Logan's Rattler

by A J Jarrett

  Logan came around the counter and asked if Leo needed help with anything. Leo gave him the strangest look and said he was fine.

  Logan soon found out after the customer left that he was in fact an asshole. He was hitting on Leo and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  Not until Logan came out front did the guy take the hint and leave.

  Leo said he was screaming internally for the jerk to go away.

  It was as if a light had been switched on. He had heard every word his friend had thought without him ever uttering a single word aloud.

  Logan could hear Leo’s thoughts. And he came to find out it wasn’t just Leo’s, it was everyone’s. It didn’t happen all the time, but when

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  the voices broke through they just wouldn’t stop. He heard wives complaining about their husbands. He heard husbands complaining about their wives. How the manager of the grocery store in town was sleeping with his neighbor’s wife. He heard all types of shit that he would have rather not. It made being around the people in town kind of hard when he knew all their dirty little secrets they kept hidden behind their fake smiles.

  Once he figured out he wasn’t going crazy, he confided in Leo.

  Leo said he must be telepathic. Logan accepted that. It only happened on occasion, so he could live with being a mind reader every so often, but it didn’t mean he had to like it.

  The whole telepathy thing put his dating life on hold. He had tried going out with a few guys since his odd gift flared to life, but any hopes of a relationship died a quick death when the guy’s true nature came to the surface. It seemed he attracted the fuck ’em and leave ’em type. He hated to admit it, but he would rather not know their true motives for asking him out. At least that way he could get laid every now and again.

  When Rhett walked into his life, he could have thanked the heavens. Rhett came into the coffee shop, and they started chatting like old friends. The next thing he knew he was having dinner with the man. He was a little on the snobby side, but Logan couldn’t hear a single thought coming from Rhett, so in his book that made him a keeper.

  All that changed though. What was supposed to be a romantic evening spent making love under the stars turned into a nightmare.

  When Rhett’s friends showed up, they started teasing Logan then pawing at him. But that wasn’t the worst part. No, it was the outlandish thoughts racing through their perverted minds. The images coming from them were so graphic and violent it frightened Logan at first, then anger set in.

  He blew up at Rhett for not defending him. Rhett’s response was that what Logan was thinking was all in his head. No shit! But Logan

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  couldn’t explain to Rhett that he had actually heard every evil inner desire his friends had toward him. They fought for a few minutes before Logan took off walking into the woods. He proclaimed he could find his own way home. Of course, as best laid plans go, it didn’t go as he expected. He wasn’t complaining though because it led him to Finn.

  Finn, Finn, Finn.

  He couldn’t stop thinking about the guy. It was almost like a piece of the man was within Logan. Like a small part of Finn resided in his soul. It didn’t make sense, but Logan wasn’t going to question it too much. He deserved a little happiness, and if Finn proved to be the standup guy he acted like the other night then Logan would give the man a chance. Hell, a second and third chance at that.

  It was coming on eleven o’clock when a sharp sting of fear punched him in the gut causing him to double over. Chills broke out across his skin, and his heart started to beat faster. It wasn’t fear for himself but for Finn. How odd? How could he possibly know that? It wasn’t like he heard Finn cry out for help but sensed it. Pain, anger, and terror coursed through his body making him dizzy.

  Logan shouted for Leo, but it was too late. The floor raced up to break his fall.

  The loud crash sent Finn racing down the hall behind his fellow warriors. The front of the house had been demolished, and Warriors of the Dark rushed into the home. A fight broke out instantly. Two Dark Warriors started to tag team him. Everyone always assumed because he was short he was an easy target. Their mistake.

  He took his licks but gave as good as he got. The punch to his left kidney dropped him to his knees. He almost sent up a white flag in surrender, almost. Finn fed off his pain and let his teeth elongate, and

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  venom dripped from the tips. He struck so fast his two foes didn’t see it coming until it was too late.

