I just managed to grab her by the upper arm when sirens in the distance drew our attention. I turned to see several black SUVs tearing down the tarmac.
Freezing with one hand still fisted, knuckles bloody, and the other gripping Bonnie’s arm in a vice grip, I waited, holding my breath, wondering if this cavalry was for me or her.
Bonnie laughed, and for a horrifying moment, I was sure these cars were her backup.
Her previously perfectly styled hair was a bird’s nest tangle, a set of fake lashes hung off one eye, and she’d lost at least three nails in the fight, but as the SUVs pulled to a stop, I could’ve sworn she was preening herself.
I couldn’t be sure what I looked like, but I had a feeling it wasn’t pretty. My ribs ached down my left side, my lips were split and bloody, and I wasn’t sure if the blood draining down my throat was coming from my mouth or my nose.
The first set of polished dress shoes hit the pavement, then another and another. The fourth pair of shoes weren’t dress shoes, but I’d recognize them anywhere. Agent Richards always wore the same black high-top converse, even when he was in a suit as he was now.
“You can let her go, Janson. We’ll take her from here.” Richards walked over, letting her go when he had his hands on her.
“How’d you find me?”
His lips barely curved up as close to a smile as I’d ever got from the man.
“You can thank your friend Veronica for that. Apparently, she wouldn’t stop calling the FBI.” He held Bonnie as another agent slapped cuffs on her. “Let’s get you to a safehouse and cleaned up, then we can talk about your reassignment.”
Wiping blood from my upper lip, I groaned at the pain of my broken nose.
“Wherever you send me, I’d like to be a librarian again.” It was a long shot, something I could hardly count on, but I doubted Richards would take me to see Veronica or let her see me at the safehouse, not after she was part of the reason Bonnie and her men found me in the first place.
But if she’d found me in a library once, I was hoping she could do it again.
17
VERONICA
Three months later…
“V, you can’t keep dwelling on this guy. Your FBI friend told you, under no uncertain terms, you were not to go looking for Archer again.”
Jared handed me a bottle of beer, and I took a swig before answering.
“I’m not looking, exactly. I just want to make sure he’s okay.” I looked up at my friend, closing my laptop slowly. “It was all my fault they found him. I should’ve never taken that job.”
Parsons never did wire the funds to my account, but even if he had, I wouldn’t have touched them. That was, as far as I was concerned, blood money—money I didn’t need on my hands. I hadn’t taken another bounty hunting job, either. Sure, it meant I spent a lot more time watching people tear up their own relationships rather than just come out and admit it wasn’t working anymore, but at least it paid the bills. In Chicago, there was always somebody cheating someone else.
“Tell me something, V. What’s so special about this guy, this case? You’ve had cases go sideways on you before, but they’ve never hit you like this. You’re obsessed.”
“Not so obsessed I haven’t been checking up on your prospects.” I changed the subject quickly off me and Archer. I couldn’t dwell on the fact he was gone, that I hadn’t even gotten to see him before they shipped him off to destinations unknown.
“You have to stop trying to date socialite bitches. First off, you’re way better than that, and they’re a waste of your time. And second, if you keep trying to date them, they’re going to keep trying to take advantage of you. I’m not letting your whole life’s work go to shit because you don’t want to keep it in your pants.”
“Nice try, V, but we’re not talking about me or my prospects. There hasn’t been anyone in months, anyway.” He took a swig of his beer and grinned. “I think you loved him.”
Shaking my head, I turned away from my friend and stared out over the Chicago skyline. His office had one of the best views in the city, and tonight was one of the many he’d worked too late and almost blown off our plans.
“Love isn’t a real thing, Jare. It’s not about mushy, gushy feelings and romance. Archer’s a good man, someone who doesn’t deserve the hand life dealt him. I want to make sure he’s settled in again, that my mistake didn’t completely derail his future.”
Jared shook his head as if he knew everything I was saying was bullshit. And okay, yeah, it probably was, but I still didn’t believe in love or happily ever afters. I still didn’t believe there was just one person in the world for each of us.
But if there was, I was pretty sure Archer was mine, and I’d ruined everything, letting him be abducted by that bitch of a crime lord.
I’d replayed the events in my head, over and over, scrubbed all my devices, all my clothing, searching for the reason Parsons had found me. Nothing made sense. There were no bugs, no trackers, nothing that should’ve led him to me or to Archer.
If I hadn’t left him alone that morning, if I hadn’t wanted clean clothes more than his safety, he’d still be in Jubilee Falls. Maybe I could have seen him once in a while, still talk to him.
Instead, all I had were bugged recordings of his voice, of moments when we were in the library together. Moments where he was entertaining groups of kids with his storytelling. Moments that weren’t spoken, exactly, but the sounds brought back vivid memories all the same.
My body craved Archer Janson. Maybe, even if I wouldn’t admit it to Jared, my heart did too.
“Can’t you call Leo, get an update? I’m sure after your tips helped the FBI to recover their asset, the least they could do would be to let you know he’s okay.”
