Archer

by Debra Kayn

  “It’s pink and has ladybugs,” he said.

  “Big whoop.” She scrunched her nose, swearing she’d buy a new bedspread to replace the one she had since junior high. “Bluff likes it.”

  “Bluff likes sleeping on my chest.”

  That was true. Earlier this morning before the alarm went off, she’d lain there looking at Kage. She’d pretended to sleep, because it was comfortable curled against him with her head on his shoulder. She warmed. She also hadn’t missed Bluff curled in her own cozy spot on Kage’s bare skin. Or how Kage’s hand lay on Bluff’s back, periodically rubbing her fur throughout the night.

  “Yeah, you’re not so badass scary when you’re cuddling a kitty, Archer.” She smiled.

  “I don’t cuddle.” She heard the laughter in his voice. “Five minutes. Weight room.”

  He disconnected the call. She shook her head. Obviously saying goodbye before hanging up was a waste of his time as well.

  She pushed the speaker button off. The phone rang again, same line, and she picked the handset up this time. “Give me a break, Kage. It’s been ten seconds.”

  “Thought you could outsmart me by taking me all across the fucking United States chasing you down? You thought wrong, bitch,” Scott said.

  Her heart raced and she couldn’t move. “I left you, Scott. Leave me alone and move on.”

  “It’ll never be over between us.” His voice rose. “You’re mine. You won’t exist without—”

  She slammed the phone down as her brother rushed into the room, skidding to a stop. She stared at him, wide-eyed, hoping he’d tell her it was a prank call and that was not her ex-boyfriend threatening her.

  Garrett reached for her. “Next time keep him on the line as long as you can.”

  She’d expected Scott to contact her. Not one day went by that the fear of him coming to get her wasn’t a real threat. Her body tingled, and her breath came too quickly. It had been three weeks without any sign of him contacting, except on the other line. She’d hoped he’d given up.

  “What happens now?” She clung to his shirt.

  “One step at a time. We let him make a move or get reckless. Whatever he decides to do, we’ll be one step ahead of him. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” He stroked her back. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “He knows where I am now. He’ll come for me.”

  “That’s why we wanted you working during the day, while we’re here.” Garrett kissed her forehead. “Nothing is going to happen to you. You have to trust me.”

  She leaned against the desk. Her legs trembled, and she stared at the floor. She’d been down this road before. Her plans never worked out the way she expected. “I don’t want him to come.”

  “I know you don’t, sis. But this has got to end.”

  She hung her head. “I doubt if he’ll be alone.”

  “I know that too.”

  “I need to get out of here.” She grabbed her purse out of the desk. “I want to go home. I’ll go to Kage’s. Anywhere. I just need to get out of here before he shows up.”

  “Okay. Kage will take you home. He’s in the weight room. I’ll walk you there.” Garrett put his arm around her. “It’ll be all right, sis. We’ve got your back.”

  “Nothing about this is all right. It’s especially wrong, because it now involves you, Kage, and the others. I wish I never came—”

  “Will you knock it off?” Garrett held her shoulders and peered down at her. “What is wrong with you? I’m the first person you should run to when you need help. Instead, you’ve been trying to handle everything yourself, so tell me…what’s wrong with me that you couldn’t trust your own brother to keep you safe?”

  She shook her head. “I do trust you. I just don’t trust Scott.”

  “Shit,” he muttered. “That attitude is going to stop right now. He has no power over you.”

  But, as she knew better than anyone, Scott still controlled her. No one could see how much was at stake. If Scott came and threatened all the people she loved, she’d go with him in a heartbeat to keep them safe. Scott wanted her and would do anything to get her. The thought scared her to death. Deep in her soul, she knew Kage, Garrett, Lance, and Tony would not let him touch her, but that didn’t mean nothing bad would happen. She couldn’t chance losing another person in her life.

  Garrett walked her down the hallway, through the door into the extension he’d added last year to handle agency business. He’d given her the quick tour when she’d arrived home, but she hadn’t set foot in this part of the building since.

