The Logan Brothers - Books 1-4: (EXPOSURE, CRASH, TWIN PASSIONS, and ADDICTED TO YOU)

by Shorter, L. A.

  My eyes drifted over towards my brothers, all hugging and cheering down below. I could see Gemma beaming, Zack next to her, roaring and shaking his fists. I didn't smile, though, I just kept my expression blank.

  This time, I didn't point at her and say “for you”. No, this was all for me.

  Chapter 19

  Present Day

  Gemma

  I felt strangely nervous standing outside the changing room in the belly of the arena. I'd just watched on as Cade had won the fight, and won in some style. The uppercut he delivered to knock Agulla out sent the crowd wild. They loved him, and almost every single person in that arena were cheering his name.

  “LOGAN, LOGAN, LOGAN,” they were chanting as he held his hands aloft, turning around slowly to acknowledge everyone in there. He didn't celebrate or jump around the ring in a show of happiness at winning the biggest fight of his life. No, he stayed calm and composed, as he always did in the ring, this intense stare still etched on his face.

  Yet when he locked eyes with me, I saw something other than his usual intensity. I saw anger. I saw disappointment. It lasted only a moment or two, but it was unmistakable. He'd clearly noticed that I wasn't there, that Zack wasn't there, and he wasn't happy about it.

  I knocked diffidently on the door. I could hear cheering inside, no doubt from Cade's team, popping the champagne and celebrating his victory.

  I waited a moment and knocked slightly louder. They probably couldn't hear me.

  A few seconds later the door opened and Cade's coach stood there.

  “Gemma,” he shouted, a glass of champagne in his hand, “come in, come in.” He stepped to the side and I walked in. I saw several people in there, all drinking champagne and chattering excitedly. Some of them I knew – like Steve, Cade's nutritionist, but the others I didn't. Maybe sparring partners or other trainers.

  A couple of guys parted ahead of me and I saw Cade lying face down on a massage table, his body being given a thorough warm down by an attractive young girl. She looked like the same girl I'd seen at his last fight.

  “Champ,” coach shouted, “your lovely lady is here.”

  He turned his attention to the rest of the party. “All right everyone, let's give these two some privacy.”

  The guys started commenting and jeering suggestively as they moved off into the corridor to continue their party, one of them grabbing a couple of bottles of champagne as he left. The masseuse followed behind them, glancing at me sheepishly.

  When she shut the door behind her the room fell deathly silent. I stood near to the door, feeling slightly awkward.

  “You were amazing baby,” I said, my voice croaking slightly. “I'm so proud of you.”

  He slowly twisted and sat up on the table, keeping his towel firmly around his waist. His face was darkly bruised over his left cheek, a cut already stitched up above his eye.

  I walked in further as he creaked and groaned on the table. He looked more beaten than he ever had after one of his fights.

  “Your eye looks sore,” I said, “does it hurt?”

  I moved in towards him and stroked my hand gently over his bruised face. “Is it sore baby?”

  He twisted his head and my hand fell off it. “It's fine, nothing.”

  He stood up and walked away from me, dropping his towel as he picked up a pair of folded sweatpants over on a chair in the corner. He pulled them up over his naked ass before putting on a t-shirt. It wasn't like him at all. Usually after his fights he'd be all over me.

  With his back still to me he spoke again, his voice low. “Where were you?”

  I paused for a moment before replying: “What do you mean?”

  “You weren't there at the beginning. You didn't get there until the fourth round. I saw you running in with....with Zack. So...where were you?”

  His tone was accusatory.

  “Look Cade, I'm really sorry. Zack and I, we were just having a drink and completely lost track of time. I...I don't know what to say...I'm sorry.”

  “You were drinking with Zack?” he growled.

  I felt flustered as he turned and glared at me. “Yeah, we were just talking about old times, you know, it was an easy mistake to make, anyone could have done it.”

  His face contorted in a deep frown. “What do you mean, old times?”

  Oh Christ, what did I say?! I've let it slip. Shall I lie? How...what can I say?!

