GUNSIGHT

Present

.

“You thought I was having SEX?”

Julian winced at Derek’s highly indignant yell and he replaced the phone to his other ear, sighing as he stared out of the kitchen window. “D, I thought—”

“You thought I was having sex? While you were almost killed? What the hell do you think of me, Julian!”

Julian could imagine his incredulous expression and how he would gesture wildly, almost like he wanted to push his own thoughts through the air, right into the actor’s head. Nevertheless, his heart warmed hearing that Derek—in fact—did not have sex while there was a crazy shooter on the loose. But still…

“I just—you sent me a text! Why would you sent me a t—”

“Saying I was with two ladies, yes! Carmen and your mom! Jesus Christ!”

Julian’s eyes widened and he grabbed the edge of the kitchen counter with one hand, his teeth crashing together when his breath escaped him in an oddly cat-like hiss. “What did you do?”

“What the fuck do you think I was doing? Cleaning up your mess, of course! Seriously Jules, sometimes I feel like I’m your fucking babysitter or something.”

“What did you say to them?”

“They were worried sick about you, idiot! It’s all over the tabloids—you almost being shot, how the freaking asshole is still wandering somewhere, searching for another opportunity. Some magazines even say you were killed! And guess which one your mom read first.”

“Oh shit.”

“Yeah—I’d say!” Derek exhaled sharply as he tried to calm himself. “But it’s kind of okay now, I guess. I went to both your parents and explained things, then Carmen called me, because you didn’t pick up your phone, and I explained things to her. And now everyone’s still freaking worried and you should really contact them.”

Julian closed his eyes and shook his head, feeling absolutely and utterly hopeless.

“I can’t believe this is happening again,” his voice cracked at the end of the sentence and he hated it. He covered his eyes with one hand as he leaned back against the counter, feeling tired and drained.

Derek’s voice was a lot softer and a lot gentler when he spoke next. “How are you holding up, Jules? Is Lo still with you?”

“I’m holding up just fine. I mean, someone trying to kill me, it’s happening on a regular basis right?” he laughed nervously, pushing back some dark strands of hair.

He wished he could walk away from all of this.

“And Logan’s still here. Still not remembering, as oblivious as always, moody as always—but at least he’s still here.”

Derek sighed into the phone, his breath deep, shaky… heavy with the weight of the world. “Okay. Just… tell him to stay there with you, okay?”

“What? I’m not going to ask him to stay with me, Derek. I’m not nine. Also, if he wants to go, he goes. It’s Logan we’re talking about here.”

“Fine. I’ll call him. Just… Just stay there, I’m coming okay?”

“…okay. Where are you now?”

“Driving back from your mom. And Carmen said she’d come today too, so she should be there any minute.”

Julian nodded, even though Derek couldn’t see it. “And my parents?”

“I think you should call your parents.”

The actor frowned and his eyes glinted for a moment as his stomach churned uncomfortably. “They aren’t coming?”

“They want to, they just don’t know if you want them to come. So you should call them, stay right there in your apartment with Lo, and wait for Carmen and me to be there. Get it?”

“Again, Derek, I’m not nine. I get it. Call, don’t move, stay.”

“Okay then. See you in a few hours. And Jules?”

“Yeah?”

“Watch out, okay?”

“Yeah yeah—always. Bye, D.”

“Bye, Jules.”

Past

.

It didn’t get better.

Julian never expected for it to get better the minute he left Dalton—but at least after a few weeks… months… maybe even years… he’d really expected that he’d forgotten about Logan Wright by then.

But now… four years later… and everything was still the same.

Logan still haunted his nightmares, the image of him still smirking and snapping and singing in Julian’s mind—creating breaches into his heart as usual, storming through his thoughts as usual, creating havoc and chaos as usual… He had never really left.

The young actor was desperately searching for distractions—picking the boys and girls up at bars, or taking them home after events… he didn’t really care anymore. As long as the paparazzi didn’t get to hear or see anything, he was practically fine with anything. Everything to forget that endlessly aching feeling in his heart and stomach.

On one day, when he was signing posters, cards, and DVDs for fans that were lined up in a long, enthusiastic queue—he met Adam Clavell. Both 19, young, and passionate—they got along right away. Julian smiled and winked and rambled about loving his fans—and Adam swooned and positively gloated in the attention of the famous actor.

Julian knew right away he wanted him as a distraction—not really caring if that was selfish. Adam was sweet, kind, loving, devoted… and he seemed to adore Julian in every possible way, doing everything for him without hesitation.

