by Dark, Raven
Her eyes widened.
Gwen looked up where her family sat. She could see her dad’s bald head over the crowd. “Listen, I’d better get up there.”
“You want me to go with you? At least until they see you?”
She gulped. Why was she shaking so hard? “You can’t. Chad.” She nodded across the room. Chad came out of the change room, walking toward the middle of the room. He nodded at Archer, waiting for his sensei. Chad’s eyes flicked to Gwen. He gave the smallest nod to her. Taking in their linked hands.
Some of the tension left her, but a glance up at her dad redoubled it. She returned Chad’s nod, hoping he could see her thanks in it. Archer glanced at her.
“Go.” She squeezed his hand, letting him know it was ok to leave her.
He squeezed back.
Gwen swallowed a deep breath and made her way up the benches to where her father sat. Tony walked over to the side of the benches and stood, somehow looking natural, like he was watching the whole dojo, not just her.
Gwen turned to her father. “Hi, Dad.”
The general looked at her, and his expressionless face grew harder. If he’d intended to say anything, he didn’t get the chance. Ace came over from somewhere and sat down beside him. His eyes flashed with the same biting anger she’d seen at Archer’s apartment.
“Gwen. Come here alone?”
What kind of a question was that? He knew she’d come here with Archer. But it was obvious, he was trying to force her to admit that in front of Dad.
“You know I didn’t. I—”
“Well, just pretend you did, okay? Use your common sense and humor me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Gwen.” Her father scowled. “Just this once, sit down and stop trying to put the attention on yourself. This day is important for Chad.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but instead looked around at the other families, sitting close enough to hear. On the main floor below, Archer was talking to Chad and the other students. Everything in her screamed to not let her father control her this way, like she always had. To change the balance of power here and now, but she couldn’t. She wouldn’t embarrass Chad.
Gwen turned and moved to sit on the bench beside Ace. Ace set his coat on the bench before she could lower herself, and gave her a pointed stare.
“Really? We’re going to do this now?” She sighed and steeped down to the next bench, sitting by herself. All this over her relationship with his best friend? What would he say to Archer when he saw him?
“It’s better you sit down there anyways. You’re gonna have company soon.”
“What?”
Before Ace could answer, Archer laughed at something Chad said, drawing her attention to the main floor.
“Hello, Gwen.”
The voice behind her made her jump. Breath that stank of sour milk swept down the back of her neck and she jerked around. “What…”
Her stomach dropped. Frank Rightworth smiled at her.
30
Here And Gone
As soon as she saw Frank, the urge to move away seized her. Irritation with Ace reared up and she glared over her shoulder at him. It didn’t take a genius to know what he was doing.
Ace turned and started talking to Mike and Joe, her two other brothers sitting with him. Gwen shook her head and forced herself to remain where she was.
“How are you, Gwen?” As he had the only other time she’d seen him, at that policeman’s ball, he sat too close, even though there was room for someone to sit on his other side. Worse, the same odd smell clung to him, something cloying and potent. Something she associated with an old basement, a smell used to cover unpleasant odors.
Gwen had no choice but to hold her breath in increments, lest she inhale too much of whatever it was. It already made her head pound.
Familiarity ate at her. She knew that smell from somewhere, but where? Her brain grew fuzzy, making the connection slip away even as it half formed.
“Is something wrong, Gwen?” Frank leaned too close. His breath fanned her face, too hot and rank.
She blinked, eyes watering. How the hell could fellow officers stand him? How did Ace sit with him on guy’s nights?
“It’s nothing. I’m just gonna kill Ace is all.”
“Why? What did he do? Want me to talk to him?”
She shook her head.
“Listen, I just wanted to thank you.” He put his hand on her leg. For some reason, though he barely touched her, she tensed.
“For what?” She leaned forward, trying not to look like she wanted to pass out.
“For spending time with me at the ball.”
She snapped her eyes up to his. His smile would have looked charming, but something felt off.
“You were the only girl at that thing that paid any attention to me.”
“That ball was eight months ago, Frank.”
Alarm bells rang in her head. Except when she tried to make sense of them, the thoughts slid away. Well, on the bright side, talking to Frank meant she didn’t have to talk to her dad. Or tell him about Archer yet.
She glanced over at Tony. He must have picked up on her distress, because he stepped toward her. Gwen gave a small shake of her head. He stepped back slowly. What would he do, arrest Frank for bad hygiene? Though he had no sense of personal space, he was otherwise harmless. Except…
“Um.” Frank paused awkwardly. “I need to ask you something.”
“Oh?” It came out much flatter than she wanted.
“Er… would you like to have dinner with me? After the test is over?”
Gwen shot a dark look at Ace, who leaned over just a little. “Sorry, can’t. There’s a party for Chad after.”
“Oh, right.” He stared at her with that intense look that had unnerved her at the ball. Leaning in with a hopeful look in his watery blue eyes.
He’s hoping I’ll invite him? Seriously? Damn it, Ace, you’re so dead.
When she didn’t, he cocked his head. “I suppose it might be too forward if I ask to come along?”
Gwen pressed her lips together to keep in a laugh. God, this was like a train wreck.