  With their last breath, the dying men mumbled, “Fairy.” Fuck it all! Somehow the Dark Warriors found out about Klaus’s mate being part fairy. Finn, like the other warriors, doubled up his efforts, mowing down the enemy.

  No one was taking Astrid from them, no one. They had taken in a battered and bruised Astrid. He had suffered more than most men could have survived. Just thinking about the pain inflicted on Astrid caused Finn to go crazy with rage, lashing out at anyone stupid enough to come near him, and the Warriors of the Dark weren’t known for their intelligence.

  As the Dark Warriors’ numbers started to dwindle, Finn followed Ben, the leader of the Warriors of the Light, toward the kitchen area.

  The sound of fighting met his ears. Ben and Klaus took off down the hallway, pushing through the closed door. Finn and the other warriors skidded to a halt at what they saw. Ben’s mate, Miles, Astrid, and Miles’s cousin, Trevor, stood in an empty room littered with body parts. It would appear the little guys of the house didn’t need big strong protectors to keep them safe.

  After Ben escorted a distraught Miles to his room and Klaus took Astrid upstairs to rest, Finn and the others started doing damage control on the house. They needed to get safeguards in effect immediately before nightfall. As it was now, they were sitting ducks should they get attacked again.

  “What are we going to do, Quinn?” Finn asked the next in command.

  “Not sure.” Quinn never looked at him just kept his gaze on Trevor. “I think once we get this all cleaned up we need to convene in the war room and discuss what happened here today.” Quinn dropped his head to his chest and ran a hand through his hair. Finn could feel the agitation rolling off the older man. “Miles hearing voices isn’t good. This could be some horrible trick by the enemy.”

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  Finn nodded his head in agreement. Hearing voices was never a good sign, but no one said anything to Miles. “I couldn’t agree more.

  But we need to focus on the present right now and what we’re going to do to keep Astrid safe. Those fuckers will come back. If the Warriors of the Dark are anything it’s persistent.”

  “That they are.” Quinn rested a hand on his shoulder. “Finish up here then help gather the others. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night.”

  “You got it.” He turned to call for Lawson and Jensen to come with him when his cell phone chimed. He didn’t recognize the number.

  “Hello?”

  “Are you okay? I’m freaking out here.”

  Logan’s voiced rushed across the line, and the stress piling up on his shoulders lifted just a bit. He was happy to hear from his mate, but now wasn’t the time. “Yeah, honey, I’m fine. But I have to ask, are you okay?”

  “Am I okay?” Logan shouted into the receiver. “Fuck no, I’m not okay. Something really weird just happened to me, and I think it has to do with you.” There was a pause, and Finn could hear Logan clicking his tongue. “I literally felt pain and fear, but it wasn’t my own. I had an all-consuming need to get to you. What the hell is going on, Finn?”

  Now that was the question every paranormal dreaded to hear from a human mate. Because it meant the talk was coming and ultimately the possibility of losing his mate. Finn wasn’t sure where to begin.

  With everything that had taken place earlier, this conversation would have to wait.

  “Logan
, honey, I really want to discuss this with you. I really do, but I’m not sure I can tonight.” It was the truth. He was a warrior above all else, and he needed to help protect those who couldn’t protect themselves, namely Astrid. His sense of loyalty was wearing

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  thin though. With every breath he took, his allegiance was starting to shift toward Logan and his safety, not the Warriors of the Light.

  “Why not? Are you breaking up with me?” Logan’s voice took on a high-pitch squeal so loud Finn had to pull the phone from his ear.

  “How can you dump me? We just met and you pursued me not the other way around, mister. Jeez, just when I start to think I’ve found a keeper, he bales on me.”

  Finn listened to his mate babble on and on. He loved how when Logan got flustered, he talked a mile a minute and just kept going, not breaking for air. Life with Logan would never be dull.

  “Honey, I’m not breaking up with you. I’d never leave you.

