so strange that I showed up here? I’ve come to help him disappear so my brother can’t reach him.”

“He doesn’t need you for that.” I stepped between Logan and the man. “We’re his family now.”

“Bloom, enough,” Logan said softly. “I know you mean well, and I love you for it, but he’s not the enemy.”

The guy who resembled Logan scoffed. “Gotta hand it to you, Keegan. At least this one seems capable of handling himself, though he’s still no match for the men working for Pop. His neck will still make a snapping sound, and he still bleeds red.”

Logan placed a hand on my arm. “If you have a grudge against me, take it out on me, Emil, but leave Bloom out of it.”

“I’m afraid it’s already too late. He got involved with you. Pop told you he forbids you to be with a man, and you want to marry one? As pretty as he is, he still has a fucking dick, or did he turn it into a pussy just for you?”

Logan doubled his hand into a fist, but his uncle reacted faster, cracking his palm across Emil’s face. “That is enough out of you. Have you learned nothing over the years?”

Emil stumbled back, the imprint of their uncle’s hand bright red on his cheek. He clenched his jaw, and his eyes turned into hard flints, but he pinched his lips together.

“Sorry about that. Emil’s, unfortunately, got his father’s temper. Is this misunderstanding sorted out now, or do we need to explain further?”

Crowe made a signal, and the other bikers filed out of the warehouse. “How long are you staying in Smoky Vale?” he asked.

“I only came to have a chat with Logan,” Logan’s uncle said. “I had no intention of staying beyond that, but…I understandyou two are getting married soon. If it’s not too much trouble, I would love to stay for that.”

“No.” I spat. This man represented Logan’s past and the family who wanted to hurt him. I didn’t care if he defended me from his nephew’s bitter words. He wasn’t welcome in Smoky Vale, and he definitely wasn’t welcome at our wedding.

“Actually, it would be an honor to have you there,” Logan said.

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