Running fingers through her hair, she blew out a breath and tried to calm her nerves, but nothing was happening. She was in a state of panic, which she kept on trying to hide.
The limo started to move through the city, taking her deeper into the thick of it. She’d never been a city girl. She loved her small town, but there was certainly an appeal to getting lost within an ocean of people.
Logan was typing away on his cell phone.
The first stop was a bar.
Hunter parked the limo, and Logan stepped out, taking her hand.
“Do you own this?”
“Not yet, but I have a feeling if I don’t get paid, by the end of the week the deeds will be mine.”
He walked her into the bar, and it looked closed. The door had been open, and one look up and the guy behind the bar went pale.
“Where’s Andrew?” Logan asked.
“He’s in the office, sir. He wasn’t expecting you back.”
“I have given him a week.” Logan helped Ava into a chair. “I think that is more than adequate time for my money. Do me a favor, Daniel. My woman will have a drink. Nothing alcoholic, and keep her entertained.”
She watched as Logan and Hunter left, heading into the back.
Forcing a smile to her lips, she turned to look at Daniel.
“What would you like to drink?” he asked.
She noticed Daniel was shaking. He put the glass down gently.
“Erm, I’ll just have a soda or something.” She gasped as she heard a masculine scream. It was so high pitched, but it came from the direction Logan and Hunter had gone to.
She got off the stool, and Daniel reached out, grabbing her.
“You can’t go back there.”
“You did hear that?”
“Yes.”
“Then why aren’t you doing something?” she asked.
“I am. I’m getting you a drink.”
He opened up a can of soda, placing it in front of her.
She looked back at the room.
“Please, don’t go back there.”
She turned to Daniel. “You’re afraid.”
“Wouldn’t you be if the guy known as ‘death’ shows up at your workplace?”
“Death?”
The man smiled. He was perspiring. “You don’t have a clue who you’re with, do you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“That’s all, Daniel,” Logan said.
She quickly looked behind her, and sure enough, Logan was on his way back toward her. She noticed he was wiping his hands.
“Let’s go.”
“I’ve got a soda to drink.”
“And I’ve got business to attend to,” Logan said.
Without waiting for her, he grabbed her arm, leading her out of the bar.
“What is going on? Why does he think your name is death? Or is that Hunter?”
Hunter joined them back in the limo.
“Logan, you can’t keep me in the dark forever.”
“I can keep you exactly where I want you.”
****
The deeds were going to change hands. It wasn’t like Logan needed another bar, but he had to make sure people didn’t think he was going soft. The moment he started to show weakness, it was where people would take advantage.
Andrew had screamed so loud when he’d snapped his arm in two, Logan was surprised to still be able to hear. It was so high-pitched.
The bar had been struggling for nearly a year, and no matter how much money Andrew sank into the place, it was dying, and there wasn’t a single chance of him bringing in the people it needed.
Also, Andrew had a little drug problem, and Logan was tired of feeding it. The bar was in a prime location. With some modifications, it would soon be a restaurant and bar to rival those already in the city.
He’d already had the plans drawn up when Andrew’s drug habit had been brought to his attention. Whenever an addiction was involved, Logan rarely saw a way out for the people, and often took over.
“Logan, what aren’t you telling me?”
His other little problem didn’t like staying silent. After hurting someone, he liked complete silence to go over every element of his meeting. He didn’t take long to dwell, just to see he’d made the right decision. He never felt sorry for any of the people he hurt. It was part of his business.
What he needed to do was to make sure he handled all of his businesses swiftly.
“Are you death? Is Hunter?”
“You need to be quiet before I put your mouth to better use.” He turned to look at her, brow raised, waiting for that smart mouth of hers to get her in trouble.
She looked out of the window, remaining quiet.
Andrew wasn’t the first bar he’d acquired, and it wouldn’t be the last.
The next stop was one to the bank. This time, he kept Ava in the car with Hunter as he went to the meeting with John, his financial officer, who also had an addiction to being tied up and spanked. He was the owner of the bank, and like all men with power, they often needed special services from him.