  “Um, nothing, just, you know, talking about...when you guys were younger, when you were kids.”

  I could feel my voice breaking under his glare. I knew by the look on it that he didn't believe a word of what I was saying.

  “Did you know Zack when you were younger?” he asked intensely.

  He didn't give me a chance to answer as I opened my mouth, nothing coming out. The look on my face told him all he needed.

  “When you first met me....you thought it was him didn't you? Why didn't you tell me? Why would you lie all this fucking time?”

  He was walking in now, moving closer towards me. I'd never felt intimidated by him until now.

  “I don't know Cade,” I admitted, truthfully, “I just wanted to get to know you as you, without you knowing that I knew Zack. I know it sounds stupid, but that's how it was.”

  “Did you ever fuck him?” he asked coldly.

  I stepped back. “No, of course not, we only knew each other as kids. We were just friends at school, that's all.”

  His face began to soften slightly as he shook his head, struggling to understand.

  “You said you'd be there tonight Gem, you said you'd be there behind me. But instead, you were drinking with him. It was the most important fight of my life and you weren't there.”

  “But we got there, didn't we! And you won! So...what's the harm?”

  He was shaking his head. “You know how much you mean to me Gem. You know how important it is for me to have you watching me fight. You betrayed me, and you lied to me. What the fuck am I supposed to think about that. How am I supposed to know that you didn't fuck Zack in the past, that you're not fucking him now. I haven't seen you for two weeks – God knows what you've been doing.”

  I stood there, slightly taken aback by what he was saying, by the way he was talking to me. Sure, I'd been slightly late, but at the end of the day, who gives a fucking shit, he won.

  “How dare you accuse me of that, of cheating on you!” I said, taking my own opportunity to get angry. “I'm not a liar and I'm not a cheat. I'd never do that to anyone, I couldn't.”

  Thoughts of only an hour ago washed over me as I spoke, the sight of Zack's lips drawing near to mine. I remembered when I first kissed him, all those years ago, and how it felt. That same feeling had grabbed hold of me tonight, but I hadn't gone through with it. No, I wasn't a cheat.

  “Yeah, well, whatever. You weren't there tonight. You fucked up Gemma.”

  I could feel my pulse rising rapidly now, things I'd wanted to say for a while beginning to bubble to the surface.

  “So that's all I am to you, a fucking lucky charm in the crowd. That's all you care about Cade – you don't give a shit about me, it's all about the fight. How fucking selfish are you. You don't tell me that you care about me for me, or anything like that. You just fuck me and then tell me I'm your lucky charm. That's all I am to you – just someone to see to your needs and make you feel good when you fight....”

  I was breathing heavily, my chest heaving.

  “Well maybe that's all you deserve,” he grunted.

  I stared at him, right in the eye, and nodded slowly. “Well let's see how you do without your special little charm then, shall we,” I said. “This isn't working for me Cade, not anymore.”

  I was trying to hold back the tears as I turned away and walked back towards the door. I didn't want him to see me cry, I wanted to stay hard in front of him. I heard no movement behind me, no attempt to stop me, as I opened the door and walked out into the corridor.

  As soon as I was free the tears started rolling
, cascading down my cheeks as I paced away from the room down the long, cold, corridor, and out into the dark night.

  Chapter 20

  Present Day

  Zack

  The rain was beginning to fall lightly onto our shoulders as I stood with my brothers outside of the arena. Kyle and Jude were chatting excitedly, reminiscing over the incredible victory Cade had just achieved.

  Crash stood next to me, his eyes hovering over me. I knew he had something to say, and he wasn't the sort of person to ever bite his tongue.

  “Why were you and Gemma late? Is there something going on between you two?”

  Crash had always been perceptive and was an inherently distrustful person. Family meant everything to him, especially now that he was at the head of it, and he was always keen to keep everything nice and clean between us.

  “No, of course not. We ran into each other outside, that's all.”

  He eyed me up suspiciously before dropping it and joining the conversation with the others.

