"Logan..." I whispered, my voice barely above a breath, but he just chuckled—a dark, unsettling sound that sent a chill crawling down my spine.

Instinct kicked in, and I started scooting back on the bed, pressing myself against the headboard, trying to put as much space between us as possible.

"Don't be scared, baby," he cooed softly, his tone almost gentle, but it was laced with something... sinister. "I'm not gonna hurt you."

He moved toward me, sitting down at the edge of the bed, his body too close, making my skin crawl. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

"What... what are you doing here, Logan?" My voice trembled as I tried to keep it steady, but the fear was impossible to hide.

His lips curled into a smug grin as he tilted his head, his eyes studying me like a predator sizing up its prey. "I've been keeping tabs on you, Avery. Didn't think I'd let you out of my sight for too long, did you?"

My stomach twisted. "How did you—?"

"Find out?" He leaned back slightly, looking almost amused by my confusion. "Oh, I have my ways." His eyes dropped to my stomach, and the grin faded into something darker. "And imagine my surprise when I found out you were carrying my baby."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"Don't play dumb," he said softly, but there was an edge to his voice now. "I know, Avery. I know you're pregnant."

My mind was spinning. How the hell did he know?

"It's not—"

"Don't." His tone was sharp now, his eyes narrowing. "Don't lie to me." He reached out, brushing his knuckles lightly against my cheek, and I flinched, instinctively pulling away. His jaw clenched at my reaction, but he forced a smile.

"I was pissed at first," he murmured, almost as if he was talking to himself. "My original plan was to kill you, you know? You were always gonna be my plan B if shit went sideways."

My throat tightened. "Plan B?" I whispered, barely able to get the words out.

"Yeah." He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at me with unsettling calmness. "That day at the coffee shop... the day I 'bumped into you'?" He smirked, and my stomach dropped. "I knew right then you were perfect. Sweet, innocent... someone no one would suspect. I was in deep with some dangerous people, Avery. Borrowed money from the wrong kind of guys. The mafia."

I froze, my breathing shallow.

"Needed an out. Someone to disappear with if shit hit the fan." He looked almost proud, like he was recounting some master plan. "But then I met you... and you became my golden ticket."

Tears blurred my vision as I shook my head. "Logan... you're insane."

"Maybe." He shrugged, completely unbothered by my words. "But now?" His eyes dropped to my stomach again, and this time, there was something possessive in his gaze. "Now that you're carrying our baby, the plan's changed."

"Stop it Logan." I hissed, but he ignored me, his grin returning as if I hadn't even spoken.

"We're gonna be a family, Avery." His voice softened again, almost tender, which made it even more terrifying. "I've got it all figured out. I'll fake your death, and we'll disappear. My buddy Chris owns property down in Barbados. It's perfect."

My heart was pounding so hard I could barely breathe. "You're out of your mind," I whispered, but he just smiled like I hadn't said a word.

"Imagine it, baby," he murmured, his eyes distant, lost in whatever twisted fantasy he was creating. "Just you, me, and our kid... living the good life."

I felt like I was going to be sick. Every part of me screamed to run, but I was frozen in place, trapped in this nightmare.

"And don't worry," he added softly, his eyes locking back onto mine. "No one will ever find us. We'll be happy, Avery."

But the way he said it made me feel anything but safe.

I had to get out.

Now.

"You hurt me, Logan," I whispered, my voice barely holding steady as I felt the weight of everything crashing down on me.

His expression softened instantly, and he leaned in, arms reaching out like he could somehow erase the past with a single touch. "You know I never meant any of that, baby," he murmured, his voice smooth and laced with false comfort.

I stiffened as his body pressed into mine, trapping me against the headboard. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. My instincts screamed at me to push him away, to run, but I was frozen, my body betraying me.

"Logan..." I tried to keep my voice calm, but I knew he could hear the fear beneath it.

"Shh," he cooed, tightening his arms around me. "I'm here now. I'm gonna fix this. We're gonna be a family, Avery. You'll see."

I flinched as he rested his chin on top of my head, his grip unrelenting. My skin crawled as I fought the urge to shove him away, but I knew better.

"Please..." My voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "Let me go."

"Why are you acting like this?" he murmured softly, but there was an edge beneath the sweetness in his tone. "I'm doing this for us, Avery."

"For us?" I whispered, my eyes squeezing shut as his grip stayed firm.

"Yeah," he murmured, brushing his lips against the top of my head. "I'm doing what's best. You'll see... once we get to Barbados, everything will be different. We can start over. Be happy. Like we were supposed to be."

My stomach twisted violently, and I felt the bile rise in my throat. His delusions were getting worse. He truly believed we had a future together—a future where he controlled everything, and I had no way out.

"Logan... this isn't right," I whispered, trying to stay calm, but my voice trembled. "You can't just take me away."

"I'm not taking you," he said softly, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes. "I'm saving you."

His gaze was intense, almost pleading, but there was something dark buried underneath. Obsession.

"You'll love it there, baby." His thumb brushed gently over my cheek, and I forced myself not to recoil. "White sand, crystal-clear water... just you, me, and our baby."

The sonogram.

My stomach clenched. He thought the baby was his.

I had to get out of this.

"Okay," I whispered, forcing a shaky smile. "Maybe... maybe you're right."

His eyes lit up, a dangerous glimmer of hope sparking.

"Yeah?" he asked softly, his grip loosening just a little.

I nodded, keeping my breathing steady. "But I need some time. Just... to think. To pack."

His head tilted, studying me closely, and for a second, I thought he wasn't going to buy it. But then, he smirked, that same arrogant grin that used to make my stomach turn.

