LOGAN (BAD BOY BIKER ROMANCE) (15 page)

In almost desperation Milo pointed at Logan and screamed, "That stupid boy toy is the real cause of all this!"

Logan handled this in normal biker style. He punched Milo.

Milo was unprepared and flew back to land on the floor. Blood streamed from his nose.

Logan put a restraining hand on Logan. "That's enough." He said. Then he gave Logan a hard look. "In fact, that'll be the last time you touch him. Until we hear otherwise."

Logan got the hint. Milo was in Upper Management's hands now, self-delivered. Logan was not foolish enough to seek out any more revenge.

"Okay," Logan said to the group. "That's over with. Now let's drink!"

This brought a cheer, and members started to disperse. Some gave Milo sidelong mocking grins.

Logan was trying to cool down. He had been more than prepared to beat Milo through the floor. He felt Parker put a hand on his shoulder.

"I was just struck with a thought," Parker said.

"What?"

"This moron expected to win outright. Send you up the river. So if that was the outcome expected, wouldn't Oliver be part of that?"

Logan caught his breath. Oliver was at risk. Maybe even right at that moment.

"Let's go!"

Chapter 17

Oliver

"The Silver Hounds want a deal?" Oliver said, to Eddie, incredulous.

He knew what this meant. Gavin was screwing around behind the scenes, trying to get him to come back. Making him return, or even getting Logan dismissed. This sounded exactly like the scummy thing he would do.

Eddie looked at him with pity, "Oh, honey, how could you be so blind? This is how these Clubs work. It's always about the money. They don't give a damn about people. Especially boy toys."

Oliver had to admit, that did sound completely plausible. Was his little chance at heaven ruined now by the very man he was trying to escape? What could Oliver do? He had to talk to Logan.

"I'm going to call Logan," Oliver said and picked up his cell phone.

Eddie moved closer, and for a moment Oliver thought the other man intended to rip the phone out of his hands. Instead Eddie put his hand over Oliver's.

"Just be very careful what you say," Eddie said.

"Why?"

"Because he's probably with other Club members, and if they hear him talking to you, they might get even more pissed off. Logan's in trouble now because of you. Don't make it worse for him."

Oliver was hearing all of this and it made him worry even more, but a part of he didn't care. He wanted to talk to his man and see if he was okay.

"Okay," Oliver said. "I'll be careful." He really didn't know what that meant, but Eddie removed his hand.

Oliver called Logan. They had officially exchanged numbers last night.

Oh, last night, Oliver thought. One of the most passionate and intense encounters of his life. Now it has been tainted by Gavin, and the Macabre Jesters, and this rotten biker life.

He heard the phone ring but it went straight to voice mail. This caused him to panic. Why couldn't he answer? Didn't he always have that thing with him. It was practically a part of him.

Logan's recorded voice spoke, and Oliver felt his heart melt at the sound of it. Gruff but soothing at the same time. "Hey, not here. Leave a message. Or, better yet, don't."

This almost caused Oliver to laugh. But when the beep came and his message was being recorded he just said, "Hey, you. It's just me. Wanted to check in and make sure you were okay."

Eddie leaned into his field of vision, looking worried.

Oliver said, "Uh, gimme a call, okay? Like as soon as you can." And he hung up. For a moment there he almost ended the recording with 'Love you'.

Wow, Oliver thought, as he put down the phone. I must have it really bad for this guy. And it might get him in serious trouble, or even killed.

Eddie leaned back, and let out a sigh. He seemed even more relieved than the situation warranted. Was there something else he was worried about but not sharing?

Oliver was now beside himself with worry. What could he do? Wait? Or even leave? He was at a complete loss.

"Is there any way we can find out what is going on right now? With Logan?" Oliver asked.

"I dunno," Eddie seemed to think it over. "The Jesters are really tight. It's not like we can fully trust any of them. Let alone expect them to share Club business. Even with me."

"You said you had the inside scoop," Oliver said. "Who told you about the Clubs making a deal."

This made Eddie bristle a little, then his expression returned to one of frustration. "Look. You hear things, right? Its all gossip until it really happens. Well, now it really is happening." He suddenly brightened. "I know who!" he declared.

"Who?"

"The only one of that lot who truly is worth anything. A real up an comer. Hell, you know him, too."

Oliver was perplexed. "I do?"

Just then there was a knock at the motel door. Both guys jumped a little and looked at each other in shock.

"Expecting anyone?" Eddie asked.

Oliver shook his head.

The knock came again. "Oliver?" came a man's voice from the other side.

Was it Logan? Oliver couldn't tell. He ran to the door and swung it open.

Ryder was standing there. He looked relieved to see Oliver.

"Oliver!" He said. "You're okay!"

Oliver blinked at him, a little disappointed it wasn't who he hoped it was. "Yeah, I'm alright." Was he?

Eddie said, "Ryder! Now see, Oliver. We start talking about the only Macabre Jester we can trust and look who appears."

