Chapter Nine

LOGAN

"It was silly of me to come. I should get going." Logan pushed up from his seat.

"The Logan Silver I recall didn't do silly." Ash spun his wedding ring around on his finger and tipped his head, but that penetrating stare remained steadfast on Logan's face. "Now, come on. You can talk to me." He grinned. "I don't bite."

Ash was a force to be reckoned with, and Logan decided to give him the condensed version. "I had a good friend I was helping through rough times. I thought he was getting better, that he was okay."

"But he wasn't."

Releasing a long sigh of frustration, Logan shook his head. "No. He received some pretty devastating news—not health-related, but as an attorney, you'll understand. He'd lost his license and was waiting for a letter from the disciplinary committee to reinstate him, but—"

"They turned him down," Ash stated, and Logan cocked his head. Ash shrugged. "I mean, it was obvious from what you said."

"Well, you're correct."

"So, what happened?"

It surprised him that Ash Davis gave a damn. Years ago they'd crossed paths in a divorce settlement, and he'd been all business and a ruthless advocate for his client. This Ash was charming and seemingly invested in Logan's story. The gleam of the gold wedding band caught his eye again. Maybe marriage had tamed the savage beast.

"What happened is that Ryan stole over a thousand dollars from me, took my father's gold watch, and disappeared. That was two months ago, and I've heard nothing since except for a brief, vague text."

Ash sucked in a sharp breath. "Shit." He drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. "You lived together? He was your lover?"

"No. It wasn't like that. I was concerned about him falling back into a life of drugs and alcohol. I didn't want that happening to him. I-I was trying to help."

"How very altruistic of you." Ash raised a skeptical brow, and Logan scowled.

"I'm serious."

Ash's laughter rang out in the small waiting area. "Come on. You're letting a gorgeous guy stay in your apartment, and you're not putting the moves on him? You? Give me a break." Ash's phone buzzed, and he checked it. His eyes grew soft. "I've got to go. My husband is waiting. But if you're really concerned about helping people who need it, why not put up or shut up? Come here and volunteer your time. Tomorrow would be good."

Without waiting for an answer, Ash strode down the hallway.

Finally free to leave, Logan called for a car, and as he stood at the curb, something struck him and his heartbeat rocketed.

How the hell had Ash known Ryan was gorgeous? He wouldn't…unless he'd already met him.

Son of a bitch.

His car stopped in front of the center, and Logan slid inside.

Looks like I'll be coming back tomorrow.

* * *

Simon stormed after him when he announced he was leaving. It was after four on a Friday afternoon, so he hadn't thought it would be a problem.

Obviously, he was mistaken.

"Where are you off to now? Chasing another false lead?"

Logan pressed the elevator button. "No. As a matter of fact, I think I know where he is." Logan explained what happened the night before, and Simon listened and let him finish.

"As crazy as it sounds, you might be right. I'm coming with you."

"What? Why?" Logan brushed him off. "I'm fine. I'll see you Monday." The elevator door opened, and Simon followed him.

"Logan." Simon sounded like a schoolteacher explaining a particularly difficult math problem. "If what you're saying is true, everyone there will be in Ryan's corner. Who's going to be in yours?"

No one. It was second nature for him to be alone, so he didn't question it. But the longer the words lingered in the air, the heavier the weight of his burden felt, and he knew he was lucky to have someone like Simon in his life.

"Thank you. I don't even know if I'm right or…"

"So let's find out."

He sat in the car, quiet and stoic, unbelievably grateful for Simon's presence. They reached the center, and he stood outside on the sidewalk, gathering his thoughts and courage. Simon remained by his side.

"What the hell am I doing? I'm probably wrong. I'm sorry you got dragged out here."

"I'm not complaining. And I'm searching my memory for a time when you had a hunch and were proved wrong." Simon nudged his shoulder. "If I could have anyone defending me in court, it would be you." His gaze flicked to the front door. "Let's go in."

Logan pushed open the door, his eyes immediately focusing on the front desk. His heart slammed in hard, short beats.

"Fuck me," he breathed and stared.

There Ryan sat at the front desk, talking to a young man. He was smiling and looked…at peace. Certainly happier than any day he'd been with Logan in all the time they'd lived together.

"Shit. You were right," Simon murmured. "I can't believe it."

"Thought you said I'm always right." Leaving Simon's side, Logan walked toward the U-shaped desk. Ryan finished with the person he was speaking with and turned to greet him.

"Welc—" The smile on his lips froze, and he turned white. His eyes glowed blue and bright. "Oh."

Trying to remain calm, Logan sauntered the last few steps. "Hi, Ryan. Nice to see you again."

"L-Logan, hi. How—"

"Was your question going to be how I'm doing?" He leaned on the desk, coming almost nose-to-nose with Ryan. So close he could feel him quivering. Smell his fear. "Because I'm doing really, really shitty." He licked his lips. "See, I don't like thinking I'm a fool. Or that I was made to look like one. And I think you know that."

"A fool?" Ryan gulped, his Adam's apple jumping. "Why? How?"

"Are you serious?" Logan growled. "You ran out on me, with no note, no phone call, nothing for months except some stupid text saying you're alive." His lip curled. "After living with me for months, you didn't think I'd want to know something more? Something about how you were doing? It's like you wanted to wipe me out of your life forever."

Ryan lifted his chin. "Would that be so bad?"

"I can't believe you're even saying this. I took you into my home, gave you everything—"

"Yeah, I know. And I was suffocating."

Suffocating? Is he fucking kidding me?

"And then you stole from me. Or did you forget that in your new and happy life?" Like nails, the words spit from Logan's mouth, and he could see he'd hit his mark when Ryan flinched.