“Leo Myers said in no uncertain terms, unless I was engaged in an FBI operation where they needed my assistance, I wasn’t to call him and demand information. Apparently, I burned that bridge this time.” I sighed. “He’ll come back around, he always does, but until then, he doesn’t want to hear from me. So, I’m giving him some space. For now.”
Jared wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close.
“It’s okay you like this guy, V. The world’s not going to stop spinning on its axis just because you found someone who made you happy.”
“That’s just it, Jare. How do I know it was him who made me happy? We started… I can’t even call it a relationship; it wasn’t, not really. It was all just a house of lies—one lie on top of another. You don’t build a relationship on that because then the only thing you have left is stories you have to keep straight.”
“Look, I know I’m not exactly the best example when it comes to healthy relationships, but I do know a couple things. The fact you’re still thinking about him, three months later, even though you have no way of getting in contact with him, no way of finding him says something. It might not be something you want to hear or something you’re ready to believe in, but you have to admit, there’s something more here than just lies.”
“What if there is? What am I supposed to do, Jared?”
“If only you knew the best P.I. in Chicago who can find anyone…” He smirked. “I can give you her card if you want.”
I shoved him playfully, then finished off my beer.
“You really think I should find him?”
“When has the government telling you ‘no’ ever stopped you? What’s the worst thing that happens if you try?”
I get my heart broken all over again because I can’t find him. Or maybe worse than that, I find him, and he wants nothing to do with me.
“I guess I’ll find out.”
Jared and I had another round, falling into the comfortable habits of two best friends hanging out together, and by the time I left his office, I had some ideas where to start my search again to find him for real.
It took almost a month between my current caseload and the layers of extra protection they piled on Archer’s new persona.
&n
bsp; Isaac Stephens, a librarian in a small town outside of Los Angeles, California, just started at the public library in town about three months ago. He had almost no internet presence, just enough to make people believe he’d been around for a while. All the photos of him on social media were a little fuzzy, a little hard to read. Just what someone would want to keep a private investigator’s searches from pinging in on it.
But there was no doubt in my mind—Isaac Stephens was Archer Janson.
First thing I did was email Jared. I doubted he’d answer, but I had one more thing on my plate I had to take care of before I booked a flight and headed to southern California. I knew he hated when I spied on the women he dated, but I couldn’t help myself. People lied, hid who they really were, their real motives, and I wasn’t going to let my best friend get his heart trampled by some dumb socialite who was only after his money. Once the potentially offensive email was sent, I arranged my flight to L.A. and started packing.
I had no idea if Archer would even want to see me. I could’ve got him killed. From the little I’d managed to get out of Leo, that wasn’t far off.
If he did want to see me, what then? It wasn’t like I could ask him to move to Chicago with me—WITSEC would never allow it—but could I move to southern California? Start over in a new city, basically with a new identity, on the chance I could make a relationship work with a guy who only knew me as a liar and a threat to his safety?
Shaking my head, I threw what I thought I’d need in my go-bag. If things sucked, or Archer didn’t want anything to do with me, I could be back on a plane in a day or two at most, and I’d never have to think about Archer Janson again.
This library was bigger than the one in Jubilee Falls, not by much but enough I wondered if Archer would be hard to find.
Isaac.
I had to remember to call him the right name. There was no telling who might be listening, and I didn’t want to take any more chances with his life. Even if it killed me, I’d learn to call him the right name.
If he wanted to see me.
I followed a group of giggling teenagers into the library, covertly checking out the circulation desk as I let them draw attention away from me.
No Isaac.
Breaking off from the group, I wandered through the sections, stopping at the end of every aisle to peer around it before I kept moving.
“Can I help you find something, Miss?”
Archer’s voice. The sound I’d been so excited and so scared to hear.
Right behind me.
I turned around, meeting his eyes. My heart slammed against my chest waiting for the rejection, the fury, or possibly even the dreaded indifference. “Actually, I’m looking for something pretty specific. See, I found it at this library in a little town in Nebraska, and well, it changed my outlook on a lot of things. I didn’t get to finish what I started, so I’m hoping to find it here. See if it’s as good as I remember.”
I couldn’t read his expression, but his eyes held mine.
“I see. Do you remember the title?”
“I think they changed it.” I chewed my lower lip, trying to ignore the pounding in my chest. If possible, he’d only got more attractive in the few months since I’d seen him. The southern California sun was clearly doing him some good. “But I’d really like to start over, give it another chance. That is, if it’s still available.”
His lips twitched. “And what genre are you looking for?”
“Romance. Definitely. The steamy kind,” I smirked at him. “I like it hot. And tattoos are definitely a plus.”
“Let me just show you to that section, and we’ll see if we can’t find the naked man chest you’re looking for.” He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in close before whispering, “I hoped you’d find me.”
“You did?” I leaned into him, letting out a sigh of relief.