Oliver let Ryder in. Oliver did a quick glance outside. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, a blue mustang, or a group of Macabre Jesters with baseball bats, but nothing looked amiss.

He closed the door, and went to sit on the edge of the bed.

Ryder stood next to Eddie. A look of grave concern on his face.

"I just came from the Club house," he said.

Oliver looked at him with expectation.

"Uh, Logan called an emergency meeting. Private Club business."

Eddie said, "It's okay, I told him about the Silver Hound deal."

"Ah, okay. Well, Logan called the meeting because of the situation with Logan, and the Hounds." He looked sheepishly at Oliver. "And, well, you."

Oliver swallowed. This wasn't sounding good at all.

Ryder continued. "A lot of the members are pissed off that the deal is potentially ruined now. And they wanted to discuss their options to revive it. And being the assholes that they are they came up with one option."

Ryder was looking at Oliver with obvious sympathy. As if he didn't want to say what the option was. "Anyways, when the option came up and a vote was cast, Logan went a little crazy."

Oliver caught his breath. He could see it in his mind, Logan freaking out. It was a terrifying vision. And all because of him.

When Oliver didn't speak, Eddie asked, "What happened?"

"Well, Logan attacked Logan."

Both Eddie and Oliver gasped. Attacking the Club President was one of the worst offences a member could do.

"Started beating on him. Other members pulled Logan off, and, well..." Ryder trailed off.

Oliver was apoplectic. "What? What happened to Logan?!"

"They beat the crap out of him. Real bad."

Oliver gasped again. No! No, this couldn't be happening. Not to Logan. Not because of him. All he did was care for him. And now he's been severely hurt. And what about his Club standing? Was he out of the Club now?

Both Eddie and Ryder were watching Oliver expectantly. They looked almost identical to when the were watching him running back to the change rooms after his audition.

Oliver tried to get a grip on himself. "Is Logan okay? Is he alright?" It seemed a foolish thing to ask. Logan just received a Biker beat down. But he had to know.

Ryder looked forlorn, "I don't really know. I left right then. I had to come over and warn you. I was worried for you."

Eddie patted one of Ryder's big forearms. "You're a good man, Ryder. You always have been. It's good to have someone like you around we can trust."

Ryder looked to Oliver. "Oliver, babe, we have to get you out of here. You have to leave town. Like, right now."

Oliver felt the world slip away from him, swirl around his head. This can't be happening.

"I... I don't know," he said. This was all too much for one person to handle. "What about Logan?"

Eddie shook his head, "I don't know about Logan, but if he has any chance of getting through this, it will be with you removing yourself from the picture." When this didn't elicit a response from Oliver he added, "For a little while."

"A little while?" Oliver was in a daze.

Ryder said, "Yeah, maybe if you went a way for a while, things would cool off. Level heads and all. Maybe get in contact with Logan later. It's just right now you're in danger, and you're continued presence will keep Logan in danger."

Oliver really didn't know what to say.

Eddie looked to Ryder. "What about that place you told me about once?"

"What place?" Ryder asked.

"The one your Father use to have. Just outside of town."

"Oh, yeah. Good idea."

Their conversation sounded strangely mechanical, almost rehearsed, but Oliver was too upset to think straight at the moment.

Oh, Logan, honey, what have I done to you? He thought.

Ryder said to Oliver, "It's an old dairy farm my Father use to run. But he got locked up for a life sentence. Tried to bribe a judge. Anyway, it's perfect to hide out for a bit."

Again, both Eddie and Ryder looked to Oliver. They seemed oddly pleased that he couldn't make up his mind about anything at that moment.

Eddie said, "Oliver honey, lets just get your stuff together, okay? The longer you stay the sooner trouble will come for you here."

Oliver found himself nodding. What else could he do? He couldn't go back to Gavin. Not in a million years. And he certainly can't go to his parents. The Macabre Jesters would eventually find him there and he didn't want his mom and dad involved. He couldn't go anywhere.

He looked at Eddie and Ryder. Right now these were really the only two friends he had. And Logan, poor Logan. He didn't want to get him hurt anymore.

"Okay," he said finally. "Okay, I'll go."

Eddie quickly got Oliver's stuff together. It didn't take long, because he hardly owned anything.

Ryder put out his hand, "Phone," he said to Oliver.

"Why?" Oliver asked. He didn't want to give it up. What if Logan called back?

"So you can't be traced," he said.

With reluctance Oliver handed it over and Ryder took it apart.

After everything was packed Eddie said, "I'll head over to Rocks, see if I can learn anything there."

Just as Ryder went to the door, and put his hand on the handle Oliver remembered something that he had said.

"Ryder, what was the option?"

"What?"

"The option. The one the they voted on. The one about me?"

Ryder's eyes widened a little. Again, he looked like he didn't want to describe it. "Well, the vote was almost unanimous. Was part of the reason Logan went crazy."

"Vote for what?"

Ryder said, "To have you killed."