Well. Here was a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one mammoth stone. She squared her shoulders. No more hiding.
“Considering how my boyfriend would probably react. I’d say it’s not a smart move.” She looked up at her father, then Ace. Making sure they both heard her.
Whatever conversation her father had been having with Mike and Joe, the words must have been like a bomb going off in his ears. He halted and looked right at her. Ace fired her a scowl. Her heart sped up.
“You have a boyfriend? You never said you had anyone.” Frank’s voice sounded almost casual, except for the hint of a bite in it. And she was sure she saw him look at the main floor out of the corner of his eye.
Below, Archer finished testing Chad on his forms kata. Gwen hid her relief at the chance to focus on something else. Chad finished and bowed to Archer. Gwen clapped along with the others. Guilt for missing his kata ate at her.
Ace’s hand clamped her shoulder sharply. “Nice try, Gwen. We’ll talk later.”
She didn’t get time to say anything. Chad and Archer walked up the benches, and Archer tapped her playfully on the knee. She glanced at him, then back at her father, who beamed at Chad.
Tension coiled in Gwen’s muscles. This was the first time that, other than Ace, her family would see her and Archer as a couple. Every instinct in her screamed to push him away, to act casual, but she slapped it down. No more hiding.
Standing up, she hugged Chad, congratulating him on his kata. Then she turned to Archer.
“Having fun?” He slid his arm around her waist.
“Yes.” In the corner of her eye, Frank watched them much too closely, eyes locked on Archer like a hawk’s. “Sort of.”
“Sort of?” Then Chad’s eyes widened. “Frank? I didn’t see you there. Ace invited you, right?”
Frank
shrugged. Archer raised a brow at her. Noticing he’d been sitting close to her. She cleared her throat.
“Archer, this is Detective Frank Rightworth, a friend of Ace’s. Frank, this is my boyfriend, Archer Drake.”
Frank nodded, but it looked frosty. She glanced at her dad and Ace, both whom wore looks like she’d committed a great sin. Her other brothers looked between them, baffled.
“You’re joking, right?” Mike leaned on one thick arm. “Archer? You and her? Is this a joke?”
“You got a problem, Mike?” Archer growled. “Am I not good enough for her?”
Mike muttered under his breath.
“Not a joke.” Gwen forced her voice to remain even, letting her gaze include Mike and Joe. “We’ve been dating for a couple months now.”
Joe scoffed. “How?”
Anger rooted itself deep in her. It felt good to feel Archer’s arm tighten around her. He glared at Mike and Joe. Ace wouldn’t even look at him.
“We’ll talk about it later.” She turned to Chad. “So, what’s next for you?”
“Sensei? Weapons kata now, right?”
“Right, go on down.”
Chad nodded. “Nice to see you, Frank.”
Archer turned to her father. “If you guys won’t be needing Gwen for now, I’ll steal her away.”
The general widened his eyes. “Archer, not so fast, I won’t have this nonsense now—”
“Sir.” Archer cut him off and took Gwen’s hand, leading her down to the main floor.
Gwen’s father shot up on his seat and reached for her. She spun.
“Dad.” She made her voice hard. “Don’t.”
His eyes widened. Redness spread over his face and his big fists clenched.
“Gwen, get back here.” Ace didn’t shout, but he raised his voice high enough that several people turned and looked. She kept walking until she and Archer reached the main floor. Then she looked back up toward her family. Ace was leaning toward Frank.
“You okay?” Archer squeezed her hand.
“Yeah, thanks. I don’t want to deal with them right now.”
“Sure. What’s with that Frank, guy?” His gaze turned toward the benches again, sweeping over them.
“Long story.” She set her hands on his chest, grinning at the possessive light in his eyes. “Why? Jealous?”
“Of course. Did he smell weird?”
“Yep.”
He motioned toward a bench. “Sit here?”
She nodded, lowered herself down beside where Chad and Archer had set their bags. Archer bent and his lips claimed hers in a quick kiss. Heat flared across her cheeks. She glanced around at several people watching them.
“Archer, people saw that.”
“You got a problem with that?”
“Not anymore.” Indeed, warmth spread through her belly, Archer. Hers. “Dad and Ace probably hate me, but it’s my life.”
“Good girl. We’ll set them straight later.”
“God, I love you.”
He kissed her again, then strode over to Chad.
Gwen glanced up toward her family. Her gaze shifted automatically to the empty spot where Frank had been sitting.
The spot was empty. Where had he gone? She spun this way and that on the bench, scanning the room, but didn’t see him anywhere.
Her skin crawled.
* * *
Gwen watched the rest of the test without incident. At the end, Chad stood before Archer at the front of the room. He bowed, but tension pounded off him. Had he passed?
A slow smile spread over Archer’s face. He waited a beat, but then picked up a certificate from the table behind him. He handed it to Chad with a grin and clapped him on the shoulder. “Congratulations.”
Chad looked like he could have sunk to the floor. He bowed at the waist, then turned, raised his certificate to the audience in triumph with a huge grin. Archer clapped along with the others.