  “Where is he, anyway, it's time to get fucked up!” Jude was shouting. He was the youngest, and the most energetic. I think the excitement of going out and drinking legally was pretty appealing to him – he'd only recently turned 21.

  “Gemma's gone to see him,” I said flatly, “we should probably go, they might be a while.”

  “Hell yeah!” shouted Jude, “she's probably congratulating him, if you know what I mean!”

  I turned the thought from my mind as Jude and Kyle high-fived each other, laughing.

  “Zack's right,” said Crash, his voice quietening everyone down immediately. “Let's leave them to it. They can catch up with us when they're ready.”

  He turned, knowing we'd follow, and began walking off through the large open courtyard outside the stadium. As we reached the road I noticed a car waiting for us. These days Crash often took private cars when he traveled around the city. He'd been doing so ever since he'd started work on his new hotel and casino.

  I remember when he first told us about it, how he wanted us all to be part of it together. When dad was alive, we all ran one of his businesses – bars, clubs, strip clubs, casinos. Crash told us, however, that he wanted us all running the hotel and casino complex together. He said it would render all of the other family business moot with the money it would bring in, and that he'd prefer to see us all working together under the same roof, rather than split up and running the family's smaller businesses.

  I personally welcomed the news. I'd grown sick of running the club, and the idea of moving away from it was greatly appealing to me.

  After a short 10 minute journey we were stepping out onto the doorstep of Jared's, one of the city's most popular and exclusive clubs, intended only for the rich and famous.

  “Go back and collect Cade and bring him here when he's ready,” Crash told the driver as we got out.

  I heard shouts down the street and saw two girls running towards us, smiles spread across their faces. Alice and Elle, Kyle's and Crash's girlfriends, who lived together at college. I always found that odd.

  We all walked as a group right to the front of the VIP queue and straight past the bouncers. Crash didn't even have to give his name anymore, he just walked in. I couldn't tell whether it as because of him or our association with Cade. Both were famous – or in Crash's case, notorious – in this city.

  The drinks began flowing as soon as we arrived, but I couldn't relax. I still hadn't seen Cade since I'd run out on him and I had a lot I wanted to apologize for, not least turning up late tonight.

  Hopefully, though, tonight would be a good night to clean the slate. He'd be buoyant and in high spirits. I'm sure he'd forgive me.

  ….

  Cade

  I stood in the middle of my changing room, my fists clenched tightly together. Had she just broken up with me? SHE was going to break up with ME?! Was she fucking high!

  I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my body, partly from the fight with Agulla, partly from the fight with Gemma. I didn't know which was easier. I'd been fighting men in the ring my whole life. I wasn't used to fighting women. I couldn't use my fists with them.

  I stamped heavily over to a table at the side of the room and grabbed a half drunk bottle of champagne, pouring the contents down my neck. “Hell fucking yeah,” I shouted loudly, “I'm fucking unstoppable!”

  “Fuck Gemma. If she want's to quit on us, fuck her. I don't need her. I'M CADE FUCKING LOGAN!”

  I poured the drink down my neck again and started pacing around the room. I was totally spent from the fight and there with a shitstorm still raging inside my head. I drank again, the alcohol fusing straight into my blood.

  I heard a light tapping on the the door. Gemma?

  I paced quickly towards it and opened it quickly.

  “Sorry Cade, but I just saw your girlfriend leave and heard you shouting. Are you OK?”

  Her face was pretty, perfect even. She had these soft features, her nose small and cute, her lips plump and rosy. She looked up at me through sparkling blue eyes, a look of desire inside them. It was the girl who'd warm me down, massage my aching body, after my fights. She was new, I'd only used her twice. Sarah I think her name was.

  “I'm fine,” I said, “and she's not my girlfriend. Not anymore.”

  I turned around and walked back into the room, leaving her lingering in the doorway.

  “So you coming in or what?” I asked.

  She crept forward and slowly shut the door. “Did you just break up?” Her voice was unsure, soft, like the rest of her.

