Chapter 363 To Be Loved
Ella
My cheeks were still flushed from the moment of tension between us. Logan seemed genuinely hurt and offended that I implied that I didn’t believe him, and for reasons that I didn’t want to admit, I hated seeing him like that.
So, stumbling over my words, I tried to mend the conversation. “Logan, I didn’t mean to imply that you were lying about your intentions. I just… I wondered if your original plan to actually take down the mafia would ever materialize.”
He looked at me, his eyes softening. “Ella, I honestly hope it will. I can’t be entirely sure, but I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen. We have a contract, remember?”
My eyes met his, filled with something like relief, mixed with a lingering note of
embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Logan. I really am.”
He broke into a grin, shattering the intensity of the moment, and lightly punched my arm. “Hey, I’m pulling your leg. I’m not actually offended. I get it, you have every right to be wary. I am the son of a mob boss, after all.”
I let out a chuckle, the tension between us finally dissipating. “You know,” I said a moment later, “my first impressions of you weren’t exactly glowing either.”
“Oh surprise, surprise,” he said, quirking an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
I grinned, remembering our initial meetings that were nothing but an emotional roller coaster for me. First, I met my fated mate. Then, he turned out to be a jackass, followed by a mobster.
“Well, let’s just say I pegged you as a no-good playboy just looking for an easy score. Among other things, obviously.”
Logan’s face flushed a shade of pink that almost matched the twilight sky. He scratched the back of his head, a sheepish look stealing across his face. “Ah, you got me. That was originally the plan, you know-to find the perfect woman who would help me outshine Harry and win my father’s favor. Become the heir and all that.”
Of course I already knew that; we had been over this countless times before. But for some reason, hearing it again made my heart sink a little, disappointment creeping in. “Is that still what you want?” I asked, my voice low.
He shook his head vehemently, looking almost distressed. “No, Ella, not anymore. Actually, it hasn’t been that way for quite some time now. I thought you could tell.”
I looked at him, my eyes searching his for the truth. “Really?”
“Yes, of course,” he insisted. “You changed that for me. Representing me in the apartment case, causing harm to so many innocent lives. And it made me reflect. Honestly reflect on myself. I realized that no one could ever truly love someone who acts like I did.”
The sincerity in his words hung in the air, mingling with the scents of late autumn and the faint aroma of pine trees. It was strange, to hear the mobster talk about true love. And hearing it made a burning question roll off the tip of my tongue.
“Is that what you want, then?” I found myself asking. “To be truly loved?”
Logan paused, his eyes fixed on a point in the distance as though contemplating the vastness of the question. Then he met my gaze again, his eyes deep pools of clear blue. “You know, Ella, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.”
There was an air of genuineness about him that I hadn’t seen before, and it caught me off guard. My face felt hot, and a current of electricity seemed to run between us. I quickly turned my gaze away, focusing on the path ahead as though doing so could somehow hide my shock.
A We continued to walk in silence for a few moments before the silence grew too great, and I found myself asking more questions. “So, what exactly are your plans for taking down the mafia in the city?” I inquired, genuinely curious.
“We’ve talked about it before, but not for a while.”
Logan shot me a side glance, his features pensive. “First and foremost, I have to deal with Harry. He’s the biggest obstacle.”
“And how do you plan on doing that?” I pushed.
He exhaled, almost as if mustering up the courage to answer. “The best way would be to win the family fortune over him. If I have control over that, I can start cleaning things up.”
“But what about your father? What if he disapproves of you trying to change things?”
Logan paused, his eyes meeting mine as he pondered the question. “I’m almost certain that once he picks an heir, he’ll retire and move overseas. Probably won’t ever set foot in this country again.”
“That’s probably for the best,” I said, relieved at the prospect.
Logan nodded. “I think so too. But I could easily win over Harry if he stopped using dirty tricks to gain an edge.”
I couldn’t help but smirk. “Well, if Harry’s playing dirty, maybe you should too.”
He looked at me, eyes wide with surprise. “Really? An Alpha princess like you is suggesting I resort to dirty tricks? Who are you and what did you do with the real Ella?”
I shot him a sly smile. “Hey, I’m not the one doing the dirty tricks. I’m just giving you permission to use them. Ends justify the means and all that jazz.”
Logan chuckled, visibly pleased. “You’re always so full of surprises, Ella. Alright, then. With some underhanded tactics, maybe I could take down Harry and get control of the family fortune.”
“And what then?” I asked, already engrossed in the potential of this unfolding plan.
Logan shot me another look. “Why are you asking so many questions all of a sudden, Miss Morgan?”
I shrugged. “Just making sure you’re prepared for meeting my father, that’s all.”
It was then that his expression shifted into something more focused, maybe even a little calculating. “Well, I guess I’ll start by severing ties with any illegitimate business deals, only keeping the clean ones. Then, I’ll invest heavily in legitimate enterprises to further sanitize the family name.”
I was hooked, my curiosity reaching peak levels. “That sounds promising. Tell me more.”
Logan shot me a teasing smirk, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes. “I think that’s enough for now. You’ll know in due time, Ella.”
Annoyance flashed across my face. “Seriously? You’re not going to spill?”
His grin only widened, as he playfully nudged my arm. “I like to keep some things for myself.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes as I did. “Fine, keep your secrets if they’re that important to you. But just know that you won’t be able to do the same with my dad.”
Logan chuckled, a hearty, genuine sound that made my heart flutter just a tiny bit, even though I would never admit it in a million years. “You’re cute when you’re annoyed, you know that?”
I could feel my cheeks turning a rosy shade of red, and I quickly looked away, pretending to be interested in a nondescript building we were passing. Cute? Was he serious?
Finally, I mustered enough courage to look back at him. “Well, you seem serious about all this, at least. So, I’ll help you in any way I can.”
His eyes met mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause. Then he smiled, a genuine, heartwarming smile that made everything seem a little brighter. We shook hands, sealing our pact, and resumed our walk.
“We’re almost there,” I said, eager to shift the focus onto something else. “The restaurant is just up ahead.”
As we rounded the corner, the anticipation building, I caught sight of the restaurant’s entrance. My heart sank as I read the notice slapped on the door. It announced that the place had been shut down.
“Oh no!”