It had been storming that day—the day they’d first met—and Adam Clavell had come to the event without scanning the weather-forecasts, with as a result that he wasn’t clad properly for the biting cold. He wasn’t with a car either, and he’d been thrown out of the bus because it was too full already with all of Julian Larson’s fans. The bus-driver had been agitated and angry, irritated with the actor for creating such a fuzz and chaos—and Adam had defended the actor passionately, even insulted the bus-driver for his shallow mind. The bus-driver had closed the doors without another word.

And that’s how Adam Clavell found himself standing on the side of the road, without a coat and an umbrella, the rain pouring down on him like there was no tomorrow. He’d already felt miserable and ashamed for that sudden declaration to the actor—“I love you” how could he have been so stupid?—and those feelings seemed to have multiplied in the soaking downpour, making him feel alone and depressed and completely hopeless.

“Adam Clavell…?”

Adam’s head whipped around so fast, it was a miracle it was still standing on his neck. His eyes went wide when he recognized that voice even before their eyes locked, and his breath hitched in his throat when he realized that his idol was staring right at him.

The boy had been so lost in his own world, that he hadn’t even noticed the shiny black limousine pulling up right next to him. Julian Larson was peering out of a half-closed window—his eyes warm and amused, his ever-existing smile as catty and beautiful as ever.

“What the hell are you doing in the rain dressed like that?” the actor continued when he didn’t get a response, casually gesturing at Adam’s thin clothes. He cocked an eyebrow questioningly, urging the other boy to speak.

“I… I just… The bus-driver… He threw me out…”

Julian raised his eyebrows and laughed heartily. Adam’s heart leaped, his body temperature rising as he blushed in delight, and he didn’t think he’d ever heard a more beautiful sound in the world. This made everything okay—the cold, the rain, the loneliness… this made everything okay…

“What in the world did you do that he’d throw you out?” Julian grinned and he shook his head. “You know what?” The window closed and Adam’s heart sunk—just to jump up immediately when the door opened. “Come in. My driver will bring you home. He’s a way better driver than that idiot of the bus anyway.” Again, one brown eye disappeared behind a quick wink and Adam’s heart was so high in his throat that he couldn’t even respond, his eyes so wide that they were about to pop out, his body so numb that he couldn’t even move…

He didn’t know how, but suddenly he was in the car—everything dry and warm and… and… those warm brown eyes stared right at him, a welcoming smile right under slightly flushed cheeks, smiling at him… and even though his parents had funded this whole trip—Adam couldn’t remember the last time anyone had been this nice to him.

“T-thank you…” he stumbled breathlessly, still unable to believe this was happening to him.

Julian Larson merely nodded and leaned back in the comfortable couches, the fingers of his right hand playing absentmindedly with a pair of sunglasses, his eyes getting dreamy and far-away as he continued to stare at the boy opposite of him.

He was kind of pretty. Not like the boys Julian usually went for… but do-able.

Cocking his head, the actor slid the tip of one of the arms of his sunglasses between his lips and nibbled softly on it—completely lost in his thoughts and completely unaware of the effects this sight had on his guest.

He was definitely do-able. The way Adam’s cheeks flushed just the right way, the way his eyes were huge in awe and admiration—he could live with that for a couple of days… maybe even weeks…

He had to be just as old as him. Maybe a year older or younger.

Definitely do-able.

Adam’s eyes got even wider and his lips parted a bit so his breaths could escape through them in rough, hasty puffs. The way Julian was looking at him and the way he was making out with his freakingsunglasses at the same time—it was both magical and extremely, agonizingly hot…

What the hell is happening?

But suddenly the magical moment was over and the actor had lost that dreamy look—a veil of determination now set in his expression—and he leaned towards the boy with obvious interest. “Where do you live, Adam?” his voice was soft, husky, his lips pulled up in a crooked smirk.

Adam Clavell left the limousine with the phone-number of the actor in his back-pocket and millions—no, bazillions—butterflies in his stomach, lifting it up to his heart, cramming both organs in his throat and he wanted to scream of happiness and love and elation, but he couldn’t, because he was numb and his throat was filled with his heart and stomach and a love so deep it clouded his mind and made him unable to remember his own name.

They started seeing each other regularly after that—in the beginning once a week, later even more often—and every single time they met, Adam brought a red rose with him, smiling each time Julian rolled his eyes at it and accepted it reluctantly.

