LOGAN (BAD BOY BIKER ROMANCE) (5 page)

He made his way past dark offices, and rooms filled with various goods. All legitimate.

He came to the door that led down to the sub basement and opened it. Again, no guard.

Down the stairs and down another hall. At the end he could see a room with the light on, and the sound of voices as well as music. He quietly approached, and peered around the corner into the room.

He saw two men milling about a small stock room, arranging stacks of small crates piled up against one wall. A small loading dock door was open to the night with a van backed up to it. The van still had its interior lights on, and music was playing loudly from its interior speakers.

Logan felt his temper flare up again.

He jumped into the room and screamed "Freeze! Police!"

Both men jolted, almost dropping the crates they carried.

"Ah, Christ on a unicycle!" Adam said, recovering his composure. The other man, Silas, was clutching his chest.

"Jesus, Logan," Adam said. "What the hell? I coulda dropped this." Indicating the crate. Inside was the sound of clinking bottles.

"Be glad you didn't," Logan said. "You couldn't afford the bill." He then glared at the both of them. They froze up, this time for good reason. "What the hell's going on upstairs?" he asked evenly.

Adam glanced at Silas, then said, "Isn't Mark on the gate?"

Logan nodded in frustration. "Yeah, but no one is on the God damned door. Gate's not the issue. The door is. Cops can roll onto any property they want, but to enter a building they need a warrant, or a pretence. Without a warrant the guard on the door blunts any crap reason the cops can come up with. But if no one is on the door, they could walk in and make up an excuse later."

Adam did not interrupt. He obviously knew the reasoning behind their type of security. Especially right now. But he wasn't going to correct Logan on anything.

When he noticed Logan waiting for an explanation Adam said, "We had a guard on the door. He should have been there."

For some reason this made Logan even more angry. "Who is this dead man?"

"Hey, we're outta toilet paper," came a new voice from behind him.

Logan turned.

Ryder was standing in the doorway, looking nonplussed. He had a magazine rolled up in one hand, and a walkie talkie hooked into his belt which he was doing up.

Even from where he stood Logan could see that the walkie talkie was actually turned off.

Logan fumed. Here he was, surrounded by crates of stolen, expensive bottles of high end alcohol, and the one person who could prevent snoopy cops from finding it all, had been taking a dump.

Logan walked up to Ryder who appeared to at least recognize the trouble he was in. Fear was on his face.

"You're suppose to be on the door." Logan seethed.

"I... uh.... yeah," Ryder managed.

Logan wanted to beat the crap out of him. He had more than enough right to do so, regardless of Ryder's connection to Milo. But Logan had already beat on two people that day and was feeling like progress was just not getting made with that approach.

He decided to file this away for another time.

"This is a black mark, idiot," Logan said. Ryder just stared, waiting to be hit.

Logan made a visible effort to contain himself, then said, "Get back to the door, and don't leave it again."

Ryder nodded, pulled away from Logan and practically fled down the hall to resume his post.

"And turn on your damned radio!" Logan called after.

He took a breath and looked at the other two men, who were waiting for something to happen to them next.

Logan waved dismissively at them. "Get back to work. We got a schedule."

As he watched them load the last of the crates into the van Logan's mind wandered away from the important business at hand.

Strangely, he found himself smiling, thinking of Oliver and the sensuous taste of his lips.

Chapter 6

Oliver

Oliver certainly did not expect Logan to check in on him that night, but when there was no sign of him Oliver still felt a little hurt.

Here we go again, he thought. Bikers caught up in their own crap, never mind anyone else. He should take it as a sign. Moreover, a blessing. A sign to leave, maybe?

He thought of their heavy make out session. Logan's mouth hungrily kissing his. Logan's strong hands all over him. Their bodies pressed together.

Phew. Maybe he should give this guy a shot, at least. He was in town after all, so why not see what happens? But staying in town meant money, of which he had little to none.

So, the next morning, he got up early, skipping breakfast. Instead, he wandered around the neighborhood looking for a pay-phone. Finding one was far more challenging in this day and age since everyone had a mobile phone of their own. But he couldn't risk using his new phone, nor the hotel phone. Each could be traced back to his location, if anyone was looking for him.

And he knew Gavin would, and had the means to do so.