  Each of the boys had his own office, along with a lunchroom slash conference area, a weight room, and a fancy bathroom that beat the one-stall, unisex washroom used in the body and paint area. The control room, which looked like a smaller version of what she imagined NASA had, and two holding rooms completed the area.

  For the first time, it dawned on her that investigations were their main business. She looked at Garrett. “Why do you continue to keep working on cars if this is what you love to do?”

  Garrett paused outside the weight room. “It relaxes me. After a stressful day, there’s nothing like zoning out spray-painting a panel or hammering the wrinkles out of a bent-up fender.” His smile fell. “And all of this is part of who Dad was. I don’t want to lose him.”

  She understood, more than he probably realized. She kept the memories of her dad alive in her head. She wasn’t strong enough to deal with his loss.

  As Garrett led her into the weight room, Jane couldn’t help staring. No, what she did was ogle.

  Kage hung upside down on a bench, his feet secured under a padded bar, doing sit-ups. Light-headed at the bulked-and-beautiful sight of him, she could only focus on the ripple of his abs.

  Garrett chuckled. “I’m out of here. See you tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, okay…” She nodded, not taking her gaze off Kage.

  “Stick with him, sis.” Garrett kissed the side of her head before crossing the room to talk quietly with Kage and then leaving.

  Kage detached himself from the apparatus, performing a neat flip to land on his feet. He snatched a towel off a nearby weight bench and wiped his face, draping the cloth around his neck. She gulped as he approached. The air seemed to disappear and her head got fuzzy.

  He frowned. “You okay? You’re not looking so well.”

  Of course she didn’t. Her ex-boyfriend’s phone call had freaked her out. Eight hours behind a desk, shut in a room with no windows, and the first beautiful thing she sees today was Kage in a pair of loose-fitting shorts, hanging off his hips, covered in sweat. Of course she looked rattled.

  Any woman would find herself entranced and drooling. She lifted her hand to her mouth. Her fingers came away dry. Oh, thank God.

  “You’re the shit.” The moment her opinion slipped through her lips, she wanted to take it back.

  He smiled. Not a half grin, but an all-white-teeth spectacular aimed at her. A rock-her-world kind of smile. She groaned. No wonder he worked out; he had to carry around his big ego.

  “Yeah?” He moved in closer, now wearing his teasing face.

  “Oh yeah, totally hot,” she whispered.

  She could handle his angry face, even his scary face, but when he let it all fall away and acted like he did before her life had taken a downturn, he made her remember how she used to feel before Scott. She flinched and stepped away. “So, are you ready to go? I’m ready. We can go to your house.”

  His face got serious. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “I’m fine. Let’s go.” She turned around, because one more glimpse at his glistening body would send her into a full-blown panic.

  He’d told her the next move was on her. If she wanted him, she’d have to show him. Right now, she could show him that and more.

  “Let me grab a quick shower.” He turned and deliberately held her gaze. “That phone call is a good thing. It might not seem like it, but the more we know, the better we can work this
guy.”

  How could they all believe drawing Scott closer to her would be beneficial? The object was to stay far away from him. She wasn’t going back. Scott needed time to understand she was serious.

  “Come on, I’ll take you to Lance while I wash up.” He motioned for her to follow him out.

  “I’ll stay in here and wait.” She needed time to calm down, and she couldn’t do that with one of the guys always around.

  “Not happening.” He shook his head. “You can’t be alone right now. The phone call from Carson is proof of that. Without a trace on the call, we have no idea how close he is. He could be anywhere. You’re safe inside this building, but I want you used to having someone around constantly.”

  “I get it, but I’m already protected here,” she said.

  “You are not protected without someone with you. I don’t care if you’re in the building. You’re certainly not okay if I think you’re about to faint and you’re alone. If I’m not with you, someone else I trust will be.”

