"That's the problem, Logan. You're not alone-you're with people that, until only recently, you considered dangerous.

Since you cut me out, I have no idea why you've changed your mind, but I do know that I should be there with you. I should-"

"Can you trust me on this?" He didn't have time for explanations.

Without hesitation, Reese said, "One hundred percent."

"Thanks." At the moment, trust was a high-priced commodity-and in short supply with the siblings sharing his truck. "I've got a laundry list of things to be done, but for now, can you move Pepper's car without being seen?"

Clearly puzzled by the request, Reese said, "I can do that, yeah."

Logan gave him the details on the car and where to find it. "Put it someplace secure, all right?"

"No problem."

"I have to switch phones, so it'll probably be a few hours until I can touch base with you again. Find out what you can about the club before then, but be subtle. I'd as soon no one knew we were there."

"Consider it done."

"Appreciate it." Logan disconnected the call and then turned off his cell. To Pepper, he said, "Where's your phone?"

Subdued, she handed it over to him, and he turned it off. No reason to make it easy for others to track them through GPS.

"Rowdy?"

"Already done." Vigilant, he glanced in the rearview mirror again. "But I'll hang on to mine."

Yeah, Logan didn't blame him. "Take another left and then hit the highway. Go south for now." He twisted to look out the back window, but he didn't see anything suspicious. He gave his attention to Pepper.

So many sentiments flashed over her face, distrust and hurt at the forefront.

She tried to conceal it with bravado, but her hands were shaking, her face pale.

"I'm sorry," he told her, and he meant it.

"Jam your apology, Logan." She leaned farther away from him, crowding close to Rowdy. "I don't want to hear it."

Rowdy briefly gripped her knee.

"You'll be okay now," he told her.

Putting her head to his shoulder, she gave him a brief, hard hug.

God, she was beautiful.

And she wanted nothing to do with him. Knowing she'd need time, Logan said, "What the hell were you doing at the club?"

Rather than answer, she said, "I didn't cause the explosion."

"I told him that," Rowdy said.

"Thank you." She hugged him again while giving Logan a quick, disgruntled frown. "God, Rowdy, I've missed seeing you."

For a second there, Rowdy looked overcome with emotion. "Same here."

Logan touched her back. "Let him drive, honey. It's doubtful, but if he suddenly spots a tail, he'll need both hands on the wheel."

Nodding, she straightened again. She settled her purse in her lap and, without further prompting, said, "I was counting on you to get there in time, but if you didn't, I would have killed them."

"Them?" Logan asked.

"Morton Andrews. His bully boys."

She rubbed her palms over the denim covering her thighs. "Anyone in his circle who got in my way."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

PEPPER SEEMED SO FRAGILE, Logan couldn't keep from smoothing back her hair. She'd put a lot of faith in him getting to her on time, and in him not being involved with the corruption.

"Morton was in the club?"

"I assume so." All but oblivious to his touch, she chewed her bottom lip. "After I told the guard who I was and that I wanted to see Morton-"

Rowdy cursed low.

"-he made a call, and then agreed to take me into the club. We had just reached the back entrance, and the guard was ready to frisk me when..." She clenched all over.

Logan wanted so bad to hold her, but in the short time he'd known her, he hadn't taken her preferences into consideration.

From here on out, he would.

She shook her head, swallowed hard.

"When I heard that noise, I had no idea what had happened. At first I thought someone was shooting at me. But then the windows above us blew out, and an alarm sounded."

Rowdy turned down the road that'd take them to the highway ramp. "While you were scoping it out, did you see anyone suspicious go in? Anyone who stood out in any way?"

"No." And then to Logan, "It's a busy place. Even on a weekday, people are coming and going at all hours, usually in big groups." Seconds ticked by. "Used to be," she whispered, "I'd have recognized Morton's car and known if he was inside. But now, it's just been too long. There were some fancy wheels in the parking garage, but who knows if any of them belonged to Morton."

Logan opened his glove box and took out a pen and notebook. "Write down the models and colors-anything you can remember. I'll try to find out what Morton drives now."

