Chapter 3

• Logan
• The knowledge that Logan would likely have to drive for more than an hour to reach Ashley’s location, where taxis and subways were scarce, didn’t ignite anger within him. Instead, he felt a cool sense of relief that this exhausting conversation could finally come to an end, he could fulfill the task of rescuing Ashley, and eventually return to bed.
• Ashley murmured an address in Long Island and ended the call with a barely audible, “I’m sorry for being like this.”
• Those six words reverberated in Logan’s mind as he stumbled out of his apartment, hurried down the stairs, and slumped heavily into the driver’s seat of his worn-out black Camry. It wasn’t the first time he had to come to Ashley’s rescue from a lavish party situated so far beyond his own neighborhood that they might as well ask for identification at the door. However, it was the first time Ashley’s voice had carried such a tone of regret and pain.
• The last time Ashley had spoken to him in that manner was nearly a year ago, on the night of Logan’s mother’s funeral. Ashley had pleaded with him not to go, but Logan had walked out of her apartment without looking back and had subsequently ignored her calls for almost three months.
• Actually, no, there had been a more recent instance. After Valentine’s Day, when Logan had come across pictures on Instagram of Ashley with a woman named Megan. Logan had no idea who Megan was, but she looked… ordinary. Ordinary enough to potentially be a permanent fixture in Ashley’s life. The thought of not knowing that Ashley might have an actual boyfriend or girlfriend had unsettled Logan deeply.
• This knowledge gap, after a lifetime of knowing everything about Ashley, had prompted Logan to shift from his post-funeral coldness to the wishy-washy dance of avoidance he currently engaged in.
• Ashley had been so grateful to hear Logan’s voice that she had nearly cried, and that had shattered Logan. It was the reason he told himself to maintain distance but could never manage to stay away.
• Ashley needed him. Logan wanted Ashley in his life. It should have been straightforward. However, spending time together meant never forgetting what had transpired on the night of the funeral.
• And damn, Logan must have been exhausted to be embarking on such a long journey.
• He shook his head, slapped his own cheeks lightly, and then accessed the GPS on his phone to guide him to his destination. The estimated travel time displayed nearly an hour, and as he maneuvered out of the tight parking spot he had secured earlier, he made a vow to himself. He would pick up Ashley, take him home, and then return to his own apartment. That was it.
• He repeated this mantra multiple times as he headed towards the Cross Bronx Expressway.
• He would rescue Ashley, bring her back to Manhattan, and retreat to his own world in the Bronx. No lingering. No intimate heart-to-heart conversations while Ashley caressed him and gazed into his eyes. No further contributing to the ranks of those infatuated with Ashley Montgomery . Or rather, not letting Ashley discover that Logan was already a part of that group.
• It was a promise Logan had made to himself once he had emerged from the haze of grief that had allowed him to passionately make love to Ashley on the floor after the sparsely attended burial.
• What Ashley didn’t know was that Logan had avoided her because he couldn’t bear the realization that he had treated Ashley just like everyone else.
• He was supposed to be different, but in the end, he desired her just as badly as whoever she was with tonight.
• *************
• The mansion surpassed Logan’s expectations of ridiculousness. Being the pseudo best friend of a filthy rich kid during his teenage years meant he had been dragged along to numerous glamorous events, but this place took the cake. It didn’t even resemble a typical house.
• The contemporary design made it look more like an office building that could double as a spaceship. If a real War of the Worlds ever happened, Logan was certain that the first pods would show up at this extravagant place.
• After glaring through the gates at the four-level structure for a minute, Logan steered his Camry toward the guard tower.
• “I’m here to pick up Ashley Montgomery,” he informed the guard.
• Logan had anticipated encountering a bored and drowsy guard, but this guy looked like a member of Delta Force. Everything about this night felt peculiar.
• The guard discreetly scanned Logan’s car. “You’re her driver?”
• With a clenched jaw, Logan retorted, "Nope. Take a look at your list, buddy. You must have come across her today. She's tall, blond, slender—looks like a Hollywood star, but she's actually a former model with a huge following on Instagram and a notorious sex tape."
• A slight twitch appeared on the guard’s mouth.