"We'll buy a whole new wardrobe, baby," he said softly, but there was something sinister beneath the tenderness in his voice. "I have to take you out of this horrid place. You don't need to live like this anymore... like white trash."

It was like the air had been sucked out of the room.

My heart slammed against my ribs as his words echoed in my mind. Time seemed to slow down, and everything around me blurred. My ears buzzed, and my head began to spin, the weight of his words pressing down on me like a ton of bricks.

White trash.

His voice dripped with disdain, and it felt like a slap to the face. After everything I'd been through—everything I'd survived—he still saw me as something disposable. Something broken that needed to be fixed.

My breathing quickened, and I could feel the panic rising in my chest, clawing its way to the surface. I gripped the bedsheet beneath me, my knuckles turning white as I fought to keep myself from breaking down.

Stay calm, Avery. Stay calm.

"Logan..." I whispered, my voice barely above a breath, but he didn't notice. He was too caught up in his fantasy, pacing back and forth as he talked more to himself than to me.

"I'll take care of everything," he murmured, running a hand through his hair. "We'll disappear... go somewhere no one can find us. Chris already has the paperwork ready. New names, new lives... just us."

I barely heard him. My mind was racing, piecing together the nightmare I was living in. He wasn't just delusional—he was dangerous. And if I didn't get out now...

"Logan," I said again, this time louder, forcing my voice to be steady.

He stopped pacing, his eyes snapping back to mine.

"Yeah, baby?" he asked softly, like he hadn't just ripped apart everything I was holding onto.

I swallowed hard, forcing a shaky smile onto my lips. "You're right," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "We can start over. But... I need a little time. Just... to say goodbye to everything."

Logan's smirk faltered, his eyes darkening as he processed my words. His jaw tightened, and for the first time since he walked in, I saw the mask slip.

"Say goodbye?" he repeated, his voice eerily calm. "To what, Avery? To who?"

I swallowed hard. "Just... everything. My life here. My friends." I tried to sound casual, but my voice wavered. "You can't expect me to disappear overnight without—"

His hand shot out, grabbing my chin roughly. "That's exactly what I expect," he growled, his grip tightening. "You think this is a negotiation?" His breath was hot against my face, reeking of whiskey and cigarettes. "You're mine now. You and my kid."

Before I could protest, the door creaked open behind him. Heavy boots thudded against the floor, and I knew—I was out of time.

Two men stepped inside, their presence sucking the air out of the room. Devils Blood. Their cuts said as much, but I didn't recognize them. One was bald with a jagged scar down his cheek, the other tall with a snake tattoo coiling around his neck.

"She's ready?" Someone asked, cracking his knuckles.

"Not yet," Logan muttered, keeping his grip on my face. He studied me for a long moment, his eyes scanning mine, searching for something. "But she will be."

Fear gripped my chest, but I didn't have time to react. Rough hand grip my waist as he yanked me off the bed. I thrashed, but it was useless. Logan only laughed, watching me struggle.

"Don't fight, baby," he cooed mockingly. "You're just making this harder on yourself."

I opened my mouth to scream, but then—a sharp sting, right on my ass.

I gasped, eyes widening as a sudden warmth spread through my veins. My limbs turned heavy, my vision swimming.

"No..." I mumbled, my knees buckling. My body felt like it was sinking, like the floor had turned to quicksand. My pulse pounded in my ears, but my muscles wouldn't respond.

Logan leaned in, brushing my hair behind my ear as the darkness crept in.

"Night, night, baby," he whispered.

And then everything went black.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

EVERESTS POV:

I woke up, the sunlight cutting through the blinds, shining directly on my face. I squirmed, trying to find a more comfortable position, only to realize that I was alone. My hand shot out, searching for her, but there was nothing—just empty sheets.

My heart sank.

I rubbed my face, trying to shake off the fogginess of sleep, but the headache that followed only made things worse. I couldn't even remember falling asleep last night, but I had a damn good idea of why I was alone. The memory of the argument flashed through my mind—the fight, the picture, the baby.

Our baby.

I let out a frustrated groan. The words I'd thrown at her—accusations, insults. I had fucked up, and I knew it. The guilt started to weigh on me. I had let her walk out, angry and confused. All she had been doing was trying to tell me the truth, and instead of listening, I pushed her away. The mention of Bree had been the last nail in the coffin.

I remembered threatening Bree to stay away from Avery, to not interfere in our relationship. She'd agreed, but now... it didn't matter, did it? Avery was the one I had pushed away, and it might've been too late to fix it.

I sat up, grabbing my phone from the floor, not expecting anything. No texts. No calls. I stared at the screen, realizing I hadn't heard from her, and there wasn't a message saying she had left or anything. She had to be at the one place I hadn't thought to check.

I didn't waste any more time. I threw on my boots and headed out the door. I finally pulled up, my stomach dropped. The front door was wide open, hanging off its hinges as if it had been forced.

I didn't hesitate. I jumped off the bike, my heart pounding as I rushed toward the door. My hand instinctively went to the handle, pushing the door open slowly.

Inside, everything was still. Silent. The house felt cold, empty, like it hadn't been lived in for days, even though it had only been hours.

I walked through the rooms, each step heavier than the last, until I reached the bedroom.

That's when I saw it.

The picture. Crumpled and partially ripped, lying on the bed. It was the only thing out of place in the room. I felt a twist in my chest. She had been here. She had left in a hurry. But why? What had happened?

I stood there, staring at the picture, feeling a wave of panic wash over me. Where the hell was she?