He found a phone on the side of a liquor store, plastered with graffiti. After a vain attempt to clean off the receiver, he made a long distance collect call to his mother. As he waited for his mother to accept the charges he felt his heart in his throat.

His mother would be worried, not just in general, but even more so after Oliver asked for a cash infusion.

Soon, his mother answered and accepted the charge.

"Oh, honey. Are you alright?" His mother's soothing voice came from clear across the country. It always made Oliver feel warm inside.

"Yeah, mom. Everything is fine. I just need some money."

"Again?" his mother said, and Oliver felt a guilty sting.

"Yes, mom. Sorry, but I just need to get by until I get paid." A little white lie never hurt.

"You got work, honey? Oh, that's great. Doing what?"

Forget that he didn't actually have the stripper job yet, but there was no way Oliver was going to tell his mother about it. He hoped his mother never found out he was a highly skilled peeler. It would just keep conversations manageable.

"I'm a barista, mom."

"A what?"

"I make fancy coffees. Pays pretty good, too. Or will once I get my first check."

That was enough to win his mother over. They arranged for a transfer, where Oliver could easily pick it up at a local agency.

As they said their good byes his mother suddenly said, "Oh, dear. David called for you."

Oliver froze. "David? Are you sure?"

"Oh, it wasn't me who answered, it was your father who spoke to him. Let me ask." His mother fumbled with the phone, and Oliver could hear the low grumbling that was his father's voice. Oliver was grateful he didn't have to speak to him himself.

His mother returned. "Not David, dear. It was a man named Gavin."

Now Oliver was in full panic mode. Of course, Gavin would try to wheedle information out of his ageing parents. But he could have called using another name. Using his real name was meant as a message to Oliver.

It was him telling him, I'm looking for you.

"Did dad say anything to him?"

"No, dear. Should he have?"

"No, not at all. That's good mom. Thanks for the money. I promise to pay you back as soon as I can."

"That's all right. As long as it helps."

They said their goodbyes, and hung up. Oliver suddenly felt very alone. He looked around, checking the streets, as if Gavin's blue mustang would be right there, waiting for him.

But it wasn't.

Keep your head together. He can't find you here, and he won't.

He picked up the money, which really wasn't much to begin with, and went for a simple breakfast. Coffee and a donut. Breakfast of champions. As he sat in the coffee shop, watching the traffic pass by outside, he thought of what Gavin had done. It was quite a crappy thing to do, involving his parents. But par for the course when it came to Gavin and his manipulative schemes. Gavin wanted him back, and in a big way.

But if Oliver was someone else's, that would be less of a problem. And he knew exactly the kind of man who could deal with Gavin, and even the rest of his crew if needed.

And it just so happened, Oliver was absolutely smitten with this individual.

Logan.

Again, he thought of their hook up. Hot stuff. Deeply passionate, even for a couple of strangers. He tried not to think to much about Logan not showing up again last night. He realized they had not even exchanged numbers. He didn't want to push for it as he left, but had Logan avoided that on purpose?

He shook his head. There was only one real way to find out for certain how serious this guy was, or could be. If Hot Rocks was Logan's second home, then maybe Oliver should just head over there that night and check things out. What could it hurt to see?

Satisfied with his plan, he returned to the dreary motel. He was bound and determined to be the hottest guy in that bar.

Logan will never know what hit him!

At 9:30 that evening he stepped out of the taxi and stood before the blazing neon sign of Hot Rocks. Already, a small line up had started. He got in line, apprehensive of all the looks he was getting.

"Oliver?" came a voice.

Oliver turned and saw Eddie walking toward him, with a couple of other guys. All were dressed up for a serious night on the town.

Eddie then engulfed Oliver in a big hug. "Oliver, baby. I wasn't sure I would see you again."

Oliver smiled, not entirely sure what to make of Eddie's behaviour. His last image of Eddie was of him glaring from the side of the road.

"I'm still here," Oliver said. "Thought I would come down and see what this place was like at night and full of people."

Eddie's friends were watching him intently, maybe sizing him up as potential competition.

"Well, I'm glad you're here. Let's party it up!" Eddie pulled him out of the line and toward the door. "We don't wait in line at this place. Not dressed like this!" They all laughed.

