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Chapter One

Even though the bar was thu with loud music and the croas shoulder to shoulder, no one approached Logan Hawkings He stood alone, an island of calht have been the "fuck off" expression on his face, or the crisp cut of his expensive tailored clothing that told people he didn’t belong in this neighborhood It could have been because he walked with an arrogant swagger that irlfriends with interest

None of that mattered He wasn’t here to socialize

He moved past the bar, down a narrow hall to a back room A man--tall, head shaven--stood in front of the door there The guard wore sunglasses despite being indoors, a suit, and an earpiece with a black cord that wound behind his ear and around the back of his neck His posture becoan as he approached

With a practiced ease, Logan swept the second and third fingers of his right hand over his shoulder and then rested them on his biceps in the exact spot where his tattoo lay under his clothing

The an pushed the door open and strode down the stairs into the basear son table set up in the center of the roonored Beer bottles and poker chips littered the table Ah, Brotherhood night His favorite night of the week Logan gave the room a quick once-over Everyone was here already; he was the last one to arrive No surprise there

The e All were clean-cut, fit and wore clothes that spoke of money They all carried theh in so

Beside the empty chair held for him sat Hunter Buchanan, the scarred, silent real-estate tycoon, and Logan’s , brashhis billion-dollar fortune Beside hilish aristocracy and the ‘professor’ of their sroup Then was Jonathan Lyons, owner of Lyon Automotives and notorious adventurer and thrill seeker At his side was Cade Archer, the philanthropist of their group

The five lanced up from their cards as he entered

"You’re late," Reese Durha froan slipped his jacket off and tossed it into a corner, then moved to the only ean grasped it and then turned to clap Hunter Buchanan on the back The ht of the rooot here," Cade said in a pleasant voice "Reese was just asking about Gloria"

Logan frowned, shaking his head as he sat down between the two rinned at hi blond hair I guess you’re not seeing her anyht her to the Stewart fund-raiser a few an couldn’t recall He hadn’t had a second date with anyone sincewell, since Danica Hadn’t been interested enough and hadn’t made the time "I don’t recall a Gloria"

"So you wouldn’t care if I dated her? Iher again"

"Care?" Logan snorted "I can’t even recall her face She’s all yours"

"Did you know she’s a friend of Danica’s?" Reese asked

"Then you’re an said, his voice cool "If she’s a friend of Danica’s, she can burn in hell for all I care"

"Thought you’d say that," Reese said cheerfully

"Just do an said, his tone friendly but with a touch of warning

The last thing he wanted to do was discuss a er She was in his past, and he had no intention of dwelling on her His father had an was being a stupid fool Turned out the old buzzard had been right all along

And that grated ?" Hunter pulled out a stack of chips, glancing over at Logan

A san turned to Hunter and gave the scarredHunter added it to the bank and shoved the pile of chips in his direction

"I have a new driver," Logan said "He got lost" His tone iain

Reese snorted and shook his head "Excuses, excuses" He gestured at the pile of chips in the center of the table "Everyone in?"

The six men consulted cards as they were dealt As cards were laid face up, Cade immediately tossed a bid into the pile Four of the ," Jonathan said with a disgusted glance at Cade "You know he can’t lie to save his ass"

Reese sighed and put his cards down as well, the last in besides Cade "Hell, you’re right I fold, too"

Cade grinned and raked the "

"You weren’t," Jonathan said, and took another swig of his beer, then leaned back to the catering table and snagged one for Logan "You don’t kno"