Archer

by Debra Kayn

  A thump followed by a curse came from the other end of the house. Kage rose and walked toward the sound of her voice. In the door to her room, he paused at the sight.

  Jane leaned into the closet, her hands above her head, outfits piled on her arms, trying to keep the clothes from falling to the floor. “The rod broke.”

  “I can see that.” He tilted his head, taking in the situation. “How?”

  “I leaned against it to get to the top shelf. Help me before they all fall off and I have to rehang everything.” Her face was red from struggle.

  “The bracket broke.” He reached above her and grabbed onto the bar. “Why didn’t you yell if you needed help reaching the shelf?”

  “Because I used to grab hold of it all the time when I lived here.” She straightened the clothes that’d fallen off and hung them back up.

  He leaned back without losing his grip on the bar. “You’re bigger than you were years ago.”

  “What?” She swung around and glared at him.

  He chuckled. “It’s a good thing, baby. More curves to hold on to.”

  “I-I…” She blinked rapidly. “Are you calling me fat? Because for your information I weigh the same as I did when I graduated college.”

  “Perfect.” He ogled her breasts. “You’re in great shape.”

  Five feet six inches, slim waist, and breasts that he knew would overfill his hands. He leaned down and kissed her. His body reacted instantly, and suddenly he was harder than the closet rod he was holding. He couldn’t wait to show her exactly how he felt about her body.

  She whispered, “Okay then, I believe you.”

  He grinned, shoving the hangers away from the end of the bar. “Do you know where your dad kept a hammer, maybe a few nails? I can brace the bar until Garrett picks up another bracket.”

  “Yeah, in the garage he has a workbench with all his tools. I’ll be right back.” She moved.

  “Hey, wait.” He turned his gaze toward her. “Only go in the garage. Don’t go outside.”

  She nodded and left.

  Ten minutes later, he rigged the rod temporarily until Garrett could replace the bracket, removed the box from the upper shelf, and stood watching her. She sorted a pile of clothes and boots on her bed and stood picking through a jewelry box on her dresser. His chest tightened.

  The white box covered with ladybugs matched her bedroom. A bedroom that’d seen her through growing up in the Beaumont house and retained the decorations of a happy childhood. She’d had everything he didn’t growing up in a family who loved her unconditionally. H wanted her to have that normal, happy life again where she was able to enjoy reading in bed or worrying about what she was going to wear on a date when he took her out on the town. Everyone, especially her, deserved memories of a happier time. Call him selfish, but he wanted to experience those feelings with her.

  “Did you bring anything with you when you came back from Pullman?” he asked.

  Her shoulders stiffened and she stayed with her back toward him. “My Duster that dad gave me when I got my license, a couple changes of clothes, Scott’s gun, one hundred thousand dollars, and Bluff.”

  His mind homed in on one thing. “I hope you had a fancy-ass job that allowed you to save that much money.”

  She shrugged. “He owes me, Kage. Big-time. It serves him right to lose the money. I more than earned that amount after putting up with his shit.”

  “Fuck.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Please tell me you went to a bank and withdrew it.”

  “No, he never used a bank.” She dumped the jewelry she’d picked out into a bag and tossed it on the pile of clothes. “It’s my money too. I worked and paid the bills, the rent, and bought my own clothes. He never gave me money, unless he bought me a gift. But he sure had no problem taking it over the years.”

  “Shit, Jane. You stole his money.” He shook his head.

  “I know.” Jane shoved her belongings into a bag. “I screwed up big-time. I never thought I’d have you and Garrett involved in this mess. My only concern was getting away and making it back to Bay City.”

  “Drug money,” he muttered. He took the bag out of her hands. “You didn’t steal money he earned or took from you. You stole dirty money, and someone will want that money back. Probably Carson, but if not him, then the person who hired him.”