  She lifted her purse, dug inside, wrapped her fingers around the handle of the pistol, and pulled it out. “I can protect myself.”

  He took a step back. His hands went to his sides. “What the hell are you doing?”

  She waved the gun in his direction. “I’ve done okay on my own, and I can take care of myself and Bluff. I’ve been doing it for the last three weeks. Even if Scott gets near me, I can use this.”

  “Jesus, woman.” Kage reached out, pushed her hand to the side away from him, and locked down on her wrist, prying the pistol out of her grip with the other hand. “No guns.”

  “Give it back.” She put her hand out. “It’s mine.”

  He twirled the chamber, peered inside, and cussed under his breath as he removed all the bullets. “The safety wasn’t even on. You could’ve shot yourself or me.”

  “W-what?” She shook her head, stepping away. “Kage, I wouldn’t have shot you,” she barely whispered. “I’ve shot a pistol before with Dad and Garrett.”

  “Pointing a gun at my chest isn’t the way to show me that, baby.” He inhaled deeply. “No guns. You hear me?”

  She crossed her arms. To survive Scott, she needed that weapon. “I don’t see what the big deal is. I’ve seen you carry a gun.”

  “That’s different. I have a permit and I’m allowed to carry.” He frowned. “How the hell did you get this?”

  “Stole it from Scott,” she mumbled.

  He stepped back, letting her go. His hands went to his head and he clamped his lips shut. She glanced away, expecting him to blow.

  “You can’t keep this kind of information to yourself if we’re going to help you get this guy.” He shook his head. “I don’t know whether to laugh, because that’s something the old Janie would do, or worry about you.”

  “Sorry.” She chewed the inside of her lip.

  “We’ll talk when we get home.” He pointed toward the door. “Let’s go find Lance.”

  She led the way. Her purse strap slid off her shoulder, a lot lighter than when the purse had held the gun. She glanced behind her at Kage when she reached the control room door. “Can I have it back?”

  He shook his head, grinning his sexy half smile. “No guns.”

  She turned around, sighed, and pushed through the door. She was tired of everyone telling her what to do. Somehow, she’d have to find another gun. She’d be ready when Scott came for her.

  Chapter Five

  Garrett shut the door of his Barracuda and strode toward the porch of Kage’s house. Kage walked down the two steps and met him in the driveway. A quick glance showed the pistol in Garrett’s shoulder holster and the firm grip on his emotions over Jane’s situation.

  “Hey.” Garrett stopped and looked toward the house. “I got your message. Janie okay?”

  Kage nodded. “If marathon baking means she’s handling everything okay, then yeah, she’s hanging in there.”

  “Shit.” Garrett rubbed the back of his neck. “I wish that bastard would hurry up and show his face. It’s killing me to wait around and see Janie beating herself up. I had no fucking clue what he was doing to her, or I would’ve removed her from Scott’s clutches and made sure he never raised a hand to anyone else again.”

  Scott Carson would come soon enough. Kage stared out across the land. He couldn’t picture any man walking away from Jane and being happy about it. Add in the fact that Jane was a liability to Carson’s freedom since she knew more about his drug dealing than she let Carson know about; it was only a matter of time before the bastard showed his face.

  “We all watched her pull away from us and didn’t do a damn thing about it,” Kage said.

  “You don’t think that bothers me?” Garrett cussed. “I think about it every second of the day.”

  “Guilt lies on my shoulders too.” Kage glanced at him. “I believed her when I asked at your dad’s funeral if she was happy. I thought it was the emotions of the day that put the sadness in her eyes. I even gave her my number, hoping she’d get to Pullman and realize she wanted to come back to Bay City. I should’ve said more and told her I wanted her here.”

  Silence stretched between them. Garrett was the one friend who understood him. He couldn’t count how many times they’d sat outside in the dark, drinking a beer, maybe sharing ten words apiece and being okay with each other’s company. They survived without all the bullshit most people needed in their lives.

