Here With Me (The Archer Brothers #1)

by Heidi McLaughlin

  “I think about it,” Frannie says. “I see lights shining through our bedroom window at night and wonder if someone is going to knock on the door.” River reaches for her hand to comfort her. “During the day, I’m constantly looking over my shoulder and brushing off people who ask questions about your return. I don’t trust them.”

  “Neither do my parents,” Rask adds.

  “How’d your meeting go?” Evan asks him, reminding me that Rask met with his parents while Evan and I were at his mom’s. I should’ve waited to take Evan home so we could stay and support Rask. That was a very selfish move on my part.

  Rask shrugs and kicks some sand around. “My mom…” he shakes his head before covering his face. “She doesn’t believe. Says I’m an imposter, a clone. She’s convinced that I’m not her son and that hers was buried a long time ago. It didn’t matter what I said to her, or how many memories I recounted, she wouldn’t budge. I tried to hug her, but she recoiled and hid behind my dad.

  “He didn’t say anything either. I finally gave up and left. I couldn’t sit there and watch them shun me over something I had no control over.”

  I cover my mouth and hold back a sob for Rask. “I’m so sorry, Justin.” Frannie reaches over and grabs his hand, but he lets go quickly.

  “Today’s Claire’s birthday. She’s nine and I’m not there to celebrate with her,” McCoy says somberly.

  “Do you have any leads?” River asks, but McCoy shakes his head.

  “I have nothing. Claire isn’t enrolled in school anywhere under her name. Penni isn’t working and if she is, it’s under a different social security number. I’m starting to think they’re dead, and I just don’t want to believe that they don’t exist. Why would Penni need to hide? None of it makes sense.”

  The mood quickly turns somber after McCoy’s declaration. He stares at the fire, his eyes glazed over. I can’t help but feel sorry for starting this conversation, but it’s been weighing on my mind.

  “Penni never came around after the funeral. I went over a couple of times, just like I did to check on Ryley, but no one answered. About a week after, people were there cleaning out the house and there was no sign of her or Claire. I asked, but was told they didn’t know anything. I wish I remember the name on the side of the truck.”

  McCoy’s head pops up. “Do you think you can remember if you saw pictures?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.”

  Frannie and River answer at the same time. She looks at him questioningly, but his eyes are focused on McCoy.

  “Ryley has brought up what we’ve all been thinking. We were dropped on an airfield and our CO is conveniently missing. Her mom has been snooping around, but isn’t ready to break into anything, and your wife and daughter are missing, McCoy. I think it’s all related, and I don’t want Frannie involved until she has to be. She and Ryley, they need to stay as far away from this as possible.”

  “But if I can help,” Frannie pleads with River. He shakes his head firmly.

  “No, Fran. I don’t want you involved. When you finally fall asleep at night, I’m awake and sitting in the chair watching for shadows with my gun locked and loaded and my knife hidden underneath the chair cushion. Ryley is the only one brave enough to mention what she’s thinking, but the truth is, I’ve been thinking it too.”

  Evan stiffens beside me and I try to ease the tension in his arm to no avail.

  “We need to check in with each other daily, no excuses,” River says and the guys all agree.

  “Ryley and I need to leave,” Evan says abruptly and I know better to question his decision. I get up and hug Frannie, promising to call her in the morning and she says the same thing. We’re going to follow what River says because we know it’ll give him and Evan peace of mind. Plus, we’ll leave a trace.

  Evan grabs my hand and pulls me through the sand and into the parking lot. I have to jog to keep up and once we’re in the car, I lock us in. He’s speeds out of the parking lot, and heads toward home. After five minutes of silence I can’t take it anymore.

  “Talk to me, Archer.” I use his last name to get a rise out of him. I’ve never really called him that except when we’re fooling around. I know he likes it, but right now I just want his attention on me.

  “I’m concerned, Ry. River and I… we were discussing this earlier and the fact that you brought it up, means others are likely thinking the same thing. I don’t like it.”