  Her brows rose. “That’s why I took the money. Don’t you see? I’m not stupid. That money is going to keep me safe. Scott wouldn’t dare kill me if he has no idea where I hid the money. He’ll want to keep me alive, because he probably has to give the money back to the supplier. He’s greedy, and won’t like dipping into his own cash. I know I’m not worth anything to him.”

  “Dammit, Janie, it doesn’t work that way.” Kage grabbed her hand, pulling her through the house.

  She hurried to keep up with his pace. “Kage, wait. If it’s someone else’s money, I’ll give it back. I only took it to get even with Scott and to keep him from hurting me.”

  He led her outside, scanned the area, and then pulled her across the way. “Right now we’re going to go tell the guys this new information, and then I’m taking you home and hopefully keeping you out of more trouble.”

  Kage knew Carson wasn’t working alone, not if he had that much money available. He answered to someone bigger and more powerful. This information put a new angle on the situation. Kage had a bad feeling that if Scott was working with that heavy a purse, his uncle would be his only link to finding out what in the hell was going on.

  Because nothing happened in the area that Darrell Archer wasn’t aware of, and most times his hand was in play.

  When push came to shove, he hoped the four of them were big enough to deal with the situation. Who knew how big it would get before they were through?

  Chapter Ten

  Kage deposited Jane in a holding room with Garrett, to give them privacy, and left. She threw up her hands and sank down on the edge of the bed. Her outlook on life had changed. Things were a lot worse now because of the stolen money.

  Her only thought at the time was escape. She covered her face with her hands and groaned. Now Garrett and Kage were mad, and they had every right to be. In her frantic need to leave, she hadn’t considered what Scott would do when he found his money missing. It had seemed so simple when she’d planned everything.

  She raised her gaze to Garrett. “I’m sorry. I keep putting everyone in more danger, and that wasn’t my intent. I only wanted to get away from Scott. Now I’m afraid Kage is going to do something he regrets. I need to talk with him.”

  “Let him do his job,” Garrett said.

  “How was I supposed to know someone besides Scott would be looking for the money?” She moistened her lips. There had to be a way to fix everything. “What if we use the money to draw Scott out into the open? Maybe I can talk to him, and while he’s distracted, you guys catch him. We can call the police and I’ll press charges. This time I won’t chicken out.”

  Garrett frowned. She continued. “I only wanted to start over and leave the life I had with him behind. I wanted to come home, Garrett. You have to understand, I wasn’t thinking straight.”

  “Think. That’s all I’m asking you to do.” Garrett crossed his arms in front of the door. “Is there anything else you haven’t told us?”

  “Like what?” she said.

  “Oh, I don’t know, sis, but you haven’t given us the whole story yet.” Garrett inhaled deeply. “Listen. You and I are the only ones left in the family. You were too little to remember, but before Mom died, she made us all promise to love and take care of each other. I’m trying…now that Dad’s gone, you’re all I got. Do you know what it does to me to hear Scott was selling drugs around you and sticking a fucking pistol in your mouth?”

  She sniffed and closed her eyes for a beat and whispered, “I know.”

  “Can you remember seeing anyone meeting with Scott, or anyone his men might have referred to when they talked business?”

  �
�No.” She shook her head. “They never used names. M-maybe I can describe them. They were big, about your size, a-and they never looked at me directly. Scott wouldn’t allow them to look at me. Most of the time I ignored what was happening, because it was easier than accepting it.”

  “Did you ever think to tell me…your brother? I would’ve helped you.”

  She let her chin fall to her chest.

  Garrett was pissed. He took his responsibility as her older brother seriously, and she not only hurt him, she’d broken the bond they both clung to desperately. She stood and approached him. “I’m sorry.”

  “You have to stop protecting him,” he said quietly.

  She rocked back. “I’m not!”

  “Are you sure?”

  The fact that he questioned her at all hurt. She went back to the bed and sat. None of them understood. It wasn’t Scott she was protecting. It was Kage, Garrett, and the rest of the boys.