"He gets chauffeured by his own driver," Rowdy cut in. "And he always has an entourage with him. Bodyguards and the like. It'd have to be something big to hold them all, but probably not anything as showy as a limo."

Her hands now steadier, Pepper wrote down what she could remember.

"What will you do?" Rowdy asked Logan.

"Ensure you two are safe, first."

"We were safe before I met you,"

Pepper said in an aside while still writing. "Thanks a lot."

Rowdy held silent.

Considering what she'd been through and how he'd deceived her, Logan let her slide on the continued animosity. "I know a place we can go."

"And then?"

Thinking out loud, he said, "I'll get a prepaid cell, call Reese to see what he's found out about Andrews and the bomb, any suspects." Logan shrugged. "I'll go from there."

Eyes dark with concern, Pepper said, "I don't know if anyone was hurt. I took off as soon as I realized what had happened."

"I'll find out." He took the pad of paper from her but held on to her hand.

"Okay?"

After a long searching look, she nodded. "Okay." She squeezed his hand before letting him go.

Logan took heart at the sign of her softening. Or was it simply desperation over a critical situation that had tempered her animosity?

"I'm in the dark here, boys. You two have obviously come to some understanding, so does anyone want to fill me in?"

"I told him everything," Rowdy said.

"You can trust him."

Her eyes narrowed, and then she nodded. "All right. I'll trust him." She gave Logan a look. "With this."

It was going to be a cluster-fuck of the first order. No doubt about that. "I'll need a pay phone. If you see one, pull over."

"Food would be good, too," Pepper said. "Not to downplay the drama, but I'm starving."

Rowdy smiled over that. "She eats when she's upset or nervous."

"Do not."

Watching them interact, Logan couldn't deny their closeness. So many of his assumptions were disproved with the natural, loving way they treated each other. He and his brother were often the same-irreverent, but there when needed.

"Fast food?" Rowdy asked.

"Let's get over the bridge into Kentucky first. Another ten minutes, tops." Still awed by how different Pepper looked, Logan studied her profile. "Is that okay with you?"

She rested her head back and closed her eyes. "I won't starve."

But it was nearing dawn. She'd missed dinner and had been running for hours, probably on adrenaline and fear alone.

Pepper wrapped her arms around herself. "At least I don't have to wear those ugly clothes anymore."

"You're crossing the line, aren't you?" Rowdy switched lanes. "This could cost you your job."

"Maybe. I don't know." It all depended on how things rolled out. So far Peterson had been accommodating when he needed extra time, when he wanted to follow vague leads. She'd even given him the go-ahead to be undercover at Pepper's apartment building-something most detectives wouldn't be involved with. But this?

The lieutenant could only be so forgiving and understanding. "I'll figure it out somehow."

Rowdy flexed his hands on the steering wheel. "I can make a suggestion."

"I don't know if I want to hear it."

On a groan, Pepper said, "I know I don't."

At a rest stop, Rowdy pulled in and put the truck in Park. He turned to face them both. "Sorry, Logan, but you need to cut me loose."

Pepper said, "No!"

Unsure where he was going with the suggestion, Logan studied Rowdy. "Why would I do that?"

"It's the best way to get info. I have contacts. In a single day I can probably find out more about Morton and anyone who wanted him dead than your whole damn police department can in a week."

"No, Rowdy."

He hugged his sister up close, kissed the top of her head. "Sorry, hon, but you don't get a vote in this." He looked at Logan. "I'm not hampered by the law. I don't need search warrants or even a key to go snooping. Because Morton has remained a threat to us, I've kept track of him. I know the people working with Morton. I know where they'll hide, and who they'll turn to."

"So you can find out who might have wanted him dead?" Assuming Morton Andrews was the target-instead of Pepper.

Rowdy gave him a hard stare. "I have ten times the motivation of anyone on the force."

Because he wanted to protect his sister.

Much as Logan hated to accept it, especially knowing how Pepper would react, Rowdy had a point. "I'm listening."

"Your buddy Reese can bring the car to me. Everything I need is in the trunk."

"Like?"

"A half dozen prepaid phones for one thing."

No need to pick up more. Smart.

Logan nodded at him. "What else?"

Rowdy didn't sugarcoat the truth.