Present

.

Logan snapped his phone shut with a sharp huff, annoyed with Derek for telling him to stay here—as if he’d leave with Clavell breathing in his neck—annoyed with Larson for being still alive, annoyed with himself for missing the freaking shot and finally, annoyed with Clavell for being the unbelievable asshole that he was.

From where he stood by the window—that was still cracked and broken from the bullet—he could see the old building from where he’d missed the shot. A sharp pang flew through his heart, and he could feel the anger boil up all over again. Exhaling sharply, he turned around, wandering through the room and heading to the kitchen.

When he arrived there and stepped through the doorway—his eyes widened and his hands twitched as if they wanted to grab something, all his anger and annoyance gone in a heartbeat and replaced by an undeniably odd frustration.

There, leaning against the counter, brown eyes staring at something only they could see, the sleeves of his shirt casually rolled up till his elbows—was Julian Larson. His mouth was perfectly molded around a red lollipop—pink lips moving over the smooth surface murderously slowly, his pink tongue flicking out to lick the sweet candy almost tentatively.

Logan opened and closed his mouth a few times, but he was unable to say anything, his green gaze completely transfixed on the brunet, knowing that he’d remember this image forever. He stood there for a while, just quietly watching—but when Julian began to move the freaking lollipop in and out of his mouth, his lips starting to get red, sucking and nibbling and licking—he lost all composure.

“What are you doing?” he asked loudly, huge green eyes still fixed motionlessly on the actor’s lips and tongue.

The lollipop popped from between Julian’s lips as he startled violently—jumping up in the air and wheeling around to face Logan, eyes huge and scared, breaths small gasps as he almost choked on it.

“Logan—don’t you fucking creep up on me like that!” he hissed, clutching his chest with one hand as he tried to control his breathing.

The blond shifted uneasily when Julian pushed the lollipop back in his mouth violently, his cheeks hollowing out when he sucked on it—brown eyes locked furiously, almost defiantly, on Logan. It looked like he freaking starred in a porn-movie… and Logan couldn’t will himself to look away.

“I just…” the sniper licked his lips, eyes following every movement of the lollipop, but more interestingly, those luscious lips that were perfectly shaped to fit around the candy… Julian closed his eyes, leaning back against the counter with a sigh, and Logan shook his head in an attempt to control his thoughts again. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, just… go away,” the actor waved his free hand dismissively, expression disdainful as he glowered at the blond.

“But… you’re…” sexually harassing the fucking candy, Larson, “…what are you doing?”

“I just called my parents, and now I’m eating a lollipop—can you please go now? Are you enough informed about my whereabouts and activities? Go—I’m still mad at you.”

Logan tilted his head and chuckled in honest disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Julian narrowed his eyes, his full lips pouting as the lollipop was pulled from between them. He pointed the candy to the blond, gaze still as annoyed as ever. “You need to go now. I’m not kidding. Leave me alone.”

Logan was about to answer that with a scathing reply, because he, too, was still mad, and he wanted him to know that, and he didn’t want to leave this room, with the lollipop and the actor and the lips—but then a sharp, intense ringing sound echoed through the apartment and one of Julian’s mouth corners quirked up hearing it.

“That’s probably Carmen.”

The blond raised an eyebrow, eyes sliding over to the lollipop and those lips that were talking against it.

“Can you get it?” Julian inquired, not really asking with how demanding his tone was.

Logan scoffed. “Why don’t you get it?”

“You work for me. I want you out of my neighborhood. You get it,” Julian snapped, finally having enough. “Now.”

Logan narrowed his eyes, fingers lightly trailing over his gun. It didn’t go unseen by Julian, and the brunet’s eyes were on fire as they seemed to burn holes in Logan’s face.

“You touch that gun one more time around me and you’re fired. I don’t fucking care anymore.”

But Logan didn’t move, merely narrowed his eyes in a silent fury. The sniper’s fingers were clenched tightly around the weapon, every movement followed closely by wide, sepia eyes—and the blond was going to pull it out, cock it, and shoot a bullet right through the actor’s head, weren’t it for the second ring that pierced through the air like nails on a chalkboard. Concentration lost, Logan spat a curse and turned around roughly, stalking to the door with a vehement expression.

The lollipop had fallen to the ground, and Julian stared after Logan with wide eyes, his breathing fast and shallow, because that look in those green eyes just now… it had frightened him the exact same way Adam’s expression had frightened him all those years ago.