  “When I came home, I didn’t even want to tell you why I came back.” She stared at Garrett. “You’d been through so much already dealing with Dad, and I wasn’t here to help.”

  Garrett was stepping toward her when the door swung open.

  Charlene strode through in all her glistening rhinestones adorning her short skirt and blouse. Ignoring Garrett, she went straight to Jane, who found herself wrapped in Charlene’s arms, her head pulled to the older woman’s ample breasts. Even though she was frustrated at everyone, she couldn’t deny that it felt good to have someone hold her.

  “I walk into the garage, find no one around, and almost got shot by Lance.” Charlene huffed. “Then I spot Kage punching a hole in the wall, not once, but three times.”

  Jane jerked. “What?”

  “I don’t think I want to know what made that boy see red, but I also know there’s only one person who could make him lose his cool.” Charlene held Jane away from her by the shoulders. “Now, I know something is going on in your life and you’re keeping it on the down low. I’ve seen a lot of things in my time, and even though I don’t want to know, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if you’d got yourself in a whole heap of trouble.”

  Garrett growled. “Charlene—”

  “Don’t Charlene me, boy. I watched you lose your momma to cancer, your dad to a heart attack, and spanked your butt myself when you needed to be set back on the right path. That means I have a right to say whatever I want, and I got something to say.” Charlene inhaled and narrowed her eyes. “I can see in Janie’s demeanor she’s gone through a rough spot. Anyone looking at her can tell she’s doing her best to outrun trouble. She has you and those other two out there trying to talk Kage down so he doesn’t hurt himself or someone else. But Kage hasn’t had one damn good thing in his life, and he’s the one I’m concerned about right now. I was around when Kage’s family crumbled, and I know what his uncle is capable of doing to him. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes. A man gets desperate and stupid when his woman is threatened.”

  “Shit,” Garrett muttered before exiting the room.

  Charlene turned back to Jane, her eyes softening but her hold never relaxing. “You don’t know it, but you’re the only thing holding that boy from walking away from everything he’s built. For some reason, in a world of devastation, he only sees you.”

  Jane shook her head, not understanding the direction Charlene was taking the conversation. Kage was the strongest person she knew. He was confident, secure, and chose to keep to himself. It was surprising he even became friends with Garrett and the others, because he needed no one.

  She stood. “He only wants to have sex with me.”

  A rude sound came from Charlene’s lips. “That boy could have sex with anyone he wants but he’s not, because he wants you.

  A strange sensation fluttered around her heart. Charlene was right. Kage never brought anyone into his life. She’d heard the talk, listened in on Garrett’s conversations enough in the past to know that Kage had plenty of women, but he’d never once brought one home or around the others.

  Jane pinched the skin at the base of her neck. “It’s only because I need his protection.”

  “You’re making excuses,” Charlene stated. “You know deep in your heart that something big is going on between you two. It’s always been there, any fool can see it.”

  He’d held her, protected her, kissed her. And not any kind of kiss, but a kiss that promised so much more.

  “I can’t do this,” she whispered. “I’m not the woman for him.”

  “What are you talking about?” Charlene snapped.

  “You don’t know what I’ve been through,” she said. “No one does.”

  Charlene rounded on her and got in her face. “No, I don’t. And I can’t even tell you what Kage’s gone through either, but I’ve lived long enough to know that boy’s haunted. A lesser man would’ve given up and admitted defeat. Not Kage. He fights, and he walks through a world that hasn’t been kind to him, because he’s in love with you.”

  Jane’s head came up.

  “That’s right. I don’t even know if Kage realizes it, but I’ve watched you two since you were kids. He latched onto you, soaking up all the goodness and kindness you’d give him. Then you came back, and all I see is you pushing him away, feeling sorry for yourself.” Charlene sank down on her knees in front of Jane. “You’re so afraid of someone hurting you; you don’t see that you’re hurting everyone around you.”

