Page 85 of Tortured Eyes
We stare at each other for a while, both of us smiling. For my part, I’m just happy to be getting the hell out of here, regardless of his attempt at a threat. I’m not sure what he’s smiling for. He isn’t normally. He’s short, curt. Fucking cutting most of the time.
"By the way, you owe me for this," he says, eyes steady on mine. "I'll call it in one day. Bring you over to London for a fun outing."
I nod and rub at my wrists, moving to stand. For getting me out of this, he can call me in whenever he needs. I’m done sitting and being told what to do for a while, though, and him towering over me isn’t helping me feel in control.
The doors are unlocked in due time, and eventually, we start the walk through the corridors to the guards’ station. Three more doors are unlocked and locked behind us until I’m ushered into another room to change into my original clothes. I pull on the jeans and blood-stained shirt, my feet finally finding home back in my own boots, and I swing my arms into my leather jacket. Everything reeks of dirt and grime, smoke still lingering on it from the riots. I pull in a breath and thread my watch into place, eyes looking out at the sunlight for the first time in a while. If there’s one thing that’s never happening again, it’s me being inside one of these goddamn hell holes. That’s for damn sure. Hot as hell woman or not.
Crisp winter air greets me when I finally get outside. I end up basking in it for a few minutes, enjoying the feeling of weather on my skin, and then I hear Landon chuckling about something. I look over at him, leaning on the wall, his arms crossed as his head shakes.
“What?”
“You Canes. You’re all the same. Stupid for women,” he says, still chuckling. “Why the hell would you do that for her?” I walk closer, still wondering the same thing. I would have done the same for Samuel if needed, though. Might even have done it for Carter if the need arose. “Although, I’ll give it to you. She is attractive. And mouthy. Wouldn’t mind a piece of it myself.” He kicks off the wall and looks down towards the road, his hand pointing at a car pulling in. “Your ride’s here. I suggest you go home before they realise Senator Kelly just pulled a load of strings to get you out. Perhaps back to New York, Logan. You’re safer there.”
I frown and watch him start walking down towards the car, long firm strides taking him there, and then I see the door opening, my father getting out. Everything in me that was thinking about moving stops. I look left and right, searching for a cab. Last thing I want now is to know what the hell he’s here for. Landon shakes his hand then moves off along the road, heading towards a blacked-out Aston. Good suits and good cars. Maybe he’s not all asshole. My father, though?
I start walking in the opposite direction, hands shoved into my pockets. I’ll get back on my own rather than deal with him. Thanks and everything, but no. I still don’t want a conversation, let alone some kind of rekindling between father and son.
“Logan, stop.”
No. Shame of it is, I’m only a few more strides along the pavement when he’s behind me, his hand on my arm.
“Stop walking.”
“No, you want to walk with me, I’m not stopping you.” What the hell did I say that for? I take a glance at his features, but I don’t need to. He’s everything I see in the mirror every day, just older, possibly wiser if I’m truly honest with myself.
“Get in the car," he says, moving towards it. "We need to talk. A goddamned thank you for dealing with this crap would be nice, but if you’re set on acting like a dick, then far be it from me to stop you. Just get in the car and listen.”
Fine.
I round the vehicle and slide into the other side, just wanting to get this done so we can all move on with our lives. The door slams behind me and I lean back on the headrest, eyes closed. He can talk, and I’ll stay silent, keeping everything locked down tight so I don’t end up remembering things I don’t want to feel.
Silence again. That I can do.
“It’s a shame you never knew Josh," he eventually says. "You’d have known why I did what I did if you’d have met him.” My brow furrows at the words, irritation building because of where he’s going with this conversation. “You were like him back then. Rowdy, uncooperative. Always getting mixed up in shit that wasn’t meant for you. You were just supposed to have a safe life, Logan. A good one. That’s all I wanted for you. And look at you now. Wish I wasn’t so damn proud of you for what you've become.”
My eyes open at the last of it, both of them gazing out of the window into oncoming traffic rather than at him.
“You never even gave me the chance to tell you that after you left. All I was able to do was watch you grow under Vico, see the man he turned you into, and wait until a time came when you’d forgive me.”
“Forgive you?” I muse, still staring out the window.
“Yes. Forgive me. I should never have pushed you away, but you’re not a father yet, Logan. You don’t know how it feels to see your son getting involved in the one thing you’re trying to keep him out of. Carter’s plan was good. It kept everyone safe and pulled us out of everything.”
“Never would have worked.”
“Yes, it would have. It did. You just chose to not adhere to-”
Screw this. “I chose to do what you’d set up to keep us strong. Me. Not Carter. Me." I turn to face him, pissed and ready to offload this. "And when he dragged me back to you because he didn’t like me out there dealing with that, you fucking agreed with him.”
“To keep you safe.” Everything inside me breaks loose, all the goddamned anger trying to get out of my mouth.
“It was nothing to do with keeping me safe. It was all about keeping me down and at fucking heel where you wanted me to be. Safety is a goddamned joke in this family, and you know it. The only safe way is a way Carter wasn't prepared to travel because of a fucking woman.” He knocks on the window suddenly, telling the driver to stop, and then starts getting out. “Don’t you dare get out of here now you’ve started this. I have…” The door is slammed in my face. I’m out and rounding the car to get to him before he’s able to walk into the park he’s aiming for. “I have things to damn well say about this,” I continue. “For a start, what father does that to his son? You threw me out of my own damn home because I didn’t agree with him, or you. What the fuck was that?”
“I didn’t throw you out. You left.”
“Really?” I snap, turning to leave. I'm done if he's not going to at least be honest.
“I said that you should go cool off,” he hollers. My feet spin me back, venom ready to strike.