Past

.

Derek and Adam couldn’t stand each other. It went so deep, that Julian couldn’t trust them to be civilized when left alone together. Derek would glare at Adam with so much distrust and so much dislike, and Adam would stare right back, dark eyes narrowed and blazing with an insane anger and a hatred that Julian didn’t understand.

He talked about it, with Derek, with Adam—but it didn’t help much.

Derek would just cross his arms and turn to the actor with fire in his eyes and his cheeks flushed in heated anger.

“I don’t like the way he looks at you, Jules.”

Julian raised an eyebrow and glanced at Adam, back on the table in the restaurant, staring at the two friends with jealousy gleaming in his eyes.

“The way he looks at me?” Julian repeated incredulously. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You know what I mean,” Derek’s eyes flickered from the strange boy to his best friend, and he tugged on the actor’s sleeve, pulling him around the corner, obscuring them from view, ensuring that Adam’s creepy stare wouldn’t be following them any longer.

“No, I don’t,” Julian stubbornly replied and he yanked his sleeve free from his friend’s grasp, almost falling backwards against the wall when he did.

Derek pressed his lips together in annoyance and leaned towards his friend, his voice a hiss, his words fast and sharp. “He looks at you like you’re something to eat, Julian. He looks at you the way lions look at their prey, he looks at you like—you remember that movie we watched last week? About psychopaths? He looks at you like one.”

“What?” Julian stared at Derek with open mouth and wide eyes, wondering if his friend had finally gone insane. He raked a hand through his hair and shook his head with a small chortle. “You’re crazy, D. It finally happened.”

Derek grabbed Julian’s shoulders firmly and squeezed hard, forcing his friend to look at him. “Julian—listen to me. I don’t like him, I don’t trust him—”

“I get that…” Julian mumbled as his eyes raked over the athlete with a curious expression.

“Shut up for a moment! Just—don’t… Just be careful, okay? If you have to spend time with him, be careful. I don’t trust him one bit.”

Julian swatted Derek’s hands away impatiently, and shrugged. “Fine, fine—I’ll be careful… you crazy person…”

Derek whacked Julian’s head—not hard, but not soft either—making oak-colored hair fly everywhere. “I’m not crazy, moron.”

Julian rolled his eyes, hands coming up to fix his hair, and he smirked when he replied. “Sure you’re not, Derek. ‘He looks at you like lions look at their prey’—get a grip,” he snickered, not seeing Derek’s uneasy expression when he turned around. “I’m pretty sure he’s alright and that he’s not going to eat me. Or whatever,” he snorted.

“Are you in love with him?”

Julian came to a halt immediately and he wheeled around, eyes wide and flashing, his lips parted to let a sharp breath pass, and he gazed at Derek in utter disbelief. “What?”

“Well? Are you?”

The actor scrunched up his face in disgust, and he glanced at Adam quickly before speaking. “No! Look at him! He’s not even my type. He’s cute… but that’s about everything.”

“Ah,” Derek exclaimed, rolling his eyes to the ceiling before they glared back at Julian. “So, you’re using him?”

“No! Derek—no. I’m not using him. I’m not in love with him. He’s just a friend, okay?”

“A friend who has been having dinner with you at your parent’s, a friend who, suddenly, is having dinner with us?”

Julian fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. “So, okay… maybe I can’t really get rid of him… and maybe he’s a bit of a fanboy…”

“A bit?”

“Okay, okay—a lot, maybe… but nothing’s wrong with that, right?”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “Nothing’s wrong with that?”

“Stop repeating everything I say!”

“Julian—just think. Why would you want a fanboy as friend, that’s crap and you know it! Please tell me you’re not doing it just to get admired—because I might have to strangle you if that’s the reason you keep him around.”

The actor’s glare was murderous. “I’m not keeping him around to be admired, you idiot. He’s actually nice to me. And he’s sweet…”

“Julian—”

Julian sighed and turned around, stopping dead when he saw at least five cameras pointed at them. He cursed softly and reached out to grab Derek’s hand. “Come on, we’d better get back to our table, before they think we’re having another lover’s quarrel.”

“Like the last time?”

“Like the last time.”

Derek chuckled, but as they walked back to the table, he frowned in concern. “Aren’t you just a little bit desperate, Jules?”

Julian shook his head and without looking up, he answered dryly. “It’s surprisingly pleasant to be looked at like I’m worth it—instead of being the one who looks like that to someone who doesn’t even know it.”