  I run my hand up and down his arm until he links his fingers with mine. “I don’t either. I want to get home to EJ,” I say, getting the reaction I’m looking for as Evan pushes down on the accelerator, breaking the speed limit.

  The usual fifteen-minute drive takes us about eight. We’re both out of the car and by each other’s sides as quickly as we can be. When we get inside, relief washes over me as I find EJ snuggled up to my dad’s side. Both of them are sound asleep. My dad is snoring so loudly I don’t know how EJ is sleeping.

  “Take EJ upstairs. I need to talk to your dad.” I know better than to argue, and I carefully remove EJ from under my dad’s arm. He grumbles, but wakes quickly and helps me lift EJ into my arms. I’m halfway upstairs when I hear the quiet whispers of Evan and my dad.

  I could stay on the stairs and listen, but the truth of the matter is that I’m scared of what I brought up this evening. I wish I were the only one who felt this way. I’d feel more secure knowing it’s just me being paranoid. But the fact that Frannie has been having these feelings scares me. Not to mention the fact that Penni and Claire seem to have disappeared and the way Rask’s parents reacted.

  If they’re trying to scare us into compliance, it’s working.

  Whoever they are.

  The next two things I hear are the front door shutting and the telltale sign of a gun being loaded. My SEAL is back.

  AS SOON AS JENSEN’S in his car and driving down the street, I call for Deefur, step back into the house and lock the door. Blinds are pulled and windows checked. I open the closet door, pull out my black case and carry it to the couch. Ryley’s upstairs putting EJ to bed and as soon as she’s done I’ll be doing a sweep of the house. Deefur follows me, keeping on my heels. I wish I hadn’t missed the time he was growing up. I wanted to train him to protect Ryley. That’s why I bought him. I wanted her to feel safe and never have to worry. It’s in a dog’s nature to protect his master, and I want to make sure he knows just how valuable her life is to me.

  I look over my gun and make sure everything checks out before I load the bullets. I know Ryley can hear the gun when I move a bullet into the chamber. I’m okay with that as long as she knows she’s safe. I told Jensen about our suspicions, and he’s going to see if he can get Carole to back off a bit before anyone catches wind of what she’s doing. The last thing I want is for her to be in the middle of a hot bed of issues that she can’t escape. We need to find the pilot from the C-130 we traveled on and see if we can get him to talk. If we can, I think we’ll start uncovering a lot.

  Ryley comes down the stairs in a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. My eyes immediately fall onto her breasts, and I wish they hadn’t. I swallow hard and set my gun down, hoping she’ll grace me with her presence.

  “Do you remember how to shoot?” I ask her, thinking back to the many hours we spent at the shooting range.

  “I do,” she says as she sits next to me. “My gun is upstairs. It’s sitting on my bed.”

  I nod and kiss her briefly before getting up and taking the steps two at a time. She knows where I’m going and knows what to expect. Ryley knows I’m going to keep her and EJ safe. They’ll have to shoot me in the head before they get to my family.

  After I check her gun over, making sure it’s loaded and ready, I click the safety on and set it in her beside drawer. I notice that there are two pictures on her table. One is of her, Nate and me. The other is of her and EJ. It gives me hope that she has either put the photos of Nate away or she never had any. It’s the small things that are allowing me to
look forward to the next day.

  When I get back downstairs, Ryley is curled up and asleep on the couch. My options are limited, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to carry her upstairs when I can sit next to her all night. I gently lay a blanket over her and watch her snuggle into the sofa. I could sit across from her – this view gives me excellent view of the front door – but I don’t need it. I know we’re being overly paranoid, but we all have too much at stake to not have our senses heightened and make sure we’re prepared. I take the open space next to her, with my back to the wall. It’s the best vantage point for me and if by chance something happens, I know Ryley can shoot a gun.

  I slide my knife under the couch and settle in next to Ryley, picking up her feet to rest them in my lap and turn on the television. I’m far too wired to even think about sleep. In fact, it’s the last thing I want to do. I really should go to the gym and take out my aggression on the bag, but I’m not leaving Ryley and EJ alone if I can help it. I’m going to have to talk to Ry about her daily schedule and find out when she’s going back to work. Hell, I need to find out if I’m still being paid.