• Logan forced a grin, attempting to appeal to the guard’s inner working-class nature in the most basic way, even though every word tasted like poison.
• He was echoing the things others said about Ashley, and he despised that. Mentioning the sex tape was even worse. It had been surreptitiously recorded by one of Ashley’s ex-lovers, and a hacker had obtained it from the person’s online cloud.
• Now it was scattered all over the internet with no way to retrieve it. It had been unleashed into the world six years ago, but that tape had caused so much trouble that it would never be forgotten.
• Nevertheless, uttering remarks like these usually helped Logan bypass the red tape and expedite his access to Ashley.
• “Just let me pick up the kid. She’s probably puking on someone’s family heirloom by now. Your boss likely instructed her to summon me and clean up the mess,” Logan remarked.
• “Heh. I hope someone is paying you well for going to such lengths to take care of some spoiled brat,” the guard retorted.
• Internally cringing, Logan pressed on, “Can you do me a favor? I just drove all the way from the Bronx, man.”
• “You’re certainly dedicated to the cause,” the guard commented, nodding toward the gate. “Go get your girl.”
• The phrase rubbed Logan the wrong way, but he managed a tight smile. “Thanks for looking out.”
• As he guided his car forward, Logan noticed that the driveway was adorned on either side with small dome-shaped ornaments, giving the appearance of a silver ribbon leading to the colossal home.
• Up close, it was even larger, resembling a haphazard amalgamation of Lego pieces assembled by a child with a penchant for monotonous colors. The interior was probably stunning, but Logan couldn’t comprehend what initially attracted a buyer. Or perhaps it was just his bitterness because he paid a whopping fourteen hundred dollars for two rooms and a barely functional kitchen.
• Logan’s fingers clenched around the wheel as he swallowed his resentment. His struggle was his own problem, not the fault of the mansion’s owners, and certainly not Ashley’s.
• Parking his car in front of the imposing entrance, Logan surveyed the grandeur of the place.
• Every window illuminated the night, and the music pouring out from the door filled the air. Laughter echoed from various corners of the property, as if couples were wandering in the shadows, seeking secluded spots to be alone. But knowing Ashley’s crowd, they weren’t exactly discreet about their activities, even in front of an audience.
• He sent Ashley a text message, ”Where are you at?” but received no response. After several minutes of drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, he sent another message, this time more demanding, “Come on, Ashley. I haven’t slept in days.”
• When that message also went unanswered, Logan gritted his teeth and pressed the call button. Straight to voicemail. He knew logically that Ashley’s phone probably died, but a twinge of worry crept down his spine nonetheless.
• There had been instances in the past when Ashley would disappear without a word, only to resurface days later with a nonchalant explanation like, “I just needed to get away.” Logan’s concerns were always dismissed, labeled as overprotective, but there had been moments when he feared Ashley wouldn’t return at all or would come back harmed. Ashley didn’t always attract the best company.
• Footsteps nearby snapped Logan out of his tense thoughts, and his gaze shifted to the passenger-side window. Ashley’s long blond hair caught the light, resembling a cascade of gold, as she hurried down the steps in her clattering motorcycle boots. She appeared thinner and taller than usual, dressed in a black dress with a plunging neckline and black leggings or stockings.
• Logan’s relief was short-lived as two things became immediately apparent: Ashley was fleeing from someone, and that person was in pursuit.
• The man, with mostly silver hair and an unremarkable appearance, grabbed Ashley’s arm, igniting an urge within Logan to knock out his teeth. He sat up straight, adrenaline coursing through his veins. Ashley’s eyes met his immediately, and Logan halted. Ashley shook her head before turning to confront her pursuer.
• The man pulled Ashley close, sealig their interaction with a deep, passionate kiss.
• “For fuck’s sake,” Logan muttered, willing himself to avert his gaze. But he couldn’t.
• His pulse raced uncontrollably, his anger unabated even as he witnessed Ashley’s jaw moving in response. Logan searched for any indication of what the hell was going on, but all he saw was the conflicting sight of Ashley’s tense back and relaxed fingers, as her lips moved fervently against the man’s.
• When a hoarse groan reached Logan’s ears, he forced himself to stop watching. The guy might not be physically hurting Ashley, but the desire to pummel his face continued to grow.