“…Logan?”

Julian nodded once—shortly and resolutely. “Yeah.”

Derek sighed, and reached up to ruffle Julian’s hair. Julian smacked his arm away with a scowl and a flaming insult, but the athlete merely laughed at him and flicked his ear teasingly. “Just watch out, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah—always.”

Adam’s eyes were smoldering when the two best friends settled back in their seats on the table, and he was observing them quietly while they bickered back and forth, feeling the third wheel, feeling alone, feeling betrayed because his precious time alone with Julian was being stolen from him.

And then, somehow, in the middle of a conversation about movies—Adam suddenly spoke up, wide eyes glued on Julian’s face, lips turned up in a dreamy smile, speaking words that made Derek laugh and retch at the same time.

“—you’re so beautiful…”

Julian nearly choked on his drink, and Derek had to cover his mouth with his hand in order not to spit out his food. The actor’s cheeks flushed a bit when he smiled his cheshire-cat grin. “Ah well…”

Derek kicked him under the table, almost choking in an attempt to hold in his laughter. “Don’t be shy, Jules…”

Adam gave Derek a cold glare that went unnoticed to the two friends, and turned around to Julian, eyes all huge and admiring again.

“And so talented and you’re just… you’re just unreal—”

“Adam, I know,” Julian started, what earned him a hit on his shoulder by a snorting Derek, “but you’re exag—”

“You’re like a dream coming true.”

Julian raised his eyebrows and leaned back in his seat, wide eyes staring at Adam in surprise. Next to him, Derek put his fork and knife down on his plate and crossed his arms, sharp eyes examining Adam cautiously while he awaited an answer from Julian. Finally, the actor put his drink down slowly, and when he looked up, his eyes were narrowed and a catty smile was playing around his lips.

“Don’t exaggerate, Adam,” his lashes threw long shadows over his cheeks as he looked down. “I’m very unlike a dream coming true.”

Adam smiled—a soft, sad, gentle smile—and he leaned forward, Derek absolutely forgotten as his eyes twinkled in a mesmerizing manner. “You’re my dream coming true…”

There was an uncomfortable silence for a while—Adam staring at Julian in obvious awe, Julian staring anywhere except at his stricken fanboy.

After a few minutes, Derek coughed and nudged his friend roughly, gaining back his attention. “So… what was this new movie of yours, Jules?”

Adam scowled and glared daggers at him, reluctantly leaning back in his seat again.

But where Adam’s mood dwindled down—Julian seemed to light up with this question and his gestures were wild and enthusiastic as he told his friends the plot line.

“It’s going to be a huge movie, it’s going to be groundbreaking, I promise you. I can’t tell you too much—but it’s about this teenage couple that’s going to marry because she got pregnant unexpectedly. They offered me the part of the lead teen,” his smile was brilliant and his eyes were like stars as he continued. “It’s going to be absolutely genius, the director—he’s one of the best there is. This is going to dowonders for my career—you have no idea.”

Derek smiled warmly at him. “Congrats, Jules.”

Adam stared at the actor, food disregarded and forgotten as he stayed silent and listened to Julian chatter excitably about the amazing line-up and the famous director. Julian didn’t pay much attention, but Derek did noticed how Adam’s fingers dug in his own arms, he saw how the boy’s lips pulled down in a disapproving grimace, and he saw the fierce obsession flicker in his dark eyes.

Unconsciously, Derek scooted closer to Julian, eyes fixed on the strange boy. He’d have to watch out for this one.

Present

.

Still annoyed, Logan walked to the door of the apartment, grumbling a curse when another, impatient ring stabbed in his ears. The sound stopped abruptly when he yanked the door open—just like Logan’s breathing.

Staring right at him, were three men—three policemen.

Police.

What?

Police?

The assassin tried to control his growing panic—having absolutely no intention to be sent to jail for his many crimes—and he was already surreptitiously searching for escape-routes throughout the apartment. There was the window that led directly to the fire-escape, there was the window in the kitchen, but that would mean a fall of three floors… There was also his gun of course. His hand snaked their way to his hips, fingers resting lightly on the cool, familiar metal.

If the three policemen noticed the movement, they didn’t let it filter through their expressions, though. They casually strolled in the apartment without an invitation, one of them taking the lead and introducing themselves.

“We’re here to investigate the murder-attempt on Mr. Larson—could you be so kind to show us the scene where it happened, Mr…?”