  You’re mine,” Finn said. No matter what, he would never leave Logan for any purpose. They were mates, and that was a bond that would last an eternity.

  “Oh thank god.” Logan breathed a sigh of relief Finn could hear over the phone. Finn smiled at Logan’s honesty.

  “I’m glad you’re good with that.” He chuckled. “But I do have to reschedule our date for tonight. Some work”—Finn racked his brain for a way to best describe the day’s events—“stuff has come up, and I’m needed here.” It was the best he could think of. The thought of lying to Logan didn’t sit well with him. Lies tore people apart, and he had full intentions of laying everything out on the table for Logan as soon as this nasty mess with Astrid was resolved.

  “Oh, okay, I can understand that.” Logan took a deep breath. “So when do I get to see you again? Tomorrow? The next day? The day after? What kind of time frame we talking about here? I can be free whenever you want to see me.” Logan said the words so fast Finn was fortunate to have caught it all.

  “Slow down, honey.” Finn chuckled. “Let’s shoot for tomorrow evening. Will that work for you?” Finn asked.

  “Sounds like a date, little man.” Logan giggled into the phone.

  Finn bristled at the word little. Dear god, his mate had chosen the one endearment that would drive him nuts. But as long as it was only

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  Logan saying it, he could live with it. “Great! I’ll meet you at your house around seven.”

  “Who was that?”

  Logan looked up to see Leo leaning casually against the door frame looking as if he hadn’t a care in the world. It was a false bravado. He could see apprehension in his best friend’s eyes, and Logan couldn’t blame him. Leo just witnessed him faint with no explanation as to why. When he came to, the only thing he said was that he needed to call Finn. Leo had yet to meet Finn and was baffled by his need to call some stranger.

  “That was Finn.” It was only fair to fill Leo in on what had happened the other night. “Leo, sit down. We need to talk.”

  He told Leo about getting in a fight with Rhett the previous night.

  And how he was so upset he took off walking alone in the woods.

  Then about the wolves he thought were following him. Leo’s faced paled at hearing his story, but he didn’t interrupt.

  The particulars on how he wound up in Finn’s bed were still shady in his mind, so he couldn’t really elaborate on those specifics.

  He left out the detail of the earth-shattering sex they shared thinking it would cause Leo to doubt Finn’s intentions toward him.

  “Shit, Logan, why didn’t you call me? I’d of come and gotten you.”

  Logan stood up and walked around the desk to sit on top of the hard surface facing Leo. “I was safe with Finn. I know I just met the man, but he’s special. I can’t explain it, but I feel like he’s a part of me, and I trust him like I trust in you.”

  Leo shook his head. “Logan, I don’t know about all this. Hell, just a few days ago you were dating Rhett, and now after one night you’re gushing over a guy you literally just met. Do you see my concern?”

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  “I do.” Logan nodded. “But you know me, Leo. I’d never trust just anyone. There is something about Finn. I feel like I’ve known him my whole life.” He felt a smile tug at his cheeks. “I think he’s my knight in shining armor come to save me.”

  Leo let his head fall back on his shoulders as he laughed uncontrollably. When they were younger, pinching their pennies, eating mac and cheese every night to save money, they’d talk about their one and only coming to sweep them off their feet. Granted they were older now, but Logan still held onto the dream that there was that one special person made just for him. He had become jaded in the past few years, but Finn drudged up all those long-since-forgotten memories and desires.

  The laughter died down, and Leo sobered and turned to face him.

  “Logan, I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t say to be careful.”

  “I will be.” Logan bent over to hug Leo around the shoulders.

  “Promise.”

  “Then I’m happy for you, but I do want to meet this guy.” Leo patted his back. “He needs to pass the best friend test.”

  “Oh boy,” Logan said as he sat back on the desk separating him and Leo.

  “Hell, he has to be loads better than that asshole Rhett.” Leo rubbed at his temples as if just talking about Rhett gave him a headache.