Eddie didn't even have to speak to the bouncer at the door, who simply waved them through with a smile.

Inside was loud and crowded. Just as Oliver had expected. Nearly all the tables were taken, especially the ones closest to the stage. A muscular guy was swinging naked around a pole on the stage, much to the delight of the audience.

Oliver immediately started to look around for Logan, but it was just to crowded, and Oliver was a little too short. Eddie pulled him along. "We got a table just for us!" he shouted over the noise.

He was led to a large booth along a side wall, which was on the highest tier. Here they could see the entire bar. Oliver sat down along with the other guys, Eddie snuggling up against him.

"Pretty wild, huh?" Eddie said.

Oliver nodded. This was definitely one of the more higher end establishments he'd been in. He looked down at the stage, as the stripper finished up his set, bent over and wiggling a magnificent butt in the face of a customer who was waving dollar bills at him.

Oliver very much wanted to be on that stage. All that money would be really helpful right now. But he had a purpose tonight, other than money.

Logan.

He peered about, trying to locate him. And then he caught his breath. There Logan was near a back corner. He looked just as handsome as before, perhaps more. He was locked in an intense conversation with Parker.

Oliver really wanted to saunter over and surprise him, but it looked like he was all business at the moment. That was fine. Oliver would wait.

Eddie was watching Oliver and saw he was eyeballing Logan. Eddie leaned over and said, "We need to get sloshed! Drinks! Booze!" He shouted at the waitress. Soon a tray of colorful drinks was brought over. As the guys started to down them, Oliver sipped his drink. He wanted to be mostly sober when he talked to Logan.

But not that sober when I rip his clothes off, he thought with a smile.

"Oh, come on now," Eddie said, looking a little offended. "That is not how we party here, girlfriend. Here," He plopped a vodka shooter in front of them both. "You gotta do this one."

"No, I couldn't. I didn't really eat today," Oliver said. Which wasn't even an lie.

"Uh uh," Eddie said, more insistent. "Let's do this. Everyone!" The other guys grabbed a shooter each and slung them back. Oliver relented and did the same. The alcohol burned as it slid down his throat. Not all that unpleasant a sensation.

Eddie introduced the other guys, but Oliver was terrible with names. And the booze didn't help.

The guy sitting next to him, named Cole, started chatting Oliver up. Everyone was joking and laughing.

Eddie nudged Oliver. "Here's a looker for ya."

Oliver looked up at a large, very handsome man who approached their table. He was taken aback at how chiseled his features were, and his movie star good looks.

Wow, he thought. They sprout up everywhere here. He couldn't tell how much of that was the booze or his libido.

The large man leaned over and offered his hand to Oliver, "Hey,  you're new here. What's your name, cutie?"

Oliver took his hand, which engulfed his completely. It was calloused and warm. "Oliver."

The big man smiled standing up. "Friends call me Ryder. You having a good time?"

Oliver nodded, feeling his world swim a little. Strangely Oliver seemed fixated on Ryder's large pectorals which bulged beneath his tight t-shirt. "Yup!" he declared.

Ryder grinned. "Well, you let me know when you want a better one." He walked away to disappear into the crowd.

All the guys at the table made teasing noises, and everyone laughed.

"Hot, huh?" Eddie said.

"Yeah," Oliver said. "Who is he, anyway?"

"He's with the Club," Eddie said. "An up and comer. Maybe President one day."

Oliver was impressed. But after all this booze, he figured he would be impressed with anything right about now.

"I know that's a big deal to them," Oliver said. His words were starting to slur.

"You do?" Eddie asked with a smile. "How?"

"Oh, I used to be hooked up with a guy in the Silver Hounds," he said. It came out as more boastful than it felt.

"Who?" Eddie asked, a little insistent.

"His name was Gavin. A complete dick, really," Oliver said. And as soon as the words left his mouth he regretted it. He really wanted to forget that part of his life. That was the past. This was the present.

He looked around for Logan again. He saw him moving through the crowd, but it looked like he was going to miss Oliver's table. Oliver pushed himself out of the booth.

"I got to hit the bathroom," Oliver said.

"I'll come," Eddie said.

Oliver wanted to tell him it was alright but already Logan was moving past so he hurried through the crowd.