look around Zara’s neck. But would she prefer delicate and floral or chunky and bold?
“I’d like to look at tray E8 please,” he said, turning to Gage as the nearest sales girl scurried to do his bidding.
The sight of the two of them in the classiest jeweler’s store in town made him smile a little. “Betcha never thought we’d be in a place like this, eh bro?”
Gage cast a glance around and chuckled. “You mean, and not robbing it? No. Have to say I didn’t.”
Logan joined in with the chuckle. He and Gage had been friends since they’d been in diapers, kids from the same apartment block who ran wild together until they got old enough to really run wild. Both shifters, Gage’s leopard to his lion, they’d been targeted by street gangs before they’d really been old enough to understand that not even shifters could outrun silver bullets.
It had only been a chance encounter with an old fighter that had gotten them into the gym, and from it, into the ring. Fighting had stopped them going down the gang route and saved both their lives — gotten them and their families out of the rough-as-fuck neighborhood they’d lived in.
“Yeah,” Logan sighed. “We did good, didn’t we?”
Gage barked a laugh. “No mate, you did good. If you weren’t so good at beating the living crap out of people, we’d have been two washed-up old fighters with busted faces and not a hope between us, or…”
He didn’t end the sentence but he didn’t need to. They both knew that if they’d stayed on the streets one or both of them would be dead by now.
“I just wing it, bro.” Logan broke the tension with a chuckle. “Not my fault if they’ve all got a hard-on for hitting my fists with their faces now is it?”
“Yeah, that’s got to be it. You’re just a lucky bastard, ain’t you?”
He grinned and looked down at the tray in front of him. Diamonds winked back at him but he didn’t see them. Mention of the rougher areas of the city brought other thoughts to mind.
“Tell me about the underground fight clubs.”
Gage sighed and rubbed his hand over his shaved scalp. “We’ve had scouts out but the fuckers are elusive. As soon as we get a tip off and move in, they’re already gone. I suspect the fangers are involved.”
“Hmmmm…” Logan shook his head. “Can’t see that Zane would get involved in this. It’s not his style. Whether he is or not, we need to do something about it and fast.”
* * *
L ogan was like a drug . Her very own drug of choice with all the highs and lows attached.
Zara hovered by the window, trying not to be seen as she watched for the first glimpse of Logan’s car as it turned the corner. She was ready early, as she always was, telling herself it was just her own preference rather than to try and impress him. Fuck, who was she kidding?
It was all about Logan.
She was addicted to him, lock, stock and barrel. Addicted to his hard, muscular body and the things he did to her with it. Hooked on his quick wit and the quirky smile he gave when she’d scored a point in conversation. More than that, she craved his company, his touch and the softer kisses he gave her after all the filthy, dirty things he did to her in bed.
But that wasn’t the worst…the one that really got to her was the soft kisses he often planted on her forehead, his hand cradling the back of her neck. Those kisses meant more than all the ones exchanged in the heat of passion. Those kisses hinted at respect and emotion that went beyond lust and the sex they shared.
A large, black car pulled around the corner, interrupting her train of thought. She watched it roll to a stop, the light from the sunset glinting dully off its blacked out windows. It couldn’t be anyone other than Logan. She didn’t know anyone else who owned such a vehicle. Rooted to the spot, she watched, waiting, as the door opened and a tall figure unfolded itself from the interior.
It was a uniformed chauffeur, not Logan.