Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Logan cocked his head. “Smart kid. I was consumed with guilt, couldn’t do my job to the best of my ability, so I got out before I fucked up and spiraled.”
Josh seemed to relax as he stared at Logan, but a shine of tears battled for dominance, until he blurted out, “It’s because of me Chance came after us. I ran into him two days ago and told him what a piece of shit I thought he was.”
Logan drew in a deep breath before he answered, trying to control his anger for the unknown half brother. “Kid, no one can make you do something against your will if you don’t want to. I don’t know this Chance, but from what I’ve heard in the short time I’ve been in town, it wouldn’t have mattered if you kissed his ass daily. He was still gonna fuck with your family, no matter what you did or didn’t say to him. The guy’s an asshole. You need to let that shit go. Confess to Jake if you feel you need absolution, but do it knowing that in the grand scheme of things, your actions did not force an asshole into being more of an asshole. Your half brother’s a dick, plain and simple. Don’t let him win by dragging you down further.”
Josh held still as he thought about Logan’s answer, then nodded and mumbled, “Thanks for the ride,” before exiting the truck without looking back, guilt still masking his features as he walked toward Jake.
The cab still reverberated with the anguish in the kid’s voice as he walked away. It was a feeling Logan knew well, and it was out of place on someone so young. He couldn’t wait to make the acquaintance of their half brother.
He watched Josh as he approached Jake with caution. After a moment he lowered his head and began to speak. When he was done talking, Jake studied him for a moment then handed him his pack and shoved him in the arm with a solemn grin. Josh seemed shocked by the show of affection, but he pushed Jake back after recovering, seeming less burdened after admitting to his sins. Logan figured that’s how a real family was. You bickered and threw punches, but at the end of the day, you were still family. They had your back no matter how bad you screwed up.
Before entering the building, Josh turned back and looked at Logan. He watched the kid morph into a man, as he stood erect, taller than usual. His expression told Logan Josh was considering something. He waited patiently, holding the kid’s stare while he decided, then let out a breath, completely caught off guard when Josh raised his arm sharply and saluted Logan like he’d done it all his life. Without thinking, Logan immediately returned the salute, whipping his arm up. The kid held his tribute until Logan lowered his hand first, just as you’re trained in the armed forces when a higher ranking officer was in your presence. Logan nodded once in appreciation when the kid lowered his arm, then he watched with relief when Josh’s whole demeanor changed before his eyes. Guilt melted from his expression, and he smiled full-throttle at Logan’s acceptance before he turned and headed inside the school, leaving Logan with a tightness in his throat.
Six
Draw A Line In The Sand
JAMIE AND I watched from the corner of the bar as Logan hefted a case of beer like it weighed nothing and carried it to one of the coolers. I was in a awe of his strength, noting his arms barely strained at the weight. I knew this because I hadn’t peeled my eyes off of him since he’d returned from taking Josh to school.
In the past I’d asked Jake to do the heavy lifting, but now I didn’t have to. I should have been pleased with the prospect of not involving my brother in the day-to-day operations of the bar, but I was still mad about Logan’s high-handedness at the police station. In theory, Logan was probably right about Ty and Josh, but I didn’t like being told what to do with my own family and bar. It was a small infraction in the grand scheme of things, even if he was right, but I knew I needed to nip it in the bud. Men like Logan dominated women at every opportunity, so I needed to stand my ground from the get-go. Be the boss. Draw a ‘my way or the highway’ line in the sand so he knew he couldn’t walk all over me.
“Did he tell you anything about Josh?”
I tore my eyes away from Logan’s butt—which filled out his jeans like they were made exclusively for him—and looked at Jamie. “He grumbled something about feeling guilty for no good reason.”