Archer (5 page)

He laid his hand on Jane’s stomach.

“Kage…” She covered his hand with hers. “We don’t need to talk about this.”

He swallowed. “I want you to know, if it comes down to it, I’ll contact my uncle. If we need him to get rid of Scott, I
will
call him.”

Darrell Archer had enough power and wealth to get things done without a trace. No one would have to know Kage had been involved. He wasn’t taking any chances where Jane was concerned.

“You can’t.” She pushed up and moved a stray hair from over his eyes. “I know what that would do to you.”

He blew out his breath. “I’ve read the police reports.”

She turned away from him. “God, Kage, don’t tell my brother. Please don’t tell him. He’s been through so much with Dad, and—”

“Tell me. Tell me it wasn’t as bad as it sounded in the report. That he didn’t break your fucking ribs and shove a pistol in your mouth.” She eased up into a sitting position. “Tell me that motherfucker didn’t do something else that you left out of the police report.”

“Drop it, please,” she whispered.

“I can’t do that, baby.” His chest tightened. “Let me know what we’re up against. Did he hurt you any other time?”

She eventually nodded. He squeezed his eyes closed before he answered. “How long did this go on?”

“The last year and a half. Before that, he just made sure he knew whatever I was doing. He had his goons watching me all the time. I was careful. I did everything right, so he wouldn’t get upset.” Her head turned. “I did everything right,” she whispered.

“You did good, baby. You survived,” he said.

“Did I? Because right now, knowing you found out what I allowed him to do to me feels a lot like I died the moment I left home to go live with Scott. I never wanted anyone to know, especially you. I knew how much you hated your family for what they put you through. I was afraid you’d hate—”

“Shh.” He laid his chin on the top of her head and hugged her tight. “Never. You’re here now. Nothing else is going to happen to you.”

She trembled. “I’m afraid.”

“No one will ever lay a hand on you again. I promise,” he said.

She shook her head. “I’m not scared for me but for you. For Garrett. For anyone who stands in Scott’s way when he comes for me. And he will come. He always does. But this time I’m not going back.”

He knew when he’d first read the statement, something was missing. He couldn’t believe she’d endured this kind of pain for so long. Rage swept through him. He’d heard enough.

He lay his head down on the pillow beside her, keeping his arm around her. “Sleep now. We’ll go forward tomorrow.”

A few minutes later, she latched her fingers over his hand. “Kage?”

“Yeah?”

“What’s going on between us?”

“Exactly what you think is happening,” he said. “I want you. You want me. I will have you…but not tonight. When it happens, I’ll have my Janie back. But I need you to come to me on your own. I won’t rush you, but know once you do come to me, there will be no turning back.”

She didn’t say anything else, and it took her body a long time to relax. It was much later when he could tell she’d finally fallen asleep. Not long afterward, Jane whined in her slumber. He held her tighter, smoothing her hair back from her face. He pressed his lips to her skin, wishing he could erase the pain of what she’d gone through. If only he’d known the truth of what Scott was capable of or suspected the terror she was facing alone. He would’ve put a stop to her abuse and killed the bastard before he could lay another hand on her.

Bluff climbed up on the curve of her hip, and he lazily rubbed the cat between the ears and listened to her purr. He stayed awake most of the night, wishing they were together for a different reason, while imagining the many ways to kill Scott Carson.

T
he last page slid through the fax machine as the phone rang. She glanced over her shoulder, waiting for the document to finish. Most of the shop’s calls came through on the other line, for Lance concerning agency business.

She had no idea how busy the private investigating part of Beaumont Body Shop had grown. Garrett kept his client’s jobs secret from her. She only knew enough to have some idea what his days and nights were like or where he was going to be on a certain job. She’d gained a new respect for the boys, but it also had led to more worry on her part.

She’d seen each of them leave at odd hours and couldn’t miss the pistol strapped under a coat or tucked in at the back of their waists, a serious, almost fierce expression on their faces. Their job was dangerous, and they took it seriously.

At those times, she preferred to practice denial that they were putting their lives on the line. She returned to the desk. The phone rang again. Line 6 meant she needed to answer, because it was usually customers with accounting questions or wanting to bring in a job for the garage.

She clicked on the speaker. “Beaumont Body Shop, how can I help you?”

“You done for the day?” Kage obviously didn’t believe in saying hey when he called.

“Why?” She shut off the computer.

“Yes or no?”

She shook her head, not ready to face going home with him. When she was working and alone, she had a firmer grip on her life. Around him, she seemed to forget what she was here to do—learn to survive on her own. Even though she’d slept better the last three nights in bed with him than she had in the last several years, she still wanted to be able to depend on herself.

“Maybe.” She grinned, continuing the banter of teasing him into a better mood. He’d gone deathly quiet after his meeting with the boys this morning, and it’d taken her three trips into the garage afterward to bring him out of his stoic mood.

He chuckled. “When you’re through, meet me in the weight room.”

“I don’t do weights.” She laughed. “I have to check on Bluff and I want to do a load of wash. I’ll go see if Garrett can drive me back to your house…unless you want to bring Bluff back to me and let me sleep in my own bed, which is much more comfortable than yours and has a big fluffy comforter.”

“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.