by India Kells
Without a word, Hector got to his feet, and he seemed to expand and grow taller before her eyes. As tall and imposing as Archer. He looked at the messenger like he would a puny insect.
“You are the Hellhound.”
The man nodded so fast, snot flew in an arc from his nose to his trousers.
“Who are you supposed to meet?”
The poor man looked very briefly to Zoe before reverting his attention back to the bigger threat.
Hector nodded at her, a silent assent. She reached for the Flash drive in her pocket and gave it to the man. Before being allowed to flee, Hector’s man shook him for good measure and the messenger scurried away. As he disappeared, Zoe felt both relieved and crushed. For a second time, she had trampled on the trust of both Archer and Beatrice, and another small part of her soul had died. Everything blurred around her. From a distance she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. The music was starting to give her a headache, and if she didn’t need to return Mrs. Lupe’s car, she would probably order a lot more shots to drown the incoming sorrow.
Hector touched her hand and it was like something cracked inside her. She wasn’t a cry-baby, not by a long shot, but his concern, the setting, her pain, the stress, all mixed with the inevitable ending, opened the waterworks. Trapped and probably out of his mind with discomfort, Hector nonetheless patted her on the back. The phone rang again, and she just sobbed even harder.
And if not crying, she would be laughing. She was being comforted by a mobster, crying like a baby, in a strip club on the other side of town. Well, if she survived the whole ordeal, that would be an interesting story to tell her grandkids.
Calming down, Zoe noticed a change in the noise, it became louder, a definite ruckus from the door behind her, and by the way Hector tensed, it couldn’t be good.
The man shifted a little, as if to put his body between the noise and her, which allowed her to have a view of the door. A group of bikers had made their way in and were starting to sit in a couple of booths on the right side. Strippers started to flee. It seemed that it was a false alarm, until she returned her gaze to the door. It was now her time to tense. Archer. It took a few blinks to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating. Wearing a black t-shirt and jeans with a dark brown leather coat, his hair windblown and that fierce look on his face, it was as if she saw him for the first time. The businessman was nowhere to be seen, even the way he moved, the intensity of his expression as he scanned the crowd was very unlike anything she had known of him so far.
Sensing a change in her, Hector followed her gaze, loosening his hold. Just then, Archer spotted her. Fierceness turned into fury as he saw her in Hector’s arms. Zoe knew there was no way to calm him down with words. The crowd around them reacted like a wave as men tightened the circle and several went to Hector’s side. Zoe tried her best to position herself in front of Hector, but the man held her back with amazing ease.
Archer snarled. “Get your hands off her.”
Hector crossed his arms and as Zoe attempted to intervene, Hector’s right-hand man brought her back even more, his grip unyielding.
“Hector! Let me go!” But it was as if she hadn’t yelled at all. Both men stood toe to toe, and the air sizzled with testosterone and impending violence. Zoe didn’t know what to do. “Hector, please, he’s a friend. The one who’s been calling me.” But even that admission didn’t appease the tension.
“She’s mine, don’t touch her.” Archer’s voice had taken a new tone. His accent was now thick and threatening, like a cracking whip.
Archer didn’t look at her now, and to be honest, Zoe wasn’t totally convinced it was the man she knew in bed and in the office. This beast was totally foreign to her. When Hector started circling, Zoe hoped this was just a bad dream, a horrible movie, that she would wake up from. Without looking away from his opponent, Archer removed his leather jacket and threw it away. When Hector whipped up a blade, a scream caught in Zoe’s throat. The scene was surreal.
Hector threw his arm back and the blade flew to the floor, stuck between the two fighters. At that exact moment, the two opponents charged each other. Frozen in place, Zoe couldn’t help but stare. It was frighteningly surreal. A lethal dance between them. The blows made horrible sounds as they hit flesh and the thuds of bone against bone made her whimper. Archer grabbed Hector, twisting him in a deadly grip, but Hector started pounding Archer’s ribs with his elbow repeatedly. It must have hurt like hell, because Archer lessened his hold and Hector grabbed the knife. Zoe dashed forward, but a pair of arms prevented her from intervening. Archer was back on his feet, circling again, as Hector was contemplating an opening, an opportunity to strike.
The fight had taken another level of intensity, when Hector attacked, and Archer evaded within the circle of bodies. At one point, Archer fell back on a man standing in front of Zoe, trying to dodge Hector, and the man punched him viciously in the ribs before pushing him forward back to Hector. Zoe only reacted and kicked the man hard between the legs. She didn’t have direct access to his little brain but hoped her pointed toes would do the job. And as she expected, the man doubled with pain before falling to his knees. Men around either smiled or started cursing at her. One helped Zoe’s victim out and another took his place, but not before telling her off.
When Zoe returned her attention to the two combatants, both were heaving hard. Hector sported a nasty bruise on his cheek and chin and blood trickled from Archer’s eyebrow. Soaking wet, the brutality of the attack didn’t lessen, but they were a little less quick to react. Hector lunged forward, and Zoe saw the knife plunging into Archer’s t-shirt. The movement was swift, and Hector now blocked her view. Zoe was scared that Archer had been stabbed when instead she heard a tearing sound, and Archer stepping sideways, before kicking Hector square in the chest. Hector fell back, the knife skidding on the floor, lost in the crowd.
