The Billionaire's Practice Kiss - Tamie Dearen Page 0,76

woman has been through hell and suffered and lost everything, only to fight her way back. She’s not afraid of anything life can dish out. Her only fear is that no one could ever really love her because of a few marks on her skin. And you…”

Kara glared up at him with such ferocity he edged backwards. “You dangled love in front of her and got her hopes up. And now you’re just going to rip it away?”

“You said it yourself… she’s suffered enough.” It was humiliating to admit, but he wanted Kara to understand. “She almost died because of me. How could I live with that?”

“You aren’t responsible for death, Logan. That’s in God’s hands, and Ellery doesn’t fear it. So who are you trying to protect? Is it really Ellery?” Kara’s voice cracked. “Or is it you?”

“Ellery!” he declared, refusing to consider the other possibility. “I can’t be the one who brings more pain into her life.”

“Pain is part of life. So she’ll have it, whether you’re in her life or not. She doesn’t need someone to protect her from it. She needs someone who’ll stand beside her and love her in the middle of it.” A tear tracked down Kara’s cheek. “Which brings me back to my original question… Do you love her or not?”

Her words bit, venomous as a cobra.

Could he face the answer?

Logan was back.

His mere presence was comforting, though he was sitting to the side—elbows on his knees, head between his hands. Poor guy was probably falling asleep. He’d evidently only had time to get a haircut before Kara had called him back.

“This information could’ve been fabricated.” Salena Estrada, the new leader assigned to the FBI team, was leafing through the pages. Thankfully, she was the only FBI agent left in the room, the others having been sent off to fulfill their various duties. “Even the photos could’ve been doctored. It’s going to take time to verify what he’s given us.”

Ellery nodded, barely listening. They’d been talking to her for an hour. Her throat was raw and her concentration had been wavering even before Logan came in the room.

“His timing was impeccable, though. Sophia disappeared from the hospital this morning, right about the time Krupin was here…” Salena continued her monologue, adding more stuff about everything that had happened and how he’d pulled it off.

But Ellery was watching Logan. He definitely wasn’t his usual self. He’d arrived quietly, not interrupting the questioning. She’d spied a haunted look in his eyes before he’d averted them, and he hadn’t so much as glanced her way since. The usual Logan would’ve been furious, barely controlling his temper. Maybe this new subdued Logan was simply another step in his steady withdrawal.

“Dan kept telling us Alexander Krupin likes to kill people,” said Jake, standing over Salena’s shoulder, frowning at the pages. “Isn’t it weird that he used non-lethal methods on the guard and didn’t kill Ellery when he had the chance? Are we absolutely positive the guy that showed up here was Alexander?”

Ellery blinked, finding both Jake and Salena staring with expectant expressions. “I’m sorry… what did you ask me?”

“Are you positive the guy you saw was Alexander Krupin?” Jake repeated.

“I’ll never forget those eyes.” She held out the photo she still had clasped in her hand. “The guy in my room was definitely this guy.”

“Is it possible he’s not the evil killer Dan painted him to be?” Jake asked.

“Not that I’m an expert on killers,” Ellery said with a shudder, “but I got the impression the only reason he didn’t kill me was because Sophia asked him not to.”

Ellery fell into a coughing fit that brought tears to her eyes. Logan appeared at her side and handed her a cup of chipped ice.

“That’s enough.” Though Logan’s tone was deadly even, it gave the impression of a low rumble in the throat of an attack dog. “I think she’s told you everything she knows. It’s time to let her rest.”

Though warmed by his renewed protectiveness, Ellery knew not to put much stock in it.

“Logan’s right,” Salena said. “You’ve been so much help, Ellery. And the way you handled Krupin… nothing short of amazing.”

“I promise I didn’t do anything,” Ellery said. “I’m pretty sure I’m alive because it suited his purposes.”

Logan’s hand came to rest on her shoulder. It felt so natural she almost imagined everything was back to normal between them. But when he jerked it away, mumbling something she couldn’t hear, it slashed a new wound in her