Rowdy walked out-but surprised Logan again by coming right back with two towels from Reese's bathroom.

They'd really done a number on the apartment. Blood, bodies and bullet holes... Reese would need a damn cleaning and repair crew.

"Maybe you should lie down,"

Rowdy said as he pressed one towel to his arm.

Logan eyed him, snorted and shook his head. "Not happening."

That made him grin. "Yeah, I'd probably fight it, too." He held the towel against Logan and spoke quietly.

"Morton had bad plans for Pepper. He was going to-"

Logan cut him off. "I heard. But he's dead now. And she's safe."

"She's...free," Rowdy agreed. He held silent a moment. "He told us where the traffickers are set up."

Peterson covered the phone and scowled at him. "You will not get involved, Rowdy Yates, do you understand me?"

He readjusted the towel. "Yes, ma'am."

"I mean it. I'm already preparing a team to go there. We'll handle it-"

"Yeah, sure. No problem."

Peterson stalked away while barking orders into her phone.

Logan couldn't help but chuckle.

"You're a miserable liar, Rowdy Yates, and a worse nurse." He took the towel from him. "Go fetch your sister. You know you're dying to."

"She's going to kick my ass when she sees you got shot."

"I don't know about that. But if you got shot, she'd probably kill me herself."

Rowdy gave him a funny look, then laughed. "Boy, are you in for a surprise." He left to find Pepper.

So Rowdy thought she cared about him? That'd be nice, Logan decided.

Better than nice, and worth a bullet.

Less than a minute later, the dog barked, and Pepper hurried in with her long-legged gait-until she saw him sitting on the floor.

Logan got caught in her mesmerizing gaze. He smiled to put her at ease.

"Hey."

Fury straightened her backbone and squared her shoulders. "You're shot. "

"I'm fine." And he was. Yeah, he hated it that Andrews had gotten off so easily, especially after the verbal threats toward Pepper. But...it was over.

He'd now be free to put all his considerable concentration into winning her heart. Anticipation started a slow burn that all but blocked the pain of his injury.

When she just stood there, staring at him in horror, Rowdy gave her a nudge.

"It's just his arm, sis. He won't expire on you."

"Don't be a jerk!" She shoved away from him to step over and around Andrews, then came down beside Logan. She took the towel from him and lifted it. "Ohmigod."

She didn't mention his declaration of love, but she must care for him, given her reaction. Logan pressed the towel back to his arm. "Kiss me. It'll make me feel better."

Rowdy snorted.

"You're both insane," she complained, but she did kiss him.

Peterson finished her call, took in their cozy position, and rolled her eyes.

"Ambulance should be here any minute."

That got his attention off Pepper. "I don't need a damned ambulance."

"Tough. You're getting it anyway."

Alice stood there, stoic and silent, holding the dog's leash. He whined and lurched this way and that, unsure what to do, still uncertain of the situation.

Probably smelling the blood.

Sitting on the side of the bed, Rowdy held out a hand, and the dog came to him like a long-lost friend.

Reese strode back in with Dash but froze when he saw Alice. It was only then that Logan realized she still held the gun loosely in her hand.

Without taking his gaze off her, Reese said to Logan, "A couple of units showed up. They have a handle on things."

"Good."

"Paramedics will swarm in soon, probably along with a half dozen uniformed cops." They both spoke quietly.

He nodded toward Alice. "You want to deal with that before they do?"

"Yeah." Reese moved closer to her.

"Alice?"

Eerily mute, she freed her finger from the trigger, turned the gun around, and offered it to him.

He took it with alacrity. "You were going to shoot someone?"

"If it came to that, of course I would."

She couldn't seem to pull her gaze off Andrews. "Dead?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Why is it unfortunate?"

The men all shared a look. Logan said, "I wanted to take him in."

Hands locked in fists, Peterson agreed. "I wanted him to stand trial. I wanted-"

"Sometimes," Alice interrupted, "it's better when they're dead."

"Whoa." Pepper leaned into Logan's good side.

Sharing that sentiment, he hugged her with his uninjured arm. Better when they're dead. So who else had Alice tangled with? And who were they?

"Alice?" Reese touched her chin and brought her face around toward him.

"Any second now I'm going to have my hands full. Are you okay?"

"Yes."

Pepper glanced at Logan with sharp worry. He understood her concern, but he didn't know what he could do about it.

"You'll watch my dog?" Reese asked her.

Alice stood there, lost in thought for too many heartbeats until she finally pulled herself together. "Yes, Cash will be safe and waiting for you when you return."

"I want you to be waiting, as well."

She lifted her chin. "I'm not running off."

"Good to know."

Logan figured there was a whole lot going on there, but now wasn't the time to ask about it.

"Let's go." Reese hauled the other man off the floor and, ignoring his complaints, half dragged him from the room. Alice took the dog's leash and followed Reese.

"Dash?"

Being a cop's brother, Dash knew enough to stand just outside the perimeter of destruction. Smart. Logan drew his attention. "Would you mind making sure that no neighbors wander in?"

He scrutinized Logan, glanced at Pepper, and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah, sure. No problem."

Amused, Logan said to Pepper, "My brother is concerned for me, but he's manning up so he won't upset you."

"He's considerate." She narrowed her eyes at Rowdy. "Unlike my brother."

Rowdy tossed a sheet over Andrews.

"How's that for consideration?"

She shuddered. "It's morbid but...

thank you."

Logan would have worried about him taking off, except that he knew Rowdy wouldn't leave his sister.

Pepper was damn good insurance toward a new life for Rowdy. And that pleased Logan, because they both deserved so much.

Pepper gazed in the direction Alice had gone. "I think something very tragic must have happened to that poor woman."

"Probably." Logan drew her closer to kiss her brow. "But she'll be okay."

Reese would see to it...somehow.

"What about you?"

She stroked back his hair, touched a bruise on his jaw. "What about me?"

He'd already told her that he loved her; no reason to belabor the point right now. "You're doing all right?"

"Andrews is gone, thanks to you." She exchanged the bloody towel for a fresh one and winced. "Where are those damned paramedics, anyway?"

Peterson said, "I'll check on them."

Logan struggled to his feet.

"What are you doing?" In a near panic, Pepper scrambled up beside him.

He didn't want her to be in the same room with a dead body, and beyond that, he had no intention of sitting on his ass while others around him handled things.

Unfortunately, he barely made it out of the room before the paramedics were on him. He clasped Pepper's hand. "I want you with me tonight."

"Ha!" She kissed him again, quick and hard. "Just try getting rid of me."

IN THE PREDAWN HOURS of the following