After the fall of the Valdez cartel, Logan and Elsa finally had a moment to breathe. But they both knew their journey was far from over.
---
Logan drove Elsa to the secluded garage where he had hidden his prized Corvette Stingray.
As the tarp was pulled away, Elsa let out a low whistle. "Damn. This is yours?"
Logan smirked. "Yeah. My dad told me to take it when I started this mission. Thought it'd be useful."
She ran her fingers over the sleek body of the car. "You've got good taste."
Logan leaned against the Stingray, his expression turning serious. "Salvador only sees me as a tool. He used me to take down the Valdez cartel,but I'm not a fool who's just gonna keep following orders.
Elsa met his gaze. "And you're planning on going solo, being the go-to guy"
"Yeah," Logan said, his voice calm but firm. "This was just the first step."
She nodded. "Then I'm with you. I don't have anywhere else to go. You're the only one who's ever been real with me, Logan. I'll follow you to the end of the world if I have to."
For the first time in a long time, Logan felt something he hadn't allowed himself to—trust.
---
They arrived at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Unlike how it appeared on the outside, the interior was renovated—reinforced walls, hidden compartments, and enough supplies to disappear for months if needed.
Elsa took a look around, impressed. "You did this while we were on that trip?"
Logan shrugged. "Needed a fallback plan."
They unloaded the cash and weapons they had taken from the Valdez cartel, securing them in warehouse.
Elsa sat on a crate and crossed her legs. "We're gonna need a team, you know. We can't do this alone."
"I know," Logan agreed. "But for now, this will be our safe haven."
After securing everything, Logan left his Honda Dominator behind, swapping it for the Stingray. As he slid into the driver's seat, Elsa hopped in beside him.
"Let's go see how Salvador reacts to my return," Logan muttered as he started the engine.
---
A week had passed since the Valdez cartel crumbled, and word had already spread throughout the underworld. Logan Holt's name carried weight now—not just as a mercenary but as the man who orchestrated the downfall of an entire cartel.
As he and Elsa entered Salvador's compound, all eyes were on them.
The upper echelons of the cartel, Salvador, Julian, Manny, and Logan's father, George, were all gathered. They had seen Elsa briefly during the video call a month ago, but seeing her in person was something else entirely.
A woman with her presence, her aura—it was clear she wasn't just some ordinary girl.
Julian, always the flirt, leaned back with a smirk. "Logan, my guy. You never told me your partner was this gorgeous."
Elsa, unimpressed, grabbed Logan's hand and leaned in slightly. "I'm good, thanks," she said, shutting Julian down instantly.
Julian chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender. "Fair enough."
Amara, Salvador's daughter, watched from a distance, her expression unreadable. She had expected Logan to return alone. Maybe she had even hoped for it. But seeing him with Elsa sparked something in her—a mix of jealousy and curiosity.
Logan kept things direct. He faced Salvador and spoke clearly. "I just came to report in. If you need me, I'll be around."
Salvador studied him for a moment before nodding. "You did well, Logan. We'll be in touch."
With that, Logan and Elsa turned and walked out.
---
Logan had planned ahead. Weeks before the fall of the Valdez, he had rented an apartment in the city.
As they entered their new home, Elsa looked around, nodding in approval. "Not bad."
Logan locked the door behind them. "We'll lay low for now. But soon, we make our next move."
Elsa smirked. "Sounds like a plan."
And with that, they settled in, preparing for whatever came next.
The day after their return to the city, Logan received a call from his father, George. Expecting it to be about their next move against Salvador, he was caught off guard by what his father actually said.
"You need to finish your education," George said flatly.
Logan frowned, holding the phone to his ear. "I don't need to waste time on that. I can just take the exams while being homeschooled."
George sighed. "That's not the point. You need to be around people your age, socialize, maybe even make some friends."
Logan leaned against the kitchen counter, rubbing his temples. "You do realize I spent the past six months taking down a cartel, right? I don't exactly fit in with normal students."
His father ignored his protest. "I've already registered you at the academy. Your uniform and supplies are ready. It's just for a term—take the final exams, get your certificate, and then you can return to your mercenary work."
Logan exhaled slowly. There was no point in arguing. His father had already made up his mind.
"And Elsa?" Logan asked.
"She can pick you up after classes. I doubt you'll have any trouble getting to school, but it wouldn't hurt to have her around," George replied.
Logan ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Fine. I'll do it."
---
Later that night, Logan sat across from Elsa in their apartment, arms crossed. "I have to attend an academy," he said, unamused.
Elsa blinked, then smirked. "You? In a school? That's rich."
He scowled. "Not funny."
She leaned back on the couch, stretching. "I mean, it makes sense. You're still technically a kid, even if you've been running around killing cartel members."
Logan ignored her teasing. "It's just for a term. I'll get it over with quickly."
Elsa chuckled. "I graduated early and got my certificate, so I won't have to suffer through that. But don't worry, I'll be around if you need me."
She shot him a playful grin. "And of course, I'll be picking you up after classes. Try not to get into too much trouble."
Logan exhaled. This wasn't part of the plan, but if it was just a term, he could manage.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with."