The town, from his research, wasn’t behind her.
No one would save her.
He smiled. This was exactly what he’d hoped.
If there was someone in town who cared for her, who hoped to save her, the Sheriff would look the other way, which was exactly what Logan wanted. Everyone could do whatever the hell they wanted to do so long as none of them interfered with his plans.
The door opened, and he didn’t bother looking.
There was only one man who would interrupt him. His other men were on guard. Being powerful came with a lot of enemies.
“She’s in your office.”
“She came willingly?” Logan asked.
“I wouldn’t say willingly, but she didn’t exactly put up much of a fight.”
Logan chuckled. He finally turned to his friend. Hunter had been the kind of guy who jumped from job to job. He only worked for the man who paid the highest price. Logan didn’t even have to offer him money or a job. He simply stopped the man from dying. He’d been severely beaten and left for dead, with broken bones, bullet holes. Rather than leave him in the dumpster to die, Logan had taken him home, and made sure he received the best medical care and rehabilitation to help him.
Having shattered legs was no easy feat, and well, Logan needed a man who was able to walk on both of his, and Hunter was the right man for the job.
There were times he was sure the man didn’t even have a soul.
“That’s not like her. Ava always put up a fight.”
“She knew you were here,” Hunter said.
“Of course she did. I made sure I was seen around town. It’s a small place.”
“She was going to run. Were you prepared for it?”
“I’m disappointed she didn’t make this easier for me.” He stepped into the house with Hunter hot on his tail. He got to his office and paused.
Every single year he’d been away, he had one of his men take pictures, to follow her for a couple of days a month. He hadn’t seen her in the flesh in twelve years.
“You’ll stay here,” he said.
“Logan, do you really think this is the best idea?”
“Yes.”
Hunter was a close friend. He wasn’t just an employee, and Logan valued what he had to say, most of the time. Right now, wasn’t one of the times he wanted the other man to speak. He wanted silence so he could do what needed to be done.
Stepping into the office, he closed the door and took in the woman tied to a chair. Hunter had even gagged her. There were tear stains from her eyes. She hadn’t been able to wipe them away.
Ava never cried.
She saw him, and for a split second, the air stilled. He watched her, seeing the hazel of her eyes once again. She’d changed. Her hair was much longer than before. Back in high school, she’d always worn it to her shoulders. The blonde locks had been a tease even then. He couldn’t get a good look at her body, but he saw she still had her curves.
Her tits were still nice and big. He wondered if Hunter had purposefully tied the rope to highlight just how big they were. He imagined his friend did. Hunter would want her to be on display. His friend had promised time and again to help him.
Facing his past wouldn’t be easy, or at least that was what he’d been told.
One look at her, and he knew it was good to be home.
She started to struggle against the ropes.
Stepping into the room, he crouched down. “Well, look at you. All grown up. I like what I see.”
Her voice was muffled. He stared at her. She didn’t look away. Her gaze was focused on him. He couldn’t bring himself to not watch her.
Twelve years was a long time to find closure.
The room was silent, and he didn’t want it to be.
When he reached out, she flinched away from his touch, and he grabbed her face. “The first thing you’re going to learn is not to do that. Do you understand?” He tightened his grip, and she nodded her head. “Good.”
He removed the gag, and the moment he did, she started to scream. He raised a brow as she opened her mouth again and screamed.
“Are you done? No one can hear you. Not that anyone would come running.”
“Fuck you,” she said. Her voice sounded shaky.
He laughed. “You’ve still got a mouth on you, I see.”
“Stop it. Let me go.”
“Not going to happen. You can waste your energy screaming if you like.” He moved to the back of her chair and started to open the ropes.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re not very trusting, are you?”
“You got your goon to grab me from my house. You haven’t given me a reason to trust you!”
He lifted up, his lips right next to her ear.