  Jane’s stomach cramped. “You don’t know what could happen if—”

  “No, I don’t. But shutting Kage out isn’t going to help. You’re stronger than you think you are, and so is he.” Charlene stood, walked to the door, and hesitated. “The Janie I knew had a smart mouth and would throw herself into the middle of a fight to save the underdog. You often got in trouble because you were determined to spread your wings before you were ready, but you were never a bitch.”

  Charlene left much more quietly than she’d arrived. Jane didn’t want to be a bitch, but no one knew what she’d gone through. How many times did she have to tell them before they got it?

  She wrinkled her nose. Shit.

  She was pathetic. Not only had she allowed Scott to strip her of all self-respect, she’d continued to drown herself in her problems instead of fighting back. Charlene was right. She had the chance to turn her life around when she got back, and to forget about Scott for good. Yet she continued living in the past.

  Instead of fighting, she’d let others fight for her and hurt everyone in the end. She was going to put an end to pathetic Jane and start acting like Janie. She gasped. That’s what Kage meant all along.

  She cupped her elbows in her hands. How could Charlene tell that Kage was haunted?

  He’d always been quiet, preferring to spend time with himself rather than with everyone in town. The times he did go out, he was always with the boys. She remembered the piece of paper he’d given her. Her heart warmed, and instantly the warmth turned into pain.

  She’d been so caught up in her life, she’d missed the significance of him stepping out to help her. He’d offered himself to her. Whether that was for safety, help, or more, she’d shrugged him off.

  Yet, on her return, he was still the first to go to battle for her. She covered her face. He’d even told her when she’d questioned why he kissed her. It was right in front of her face, and she couldn’t see anything because she’d let Scott dictate her life.

  A loud crash came from somewhere in the building. She rushed to the door and ran out into the hallway as Kage body-slammed Tony against the wall.

  Kage caught her eye. His dark gaze, panicked and raw with emotions, held onto her, soaking her in. She stared back, letting him see that she was okay, assuring him that she was there for him.

  He stepped toward her, but Lance planted his hands on Kage’s chest. He jolted away from the touch. His mouth opened as if he wanted to speak to her, but he changed his mind. Never had she seen Kage out of control. It made his scary tough attitude seem like a Sunday af
ternoon.

  “Check yourself.” Lance strained. “Calm down!”

  The whole time Kage’s gaze was locked on Jane. She retreated. It was true that she’d messed everything up, but she was going to make things right.

  “Get the fuck out of my space.” Kage’s eyes were on her, but his words were aimed at Lance.

  She stayed in the hallway, only because her legs shook and she doubted she could walk away without falling. “Lance, let him go,” she said, more calmly than she was feeling.

  Lance glanced behind him. “Jane, give him a moment.”

  “No.” She stepped forward and laid her hand on Lance’s back. “He won’t hurt me.”

  “I have a stomach that says differently,” Lance said.

  Kage shoved him out of the way. Then he was in front of her, breathing hard, staring down in her eyes. She swallowed. The truth of what Charlene had told her was right in front of her.

  He grabbed her hand, pulling her into the holding room, and slammed the door. She stood, waiting for him to explain what was going on. To explain to her why he fought so hard and refused to back away when she’d given him every reason to want her gone.

  Instead, he stepped toward her, framed her face with his hands, and used his thumbs to raise her chin. “Whatever happens, whatever you hear, I want you to remember what I’m going to tell you.”

  She nodded.

  “Tomorrow, I’ll get a phone call and I will leave. I shouldn’t be gone long, but I want you to stick with the guys. Listen to what they tell you, and make sure you’re never alone. Don’t give them any lip or think you can go out by yourself. I need your word. Can you do that for me?”

  “Where are you going?”

  He blew out his breath, pulled her to his chest, and wrapped his arms around her. “To stop Carson.”

  “No.” She jerked, but he pressed her head against his chest.

  “Do you trust me?” He left no room for her to argue.

  “Yes, but I don’t trust Scott.” She held on to him tighter. “Don’t go. Stay here with me.”