  I nodded.

  “Come here,” I said. “It's Sarah, isn't it?”

  A small smile crossed her face as she walked forward.

  I looked her up and down. She had small breasts hidden beneath her sweater, a beautiful curve to her ass. Her legs were tanned, shining against her small white shorts.

  I grabbed her as she got closer, pulling her in towards me and pressing my hard body up against her soft chest. She began breathing more heavily, a lustful look in her eye. It was the only green light I needed.

  My hands drifted to her ass and I picked her up and twisted around, placing her down on the massage table. Gemma wouldn't let me fuck her on a massage table. Maybe this girl would.

  I wasn't gentle as I tore at her sweater, pulling it over her head. Underneath she wore a white bra. I unclipped it without hesitation and ripped it from her body. Her hands started growing busy, stroking up and down my chest and dragging my t-shirt off me.

  She was used to seeing my body, touching my body, but she'd never seen the whole thing. I stepped back and smiled at her, pulling down my sweatpants to reveal my hardened dick. She gasped and smiled as she saw it. It was so fucking sexy.

  I stepped back in and pulled her off the massage table, twisting her around and kneeling down behind her. I ripped her shorts down off her body, dragging her white panties with them. Holy shit she had a gorgeous ass.

  I set my tongue lose on her as she began groaning in pleasure. I could feel her body vibrating as I stood and bent her deep over the table. Fuck she was hot, this was hot. There were thousands of girls in this city who'd want to do this with me, who'd let me do anything I wanted to them.

  So why would I limit myself to just one girl. Fuck Gemma, fuck Gemma, fuck Gemma - I chanted it in my head as I fucked this girl, Sarah, over the massage table. Gemma wouldn't let me do it. Fuck her.

  ….

  Zack

  I knew Cade was about to arrive when I heard a growing commotion outside of the club. I could hear it, even over the music, this chorus of shrieks as he made his way inside.

  He walked in like a rockstar, wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses to cover up his bruised eye. I scanned for Gemma, expecting to see her walking in next to him, but she wasn't there. He walked alone, smiling and waving his hand as people began clapping and cheering.

  Every time I watched him fight, he was always so reserved. It was like he didn't care about the l
imelight at all, that all he wanted was to win and climb to the top of the boxing ladder. But as he walked in tonight, that cool exterior had given way and he was clearly loving the attention.

  I knew immediately, from the look on his face and the way he was moving, that he'd been drinking. Heavily.

  As he got closer he pointed right in the direction of our table in the VIP section at the back, walking forward with a swagger. All the rest started cheering loudly and got up out of their seats. I followed.

  He hugged them all one by one, moving along the line as everyone congratulated him and gave him the praise he deserved. And he did deserve it, he'd worked his fucking ass off to get to where he was.

  When he got to me he just walked straight past, not even acknowledging that I was there. He moved towards the table and grabbed a bottle of champagne, tipping it upside down and pouring it straight down his throat. People were gathering around now cheering as half the liquid spilled down his top, but he didn't stop until the bottle was empty.

  What the hell was that all about? Was he still mad at me for running off when we were sparring. Maybe he was pissed at me for turning up late? I guess that would be fair.

  We all sat round the low circular table on short comfortable stools and resumed the drinking. Cade had moved round the table to the other side away from me and was now talking with Crash. He kept his shades on, nodding vacantly as Crash spoke in his ear. He was probably giving him one of his 'we're going to conquer the world' pep talks, telling him he was making the family proud, making dad and mom proud as they looked down on him from heaven.

  That was Crash – he was born in the wrong century. He'd have fitted in well as the leader of an old Roman army or something, inspiring his troops and telling them their deeds would make them all live forever.

  I couldn't tell whether Cade was glaring at me or not through his shades, but he seemed to be looking in my direction a lot. And there was me thinking he'd be in a forgiving mood. I guess I'd have to wait until morning to have a sensible chat with him. Well, maybe leave it until the afternoon!