Chapter 74

AUBREY’S POV Logan held out the steaming cup of coffee with a teasing smile playing on his lips. "This is more of Caroline's thing," he said as he stepped into the room, "but let's be honest—she doesn't know Knox like I do." I accepted the coffee, its warmth seeping into my still-trembling hands. The rich aroma helped ground me, though my anger continued to simmer beneath the surface. "He had no right," I began, but Logan held up a hand. "Let go of the anger for a minute and listen," he said, settling into one of the armchairs. "Knox isn't trying to control you—he's trying to protect you." "I don't need his protection!" The words burst out of me. "I'm a warrior, Logan. A real one. Not some delicate flower that needs to be sheltered." Logan's expression turned serious, his usually playful demeanor falling away. "You don't understand where this is coming from, do you?" He leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "Knox's childhood... it wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy." I sank into the