Logan narrowed his eyes in confusion and cocked his head, purposefully ignoring the inquiry of his name. “Who called you?”

“Mr. Larson, of course,” the biggest man grumbled, crossing his arms just as his partners finally spotted the ruined window and walked to it.

The sniper raised his eyebrows. “He did?”

“Yes, of course,” the man smirked.

“Can I see your badges?” Logan asked suspiciously, holding up his hand in a silent demand. The policeman merely grinned as he reached in his pocket and took out his badge. Logan examined it carefully, looking for any flaws, but it seemed alright. He gave it back with a short nod.

“Well, I’ll tell Mr. Larson you’re here then.”

Julian was still in the kitchen, sitting on a chair and staring at the clock with a small frown.

“The police is here,” Logan said casually, walking in the kitchen with a tight expression. “Examining the murder-attempt.”

Julian jumped hearing his voice and he closed his eyes to gain control over himself. “Can you please knock before you enter a room? Damn it.” But his frown deepened and he looked away from the clock, sepia stare landing on the blond’s face. “But, what did you say?”

The blond sighed and rubbed his eyes wearily. “The police. They’re here to investigate the matter where you were almost killed. I do hope it didn’t slip your mind, Larson.”

The actor scowled. “I remember what happened, Majesty. But what the hell is the police doing here?”

“Examining the damn window, and the wall with the bullet,” Logan said, smirking when he remembered he took the bullet out yesterday.

Julian glanced at the clock. “Carmen should’ve been here hours ago,” he muttered, looking very much like a spoiled child with the way he pouted and looked longingly at the time. He faced Logan next. “I didn’t call any police. I didn’t want them involved. So send them out again, please.”

Logan’s eyes widened and he cooled down till the bone. “You didn’t call the police?”

“No. So I have no idea why they are fucking here. And where the hell is Carmen?” Julian jumped up from his chair and stalked out of the kitchen, brushing passed Logan and into the living room where the policemen were crouched down next to the window.

“Okay—out,” he demanded, gesturing to the door with one hand, the other firmly planted on his hip. “I didn’t call you, I don’t need you, I’ll solve this all on my own. Okay? Now, there’s the door,go.”

The three men looked up, carrying scathing expressions and a furious glint in their eyes. Logan—who’d followed the actor to the living room—felt another cold shiver ran over his spine, and his suspicion and wariness grew with every second. He grabbed Julian’s shoulder and steered him back to the kitchen.

“Excuse me, men,” he called to the three strangers. “I’m going to talk some sense into the diva, okay?”

Something was wrong about those men.

Julian was angry when he let him go, and he wheeled around, swatting Logan’s hand away from his body.

“Don’t. Touch. Me,” he hissed through clenched teeth, and Logan had to repress a smile, because did he really think he was being intimidating? With the way the actor’s cheeks were flushed, and the way his hair was messed up from when he’d raked his hands through it too many times, and the way his eyes were sparkling up at the blond, and the way he sounded like an angry cat…

Logan sighed and glanced out the window, trying to control his thoughts before turning absolutely serious again. “Listen, Julian. Are you sure you didn’t call the police?”

“Yes. I’m absolutely sure. So tell me, Oh Tempestuous One, what the hell are they doing here?”

Closing his eyes for a brief moment, the sniper shook his head. If Julian didn’t call them… the police didn’t show up for the investigation of a murder-attempt with this little people. So, either the police had gone insane, or it wasn’t the police at all.

And Logan was willing to put all his money on the latter assumption.

He bit his lip and looked down at the seething actor. “I think I’m going to talk to them for a moment. You wait here, okay?”

Julian crossed his arms, eyes blazing as he actually stamped on the floor. “I’m not a freaking child, Logan! Tell me what’s going on!”

“Nothing is going on,” Logan rolled his eyes. “I’m just going to have a talk with them, it’s in my job description. You stay here.”

Julian’s eyes narrowed down to slits as he defiantly let himself fall back against the counter. His glare was on fire and absolutely, utterly ferocious. “I hate you.”

“Yeah, yeah—hate you too,” Logan sneered. “Now, stay here, don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

He walked out the kitchen, feeling the blazing, infuriated glare of the actor burn in his back, but he didn’t turn around. He made sure the door was closed securely before he turned around to face the three men. The corners of his mouth twitched up in a little smirk as he scanned their expressions—green gaze wary, sharp, and all-seeing as he spoke up.

“Well men—what can I do for you?”