  He gave the Beaumonts credit for their constant support and their willingness to let him hang out at their house for helping him achieve what he’d accomplished in his life. Even Pop, Garrett’s dad, had spent time with him when he lived with his foster parents, directing him on the correct path in life, showing him skills in the garage, and giving him a purpose. Kage never talked about how much their closeness meant to him, but he had a feeling they knew.

  He had Garrett’s back, and Garrett had his. Their friendship went back to when he was six years old and met on the playground. From then on, it was him, Garrett, Lance, and Tony. None of the guys cared if he came to school and fell asleep at his desk because his mom was strung out and kept him up all night or his dad had runners knocking on the door at all hours.

  When he was older, they never questioned him why they never hung out at his house. He glanced behind him at the ranch-style home that’d seen better days and a lot of bad news. Not much had changed. The place still needed paint, and the yard was overgrown.

  He’d heard the talk in town. People wondered why he’d chosen to move back to the house where his mother died. It was good to remember where he came from. It reminded him of where he needed to continue heading in his life.

  “What’s your plan, Kage?” Garrett faced him.

  Yeah, Garrett knew him too well without him even saying a word.

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “We’re hitting dead ends. All background checks have fallen off the radar. We can assume Carson’s going by an alias, but so far Janie hasn’t given us anything else to investigate. There’s no record of him. He hasn’t even had a fucking speeding ticket within the six states we’ve gone through, but that may be because his hired men clean his past for him.”

  Garrett stepped over and leaned against the quarter panel of his car. “We’ve got surveillance up at the garage, my house, and your house. Legally, we can’t go any further. We’re screwed until he comes out into the open. All we can do is wait.”

  Kage met his gaze. “We both know that’s not true.”

  “No! You’re not going there. We can handle it on our own.” Garrett’s fist came down on the hood. “Sister or not, I’m not willing to lose you in the process, and the moment you even contact your uncle, he’ll use whatever he has available to bring you into the underground. We can wait. Janie’s safe at the moment.”

  Kage shook his head. “At the moment, but what about tomorrow or next week? How long are you going to allow her to jump every time one of us comes into the room? She’s in the house, making more food tha
n we can eat in six months, pretending to have everything under control. But we both know she doesn’t. She’s broken, and I want her back.”

  Garrett ran his hands through his hair. “Hell…what am I supposed to do?”

  “Back me up with Lance and Tony if I contact my uncle.” Kage swallowed down the bile. “We’ve exhausted all other avenues, but Janie’s told us that Carson is dealing drugs. Darrell would know exactly who he is and where I can find him.”

  Garrett turned around, planted his palms on the car, and hung his head. “He’ll pull a marker on you. If he lets you walk away, you’ll live the rest of your life wondering when he’s going to call you and demand you repay him.”

  “Hell, I already do. You know that, man,” he said.

  What Garrett didn’t know was that Kage wasn’t powerless. If push came to shove, he had one card that trumped anything his uncle could do to him, and he was going to rely on that insurance. He’d held on to the one thing that’d save him from going into business with his uncle since he was twelve years old.

  “Promise me you won’t make contact without letting me know first.” Garrett raised his gaze, and Kage recognized the same stubbornness set in his mouth as he saw on Jane when she grew angry. “Give me the chance to talk you out of ruining your life.”

  “It’s for your sister,” he said, reminding Garrett of why they were having this conversation.

  He’d always refused to talk about his and Jane’s relationship with Garrett, even though all the guys at the garage knew where he stood. He’d never acted on his feelings, and had kept Jane from ruining her life by setting her sights on him. But that was in the past. He’d sorted his life out and was ready to prove that he could take care of her.

  “She’s got feelings for you, you know.” Garrett spoke softly. “I remember her throwing herself at you in high school. Hell, she still looks at you and loses herself.”

  “Yeah.” He leaned against the car next to Garrett. “I do want you to know I’d never hurt her, and I’d kill anyone who harms one beautiful hair on her head.”