Gwen whistled through her teeth. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. For the first time, she imagined herself up there, Archer presenting her with a belt of her own. She smiled.
A short time later, everyone gathered to congratulate Chad. Gwen hugged him when he came over.
“Congratulations. You were amazing.”
“You think so?”
She ran her fingers over the three red stripes on his belt. “Third degree, that’s awesome, bro.”
Across the room, Archer looked over from talking to one of his students and winked at her. Her stomach fluttered. I can’t believe he’s mine.
Chad raised a brow. “You guys really are a thing, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” She twined her hands. “Archer said you were ok with it, but…”
“I am.” He shrugged. “I look at it this way. I know the guy won’t hurt you.”
The muscles in her belly loosened.
Chad leaned close to her. “Did Ace really invite Frank here knowing you’re with Archer?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t keep the bite out of her tone. “I think he’s trying to break us up.”
“Well, yeah, but Ace is a doofus. This isn’t news.”
She squeezed his shoulder. “I kind of love you right now.”
“Do you mind telling me what made you start taking karate, though? You used to hate anything to do with fighting.”
Her gaze drifted over to Tony, who stood talking and laughing with Archer and two of the students. “Can we talk about it later? It’s kind of a long story.” She was going to have to tell her dad later that night anyway.
His dark brows scrunched in worry, but he nodded. “Sure. Are you serious about it? I mean, how far you want to take this?”
How to explain? Until now, it had only been about learning to survive a stalker. Now, after seeing Chad test, something inside her had shifted. There was a new level of respect, an understanding of the discipline it took to learn karate she hadn’t felt while training.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” She looked at Archer, then at her brother again.
“Chad, how…” She licked her lips. “How do I know when to test?”
Chad cocked his head, brows raising in surprise. “You want to take your yellow belt trial?”
Her face heated. “It’s ridiculous, right?”
Chad laid a hand on her shoulder. “Actually, you’re—”
“What are we talking about?” Ace gave Gwen a pointed look, moving between her and Chad.
Gwen narrowly prevented herself from rolling her eyes.
“It seems Gwen’s finally come around to our way of thinking.” Chad didn’t seem to see her glaring at him. “We were discussing her taking her yellow belt test.”
“Chad. I didn’t…”
“Oh, really?” Ace raised a mocking brow.
She shot another look at Chad. She loved her brother, but sometimes he was just clueless. “Yes, Ace, really.”
“You really think you’re good enough?”
“It’s been over three months, and I’ve been training almost every day. Archer says—”
“Archer says? Just Archer?” He looked out across the room. “You want to make a fool out of yourself, and Master Archer? Embarrass us all?”
Gwen’s jaw clenched. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, come on. Karate isn’t for you and you know it. You wanna get hurt?”
She gaped at him. Anger boiled over until she trembled. She fought for breath. No more letting him bully her. “Did you overdoes on asshat juice today, Ace, or did you just decide you want to get back at me for being with Archer?”
“Ace, man, shut up,” Chad growled.
“No. And don’t talk to me about being an ass, Gwen. I’m not the one who was rude to Frank. You’ve got that down to a fine art, embarrassing people. I can’t believe you actually think you could compete with us. Go back to your little desk in that ridiculous club.”
Gwen ground her teeth, and fought an urge to rip him a new one. This wasn’t the time or place. She settled for ignoring Ace’s
statement and squeezing Chad’s arm in a wordless congratulations. Then she walked across the room to find Archer.
* * *
“So, how do you want to handle this?” Seated in the back of Tony’s car, Archer took Gwen’s hand.
Gwen glanced outside at the street, still smattered with that dull grey snow of March. Have to tell them all of it now. Dad’s gonna kill me. And Archer.
“Well, Ace is the only one who knows what’s going on. I have to tell the rest of them, but I have to handle it right. This is Chad’s day. Tony, is there any way you can watch Archer and me without actually being in the house?”
Tony ran his fingers over his thick dark mustache, then nodded. “I can stay outside in the car, but I would feel better posting myself at the door, so I can see anyone who gets too close.”
Gwen sighed. She wasn’t looking forward to answering the questions this would cause. “Fine, but I don’t want this affecting the party at all. Archer, I’ll explain the whole thing to them, but unless you want World War III, the timing needs to be right.”
“Understood, Miss Stanton.” Tony looked at Archer until Archer nodded. Then he pulled out of the lot and headed for her dad’s house.
“So.” Archer sat back in his seat. “What did you think of Chad’s test?”
“He did awesome.”
He touched her knee. “I ask because, I think you might be ready for your yellow.”
Gwen swallowed hard. “I doubt it.”
“I say you are. I wouldn’t tell you if you weren’t.”
She smiled at her lap, twisting her hands. The image of Archer presenting her with a belt floated up again and her stomach danced. “Um.” The memory of Ace’s cutting comments flooded back in, and her excitement slid away.
“Look, I appreciate what you’re trying to do. I’m honored. But it’s not what I want. I took karate to learn to defend myself. I have no interest in belts.”
“That’s not what Chad told me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, Chad’s a big mouth. The last thing I want to do is put up with Ace or my father…” she trailed off, shaking her head.