  Flipping through the channels, I decide to watch the U.S.A. Summer basketball game. It’s annoying to see these professional athletes getting all the attention when it should be the college kids. These guys make too much money for a lack of effort. At least when the college guys are playing, they’re playing to make a difference, not a paycheck. I keep the volume low so I can hear the noises from outside. The house creaks, just as it does every night. Deefur lies at my feet, his ears perking with every noise. I like that. I like knowing that he’s alert.

  Ryley rolls over and looks at me. She’s only been asleep for an hour and it’s not even late. It’s just emotionally and physically exhausting talking about the shit that’s going on in our lives. I don’t blame her for needing a catnap. I’d love to lie down next to her, but tonight’s one of those nights where I’m going to stay awake just to see what’s going on outside. I’m not expecting much, but that doesn’t mean I’m letting my guard down.

  The shit McCoy’s going through scares me. His wife is gone and there’s no trace of where she is. That shit is messed up and I can’t even imagine what the hell he’s feeling. Hell, I don’t even know how he’s functioning right now, but he is. I can tell you this, whoever is behind us being dead for six years better hope they take care of themselves because we’ll be coming for them and it won’t be pretty. McCoy is a torture specialist and the rest of us just might forget about ethics.

  I startle when my cheek is slapped. I jump, causing EJ to laugh. I look at my watch and back at my son who is staring at me. He looks so much like I did when I was his age, but with Ryley’s hair color. Ryley is still asleep next to me and the TV is showing some infomercial. I can’t believe I fell asleep. My subconscious could be telling me that we’re safe, but I’m not sure I’m buying it. I look at my watch and see that it’s just after four a.m. and he shouldn’t be awake right now.

  I put my fingers to my lips, letting him know that he needs to be quiet. Quickly glancing at Ryley, I make sure she’s still sleeping and pull EJ up onto the couch. I have to bite the inside of my cheek when he snuggles into my side. I’ve dreamed of moments like this with my wife on one side and my son on the other. The wife part I’m working on, but having my son in my arms is the most surreal feeling I’ve ever experienced.

  Flipping the channel to a cartoon, I lean back and bring EJ closer to me. He sets his head on my chest, pulling his blanket closer. I had one when I was his age right up until I started school. I used to carry it everywhere. My dad hated it, but I didn’t care. My blanket was my buddy and was the only one I could confide in.

  I maneuver EJ as he haphazardly lies across my lap. This position allows me to run my fingers through his hair. I have so much to make up for and starting this morning, we’re going to do some family things and maybe even Dad and EJ stuff. I’m not expecting an overnight adjustment, but I need to be in his life almost twenty-four seven because I’m his dad, regardless of how things have been the past few years.

  The day Ryley told me she was pregnant I wanted to kick my own ass for not asking her to marry me the moment she told me she was ready to start a family. I’m such a pig-headed machismo that all I thought about was knocking her up. I never thought about how they wouldn’t be taken care of if I were to die – which apparently I did – which also means that someone received my financial payout, and I have a feeling I know who did.

  ‘I love you,’ she says as her hand slips into mine. I turn my head, the grass we’re laying in poking me in my ear and eye. She laughs and it’s the most magical sound I’ve ever heard.

  ‘I love you, Ryley.’ Men don’t understand the importance of telling their girls that they love them and not saying ‘I love you, too’. Adding that extra word almost takes away from the meaning, like it’s a reflex reaction. It’s not the same, at least not for me. She needs to know that I love her as much, if not more and her saying it first doesn’t diminish that for me.

  Ryley rests her head on my shoulder and tickles me along my waistband. Her fingers brush along my boxers and in and out of the fine hairs on my stomach. It’s a good thing my hands are behind my head or I’d be moving her hand over the top of my shorts.

  ‘I’m pregnant, Evan.’