“V, I asked to be put into another library job because it was the only way, hopefully, I could give you a clue of how to find me. These last few months without you have been worse than anything Bonnie Macchio or her goons could’ve done to me.” He pulled me into the stacks, wrapping his arms around me tighter. “You’re really here.”
“I think chapter one needs to start with a kiss.”
“Maybe we need to skip ahead a few chapters.” He looked up and down the aisle of books, then pressed his lips to mine, his hands sliding down over my ass as his tongue slid over my lower lip.
I moaned as he pulled me in tight and broke the kiss to groan out, “When do you get off?”
“If I do it right, after you do.” He grinned. “The library closes at six. Stick around?”
“I’m not going anywhere. Not until we have a chance to talk.” I licked my lips. “And maybe a few other things.”
Archer pulled me in again for another kiss before he pulled back and took a couple of steps away, putting distance between us. Based on the look in his eyes, he clearly had more in mind. I couldn’t blame him. It felt like every inch of my body was on fire, and all we’d done was kiss.
I should’ve waited closer to closing time. Maybe then it wouldn’t be so long before I could have his arms wrapped around me again.
“Come see me when you’re slow? I’ve got my laptop. I can get some work done while I wait.” Okay, I doubted I’d have any luck focusing on anything for the next few hours, but he didn’t need to know that, right?
Archer smirked. “As you wish.”
I watched him walk away, trying to see any sign he didn’t mean the kisses the way they felt. Or signs there was lasting damage from letting him be abducted. There was a slight new bend in his nose, but otherwise, he seemed okay.
I needed him to be okay.
Two minutes before six, another librarian came by to let me know it was closing.
“Oh, I know. I’m actually sticking around to talk with Isaac.”
“You’re the girl.” She smiled. “He’s been smiling for hours. I had to ask him what was up.”
“Really?” I could feel a hint of heat flushing my cheeks.
“Stick around. He’ll be done in a few minutes.”
I closed my computer and got everything situated. My stomach was in knots, twisting and turning as I waited for Archer.
“Hey, V.” He came around the corner, holding a bottle of wine and two glasses. “Why don’t we find somewhere more comfortable?”
“Drinking in the library? You’ve grown rebellious in this new personality.” I got up, and he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me in close.
“Maybe, but if I remember right, you didn’t mind a little romance in the library.” He kissed me before leading me through the stacks into an open area. The floor had a blanket and some pillows laid out and a basket not too different from the one he’d packed for our picnic in Jubilee.
“Archer, what is this?” I looked up at him, surprised. “When did you have time to do this?”
“The other librarians helped me out. They let me take off early so I could get a few things together.” He set the wine down, then reached for my hands. “It didn’t take much convincing when I told them the woman I love had come to find me, and I needed to try to convince you to stay.”
“Love?” My heart pounded in my chest, and it felt like my stomach dropped all the way to my toes. “Even after everything?”
He kissed my forehead, then pulled me in close, holding me to his chest.
“Veronica, you made me feel alive again when you showed up in Jubilee Falls. You gave me more purpose than only survival, something I’d forgotten I needed. I wouldn’t change what happened between us for the world.” He pulled back slightly and looked down at me. “I didn’t realize it until you showed up here. There’s been an ache in my chest, a hole I couldn’t shake until you walked through those doors. I love you, Veronica Neptune, and I don’t care if you don’t feel the same way or if you can’t say it yet. I didn’t want another day to go by without you hearing those words. Without being able to say them.”
“Stay with me. At least for a while. We can talk to Agent Richards, find out how to handle this.” He smirked slightly. “He’s not going to be happy you found me again, but I really don’t give a shit. If there’s one person I trust to have my back, to always find me when no one else should be able to, it’s you.”
“I couldn’t find you when you were taken.”
“Didn’t they tell you? You were the reason they showed up when they did. Your call to another agent put them on the alert and Richards had already moved into town without telling me. They were keeping tabs on Bonnie but lost her for a little bit. They showed up just in time. You saved me that day, V.”
I gripped the front of his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss. I couldn’t say the words yet, wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to. The concept of loving someone so much, they trusted me with their life was still so foreign, but I needed him to know how I felt—how glad I was he was okay, that he was here, that he still cared about me. I poured everything I could into the kiss, sealing my lips to his as my body molded against his, each of his hard lines pressed against my soft curves.
When Archer pulled back, he groaned. “Jesus, V, you really know how to make me hard with just a kiss, don’t you?”
“Will whatever you have packed in the picnic keep?” I smirked.
“If not, I’ll take you out to dinner after.” His hands slid down my ass, gripping it hard enough to lift me off my feet. I wrapped my legs around his waist and tangled my fingers into his hair as I kissed him again. It was everything I’d been missing and so much more.
Archer slowly lowered us down onto the blankets. We tugged at each other’s clothes, stripping completely naked. He pulled a condom out of the pocket of his jeans and looked at me with hunger in his eyes.
Lip Locked in the Library Page 14
