Belong to Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

wasn’t known for his levity, so hoping he’d pulled the prank had been a stretch.
    Which meant the threat was real. Logan swore under his breath. What the hell should he do?
    Scanning the hall to make sure he and Hunter were alone, Logan gulped down nerves about to make his stomach revolt. “Last night, not long after we got home from the police station, I found a note on my pillow. I—it was from Mom’s killer, threatening to kill Tara if I don’t stay away from her.”
    His blue eyes widened with shock. “ What? Did you tell Dad or call the police?”
    “I can’t,” he choked out. “The note said that if I told anyone, she’d ‘suffer.’ Last night, I hoped it was just a sick prank. And I . . . needed to talk to Tara.”
    “You called her?” Hunter’s grim tone said he disapproved of that impulse.
    After all the police interviews, after they’d removed his mom’s body, Logan had needed to talk to the one person who understood what it was like to lose a mother. He’d also wanted to check on her, make sure no one had harmed her. And after he’d taken her virginity yesterday, she’d surely ached for some reassurance. Yet his Cherry had brushed aside her own needs to help him. She’d been so sympathetic on the phone, so understanding of his disbelief, anger, and confusion. Her voice alone had soothed him.
    But after giving in to his need to hear her voice, he couldn’t find her.
    Dread pounded his stomach as he nodded. “She agreed to meet me at the park at nine. I waited an hour, but she never showed. On my way to her house, Dad found me and dragged me home and . . .” He let out a sick sigh of worry. “I tried to call Tara all night. She didn’t answer or show up for class this morning.” Logan crushed the heels of his hands into his eyes. “I’m so fucking afraid that I got her killed.”
    The bell ending third period sounded. He looked frantically for Tara in the crowding halls, but saw no sign of her. Panic nearly choked him.
    Damn it, why hadn’t he heeded the threat?
    Hunter frowned. “Given Mom’s brutal murder, if some asshole is threatening Tara, I’d take it seriously and walk away.”
    Do without Cherry? Tears stung Logan’s eyes. Until yesterday, he hadn’t cried about anything or anyone since he was nine. But he’d shed tears for Mom—and now for Tara.
    Maybe dealing with all the shock and death of the last twenty-four hours had changed him, but Logan feared that he couldn’t live without Tara Jacobs. And he couldn’t take another loss now, especially not hers.
    “But I love her.”
    Hunter’s face turned grim. “If that’s the case, then you’d rather see her alive, right?”
    God, what kind of question was that? Of course. But . . . Jesus. He hated this feeling of helplessness, of his entire life being ripped apart all at once and him being unable to stop it.
    With a clap on the back, Hunter said, “I get that this is hurting you, man. But better you hurt than her.”
    He’s right . Swallowing the feeling of sick dread roiling through him, Logan turned away, opened his locker. Relief poured over him to find a neatly folded piece of paper. Maybe Tara had been running late this morning to school and left a note. She’d done that once after a dentist appointment. God, let her be all right. With shaking hands, he tore into the white paper.
     
    You didn’t listen. Tara paid.
     
    Air left his body with a whoosh as if he’d been punched by a battering ram. Oh shit! He couldn ’t breathe, couldn’t blink. People moved in the halls around Logan, but for him, time stood still, while inside, he screamed a silent no!!!!
    Over his shoulder, Hunter read the note and cursed. “Whoever’s behind this is isn’t fucking around. They know who you are, where you live, and how you feel.”
    Every word of truth Hunter spoke stabbed him. What the fuck was he going to do? “Why her? What if she’s been killed?”
    “I don’t know. But if, by some chance, Tara is still alive,