  I don’t have to ask her to repeat herself. I heard her loud and clear. I roll onto my side, taking her with me so I can look into her eyes.

  ‘Tell me again,’ I say because I so want to hear those words come off her sweet lips.

  ‘I’m pregnant.’ Her face lights up with so much magic, it’s hard for me to contain my own smile. I move in quickly, bringing her lips to mine and rolling her on top of me.

  ‘Are you happy?’ I ask, thinking I already know her answer.

  ‘I’m so happy, Evan. We’re going to have a family.’

  ‘Do you want a boy or girl?’

  She laughs. ‘I think a boy.’

  I raise my eyebrow at her. ‘Really? I thought you’d be all over having a little girl running around.’

  ‘Not with you as her dad and Nate as her uncle. The poor girl would never be able to date. No, I think I want a happy, healthy boy who looks like his daddy so when you’re not home I still have my Evan with me.’

  ‘I’m just happy that you’re pregnant, Ry. Our lives are almost complete.’

  ‘You make me complete, Evan. I don’t need a child to feel that way, I just need you.’

  ‘God, I love you, Ryley. We should get married.’

  She sits up partially and eyes me. ‘I’m not marrying you, Evan Archer.’

  I sit up, holding her to me. I love that her legs wrap around my waist. Placing one hand on her stomach and the other on her cheek, I kiss her softly. ‘You’re my life, Ryley. I want nothing more than to marry you, and we should’ve done it back when you turned eighteen. So, I’m asking you now. Ryley Clarke, will you do me the honor being my wife?’

  ‘Yes… yes, I will.’

  I jump and my skin begins to tingle when a loud thunking echoes outside the house. I shake Ryley with my fingers to my lips. She startles and looks around until she focuses on me. I motion for her to take EJ upstairs. I don’t have to tell her what to do. She knows.

  As soon as he’s off my lap, I pull my gun out from under the couch and move toward the door. I keep the blinds closed and listen for footsteps. They’re walking up the stairs and on the porch. The last thing I want to do is hurt someone with my son just upstairs, but those bastards have it coming.

  The screen door opens; the small squeak is everyone’s worst enemy. I turn the handle slowly and peak outside. Their back is to me and at my advantage.

  “Who the fuck are you?” I say, with the barrel of my gun pressing against their skull. “Turn around slowly or it’s lights out.”

  Their hands go up slowly and they turn.

  I drop my gun instantly. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  “Mo
m kicked me out when I sided with you. I need a place to stay.”

  I shake my head and pull Livvie into my arms. “I almost ended your life. You might want to try and call first.”

  She shrugs. “I would, but you don’t have a cell phone and Ryley and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms.”

  Picking up her luggage, I motion for her to go inside. “If you’re staying here, you better fix shit with Ryley.”

  Livvie nods. “I will, I promise.”

  MY BEDROOM LIGHT IS OFF, and I crack open the door so I can hear what’s going on downstairs. I keep my hand over my mouth so I don’t make a sound. EJ is sound asleep in my bed, spread out and taking up as much space as possible. My eyes close when I hear Evan’s gun cock. I don’t know who’s outside, but I feel sorry for them. My father has always said never come between a man and his family because you’ll never win.

  Footsteps on the stairs and down the hall cause me to move away from the door. I stand, with my back facing EJ. My legs are spread at equal width and my arms are raised. The Glock is at my ready and aimed at my door.

  “Ryley,” Evan opens my door slowly, his hand coming in first before he pushes the door open. He stands in the doorway with his hands up, his gun in his waistband. “You can put your gun down.” Tears fill my eyes as he moves closer. By the time he places his hand on the top of my gun. I’m shaking.

  “Come on, babe, lower your gun.” He pushes it down gently. “I know you’re scared and I am too, but I can guarantee you no one will ever hurt you or EJ.”

  “Wh—what’s going on?”

  Evan takes the gun from my hand and disarms it, setting it back in my drawer. “Livvie is downstairs. My mom kicked her out and she needs a place to stay. She said she would’ve called, but I don’t have a phone and you guys aren’t friendly.”