Flawless Prize

My jaw drops. “You’re not serious.”

“I am. I should know, because he enlisted my help to clean it up.” Logan grins. “Took the better part of a week. By then he was failing economics and he was pretty sure he wasn’t going to graduate. I have no idea how he pulled it out, but he did.”

“Probably the Sterling name had something to do with it.”

He shakes his head. “Not really. He just… He doesn’t want for much, but when he does decide he wants something, he goes after it. He doesn’t stop. So Sterling Cross’s success since he took the reins, even though he did it unexpectedly, didn’t surprise me in the least.”

If he wants something, he goes after it. Kind of like how he pursued me, with all those flowers and gifts. “And once he gets what he wants?”

His eyes narrow slightly as he takes me in. I can tell he’s wise as to why I’m asking, because he says, “Caleb’s a good guy.”

I’m not sure what that means. That he’ll put a ring on my finger? Or that when he breaks it off, he’ll let me down easy?

“I know he is.”

Logan leans in. “Look, Juliet. Caleb isn’t one to go around wearing his heart on his sleeve. He’s never been that guy. But what I do know is that he’s different with you.”

“How so?”

“He just is. Seeing the way he looks at you, talks to you… You mean something to him. I can’t remember the last time I saw him like this with any woman.”

I can’t help smiling. “It’s never been like this for me, either,” I admit.

“C’mon,” he says, finishing his food. “We better get you home before Caleb sends a search party. Or a SWAT team,” he adds.

I pull on my jacket and follow him outside. We’re only a few blocks from the apartment now, but Logan doesn’t let down his guard, even for a second. He moves me to the inside of the sidewalk, carefully alert even as we walk.

“Do you really think Nero will come after me again?” I ask, unsettled by how wary he is.

Logan shrugs. “He’s tried it before. And he’s a man who gets what he wants.”

There it is again: That prickling feeling, like I’m missing something important. I mull for a moment, before finally speaking.

“Look, I know we’re all assuming it was Nero—or one of his guys—behind my crash, and the gas leak, and the fire… But what if it wasn’t?”

Logan looks at me, puzzled. “I don’t understand.”

I try to explain what’s been bugging me in the back of my mind, for weeks now. “Nero is a Barretti. Organized crime. As deadly as they get. Guys like him, they don’t mess around. They finish the job, no matter what.”

“Which is why you need security, before he follows through this time.”

I shake my head. “But don’t you think that’s weird? He’s failed. Not just once, but a bunch of times. Nero’s not the kind of guy to go behind your back. He’ll just shoot you in the face, so you know perfectly well who’s coming for you. What he’s been doing, all this sneaking around stuff…”

“Isn’t like him?” Logan finishes.

I nod.

“I agree. It’s not.” Logan looks thoughtful. “But maybe he likes playing with you because he’s finally found someone that Caleb actually cares about.”

“Maybe.” I pause, thinking. “But still, the things he did just don’t add up. Sending me roses that he’s cut to ribbons? Threatening notes?”

Logan frowns. “What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t Caleb tell you?”

I quickly explain about the weird gifts, and that night the power went out in the office. “What if Nero isn’t the only person Caleb needs to worry about?”

He shakes his head slowly. “It doesn’t sound like they’re after Caleb,” he says. “Shit like that, it’s personal. Someone has some kind of vendetta against you.”