  “Trust me, Finn is perfect.” Logan crossed his fingers, hoping he didn’t just lie to his best friend. He did believe Finn was the man of his dreams, but life always had a way of throwing Logan a curveball and knocking him off his axis. Logan just prayed this wasn’t one of those instances.

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  Chapter Five

  It had been another restless night for Logan. But instead of being plagued with wet dreams about Finn, it was nightmares involving the man. He could see Finn at an abandoned building fighting with other men. In the dream Finn wielded a gun so large Logan wasn’t sure how the man shouldered the firearm.

  By the way Finn moved, Logan felt like he was watching a movie that had been rehearsed and choreographed a thousand times over. His motions were flawless and smooth. Finn didn’t even falter when bullets whizzed past his head. The dream had seemed so real, like he was actually with Finn as the man battled an unnamed force. Logan shook his head at the possibility. It was just a nightmare. A nightmare he wanted to forget.

  When Logan’s alarm finally sounded, he was more than ready to meet the day. His sheets were drenched in sweat and clung to his body like a second skin. He threw back the covers and crawled out of bed.

  After showering and having a light breakfast, he headed out the door. It was his late-start day, and he took his time walking down the sidewalk. The sun shined down with its heated rays warming his skin.

  He tilted his head upwards to soak up the inviting heat. It was a surprisingly nice day for fall. Logan preferred sunshine over rain and snow any day of the week.

  “Hey, Logan,” Leo greeted him as he came through the door.

  “Hey,” he said as he walked past his best friend to pour himself a cup of coffee.

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  Leo turned to looked at him, and Logan instantly saw the worry on his friends face. “Are you okay? You look like shit.”

  “Well thanks.” He rolled his eyes. Logan snatched up two sugar packs and dumped them into his cup.

  “I’m just being honest,” Leo admitted. “Looks like you didn’t sleep a wink last night. What gives? That new boyfriend keep you up last night?” Leo waggled his eyebrows at him.

  Logan began to laugh. “Not hardly.” He shifted to rest his hip against the counter. “Well at least not in the way you’re thinking.”

  “Oh really, then how do you mean?” Leo asked.

  He took a deep breath, letting
the horrible dream flash through his mind. Logan couldn’t get over how real it seemed. Just thinking about it brought back the fear he had felt for Finn. “I had a nightmare that involved Finn.” He grabbed his cup of coffee and walked back around the counter to take a seat at one of the empty tables. Leo followed behind him.

  “What kind of nightmare?” Leo took a seat opposite him. “You know, they say dreams are a way of your brain trying to tell you something. Like when you dream about your teeth falling out, it is attributed to anxiety. Or when someone is chasing you, I think that means you have unresolved issues or some shit.”

  “I doubt me dreaming about my new boyfriend shooting up a bunch of men with a huge-ass gun has anything to do with my inner psyche.” Logan took a sip of his coffee, moaning in delight as the rich hot brew ran down his throat.

  “Huh?” Leo gave him a strange look. “You dreamt about your boyfriend shooting other people? Like as in killing them?”

  “Fuck I don’t know.” Logan ran hand through his hair. It was just a dream, yet his friend was asking him questions like it actually meant something it didn’t. It was a case of an overactive imagination, nothing more.

  “Calm down, Logan.” Leo reached across the table and patted is hand. “I’m not trying to imply anything, but you have to admit that’s

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  a little fucked up, dreaming about your boyfriend, who by the way I have yet to meet, shooting down a bunch of men.”

  Logan didn’t miss the hurt tone in Leo’s voice. He had every intention of rectifying that issue tonight. He wanted his best friend to meet the man he was dating.

  “Well you won’t have to wait forever before you meet Finn. I plan on introducing you to him tonight.” Logan smiled across the table at Leo. “Sound good?”

  “I guess.” Leo let out a dramatic sigh. “I can wait another couple hours to meet your mystery man.”

  “Ah, how sweet. You’re talking about me.”