"Ryan? Is everything okay?"

"We're fine." Irritated at being interrupted, Logan barely glanced at the man in the white coat.

"I wasn't asking you. I was talking to Ryan."

Now the man had Logan's full attention. "Who are you, and why are you inserting yourself into my and Ryan's private business?"

The man's glacial eyes hardened, and his jaw set in a hard line. "This is my clinic, and Ryan works here."

"Jordan, it's okay," Ryan soothed. "I can handle it."

"I won't have anyone threatened or intimidated." Jordan moved closer to Ryan, and Logan wondered if they were sleeping together. For some reason that pained his heart.

"Threatened?" Logan sputtered, about to go off on this arrogant asshole. "Are you crazy?"

"Don't use that kind of language here," Jordan snapped, and Logan, about to let loose, felt Simon's hand clamp on his shoulder.

"I think we all need to calm down. If it would be okay with you, maybe Logan could wait until Ryan finishes work, and then they could talk."

"Who are you?" Jordan asked.

"Simon Brown. I'm one of Logan's law partners."

Jordan joined Ryan behind the desk and pulled him away. He bent his head in close, whispering.

Logan bristled. "Don't try and talk him out of it."

Ignoring him, Jordan continued to murmur in Ryan's ear. Ryan shook his head. "I get off soon. We can talk then if you want to wait."

"I've been waiting for months. I can wait a few minutes more."

He allowed Simon to lead him to the corner of the waiting room, where they sat. Jordan remained by Ryan, as if afraid Logan would snatch him up from behind the desk and run away with him.

"I can't believe he's really here, just living his life. No shame or anything for the way he treated me," Logan said, furious with himself. "And he's obviously found himself another sucker to fall for his sob story."

"You think he was lying about everything from the beginning?"

"No, he was in bad shape. I heard from Remi how badly he was beaten and that he was using again. And I know he had it rough. But look at him. The way he's listening to that guy's every word, like he walks on water or something. They have to be lovers."

"Sounds like you're a little jealous."

His jaw dropped, and he glared at Simon, who remained unfazed. Damn, he must be losing the frosty stare that used to send associates into a frenzy of fear. "I know you didn't just say that to me."

Shit. Simon knows me too well.

"The hell I didn't. Did you forget I know you two hooked up once? In a club? The Logan I've known for over twenty years never did that. You don't even kiss people in public. So for you to get so out of control that you had to have him, means something in Ryan touched you where no one else has. Maybe you don't want to admit it to me. But you need to stop fooling yourself that Ryan's just another guy to you."

He didn't respond and sat, his mind a muddle of incomprehensible thoughts. He couldn't understand if he was angry, hurt, or a combination of both. Whatever this emotion was, Logan didn't like it.

The clinic emptied out until it was only Ryan left out front. He'd shot occasional glances Logan's way but worked steadily, answering calls, intercom messages, and entering information on the computer in front of him. At five thirty, Jordan walked out from the back.

"Okay. I'm finished with my last patient, so we can go into my office and talk."

"You're a doctor?" Logan sat stunned. He hadn't a clue, and Jordan, perhaps enjoying his discomfort, sneered at him.

"Yeah. I told you this was my clinic. I'm the orthopedist here. Follow me."

With Simon at his side, Logan trailed behind Ryan and Jordan, past exam rooms, supply closets, and other offices. Jordan stopped at an open door.

"After you."

They entered and sat around the conference table, but not before Logan spied a lineup of pictures on the credenza behind Jordan's desk. A little girl, from birth through toddler years, with Jordan and another man. Noticing where his attention was drawn, Jordan's entire face softened.

"My little girl, Ellie. She's three."

"You have a child?"

"Yes. Why are you so surprised? Many gay couples have children."

"Couples?"

Jordan rolled his eyes. "Yes. What is with you and the questions about my personal life? You're here because you're making trouble for Ryan."

"Trouble for Ryan? I've been worried sick for the past two months. I've had the police looking for him—"

"The police?" Jordan's voice rose. "Why would you need the police?"

Logan's lips pressed thin. "He lived in my house for almost six months. I was away on a business trip and came home to find a letter denying his reinstatement to the bar, next to an empty bottle of vodka."

Ryan's cheeks flushed red, but he met Logan's gaze defiantly. "They know my story. I told them everything."

"You did?"

"Yes," Jordan responded smoothly. "And he's getting help."

"That's good. But did he also tell you he stole money from me along with my father's gold watch? Do you know I gave him a hundred thousand dollars to pay off a loan and didn't charge him interest and that he's never attempted to pay me back?"

Ryan pinched his eyes closed, but then straightened his shoulders. "I'm sorry. I-I'll get you the money."

"You know what really hurt the most?" Logan continued as if Ryan hadn't spoken. "You didn't want my help? That's fine. But it didn't even occur to you that I'd want to be there for you after the news? That I'd be concerned for your state of mind, your mental health? You just walked out of my life and disappeared, like I didn't matter one damn bit."

"That's not the way it happened," Ryan protested. "It was humiliating, and to have to tell you…I just couldn't."

"But you could take my money and the one thing that mattered the most to me and vanish, leaving me sick to death with worry, thinking you were out there, alone and in trouble. Doing God knows what to stay alive. Maybe you were even dead. I didn't give a damn whether or not you ever got your license back. I only wanted you to get well. I thought we were friends, but I guess I was wrong because a friend won't leave in a time of crisis. You want to be with them, so they can help you when you need it most."

Simon put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him, but it had the opposite effect. It made him grow sick with anger that poured through him like poison.

"I'm thrilled you've got a new life, Ryan. Now you can stay the hell out of mine."

He stormed out of the office and the clinic and called for a car.