Zoe inhaled sharply when she noticed Archer’s t-shirt was now almost in shreds and hanging from him. But at least, blood was minimal. The two men started again, and she knew she had to act before one of them got killed. There was enough trouble in her life as it was without a dead body to top it off. Twisting around, her captor let her go as she clearly wasn’t heading for the fighting men. The rest of the crowd was more interested in the twirling bodies on stage than the battle. The bikers were a rowdy crowd and now, most of the strippers were buzzing around them like a swarm of honey bees. Obviously, all the men present had weapons, but she wasn’t stupid enough to ask them to lend her one. Then she saw an old extinguisher on the other wall. That could work.
Zoe dashed and unhooked it from the wall when someone grabbed her from behind. “If it isn’t Little Red Riding Hood!”
One of the bikers must be too drunk or too stupid to see that she wasn’t part of the entertainment and put his slimy paws on her breasts.
“Hey! Let me go, you caveman!” And obviously, it didn’t do anything, apart from making his horde of Neanderthals laugh and he tightened his hold on her waist.
It was when he started pulling her back among his gang that she started to panic. It was impossible to swing the extinguisher from that angle, so she fired it. Laughter was quickly replaced by shouts as white foam sprayed the men with more force than she expected. Just as she was getting the hang of it, her captor pulled her ponytail viciously.
“Drop that, bitch!” Zoe wasn’t going to, but with his fingers twisting her arm, and him pulling her hair, she screamed before he brusquely dropped her to the floor. The hit shook her bones and made her head spin for a moment, but it was imperative that she moved and got away.
When another guy got his hands on her, she kicked and tried to crawl again. A body fell in front of her, well two bodies in fact, two men fighting like crazy. Barely evading random punches, she rolled, at last getting to her knees, before someone pulled her up. Zoe turned to punch him when she recognized Archer. Bare-chested and bloody, he was standing beside Hector who was in the same state, this time with a gun in his hand.
“So now you’re friends?” Archer didn’t answer and was pulling her back toward the bar. The entire biker gang was now busy fighting off the rest of Hector’s men. The dancers were nowhere to be found. No money, no candy.
When Archer finally let go of her, Zoe took two steps back. Both were glaring at her, both were pissed. “Don’t you dare give me that look! It wasn’t me who started attacking each other like rabid dogs!” Turning to Hector, she slapped him on his shoulder. “I told you I knew him! Why did you attack, you moron?”
Hector looked surprised at her reaction and would probably have smiled if his jaw wasn’t already turning blue. “You’re in a jam. I wanted to make sure that your friend was able to protect you.”
Gaping, she wasn’t sure how to respond. “And you had to fight him to know that?”
Hector looked at Archer and rubbed his jaw. “Well, I wouldn’t have had to if I’d seen his ink first.”
At first, Zoe didn’t understand, but as Archer tensed under her scrutiny, her eyes on his arms and chest, she realized that he probably had more in common with Hector than with his businessman persona he presented to the world. The way he fought, his cold, contained demeanor under fire, that wasn’t acquired in a boardroom.
This wasn’t a world she wanted to be part of. For protection or otherwise. But Hector had shown more honor than Finch would ever have. Archer went to get his coat when the sound of gunfire boomed inside the joint. Hector dropped on her, covering her body, and Archer cursed.
“We need to go now. My ride is outside, come on, Zoe.”
“I can’t, I have to take the car back to...”
Hector rolled off her. “I’ll take care of it, gimme the keys.”
As she fished them out of her pocket, Hector lowered his voice. “I can’t help you more than that. But I know someone, a woman called Gabrielle Thorne, she...”
Zoe’s heart skipped a beat at the name. “I know Gabrielle, and she can’t help me...” Hector blinked and was about to say something when Archer cut her off.
“Come on, Zoe, we need to get out, now!”
The fighting crowd was starting to spill all over the place. This time, Archer didn’t wait and just dragged her out. They both ran out and, as they reached Archer’s motorcycle, she saw a few more bikers turn the corner and parking before the club. This place was a time bomb, and Zoe felt bad for Hector. After all, she had been the trigger of all this. Well, Finch had been because she would never have set foot in this place on her own.
Archer started the engine and told her to get on. As soon as she was in place, her arms tight around his middle, he punched the gas.
The roar hid her surprised yelp and she tightened her grip even more. Archer was going at a deadly speed through the streets, burning all the lights and even accelerating when the road was clear. The wind in her hair, Zoe didn’t dare look where they were; just imagining them crash made her nauseous.
Fear was slowly being replaced by worry. Where was he taking her? It wasn’t the route to reach her apartment. Where were they going? She had to get away, put some distance between them as the more they were together, the more she had to lie. It made her heart grow heavier and an icy ball of anxiety settle in her stomach. A confrontation was brewing, and she didn’t know if she was ready for it.
Chapter 22
Not a single word was exchanged from the moment they’d left the bar. Certainly not when they were riding at full speed, as it would have been useless. Not when he made his way through the business district, bypassing Blackwood Corp, until they reached a posh residential building. Not when they entered the underground parking lot. Not when he shut the engine and grabbed her wrist again. Not during the elevator ride up. Not when they entered the penthouse overlooking the city, until Archer pointed the couch and said a single word, “Sit”. Normally, Zoe wasn’t the kind of woman to be ordered around like a dog, but she suspected that if she confronted the beast right now, it would get her nowhere.
He disappeared from sight and Zoe looked around. Despite the few lights, the place seemed to be well decorated, but clearly a rental. Cold and trendy. Temporary.
Leaning back on the leather couch, her body slowly relaxing, aches and pains started to make their appearance. Her hands and face felt grimy, her clothing reeked of sweat and booze and she didn’t want to know the state of her hair. Even her glasses were streaked and in need of a wipe.
Where had Archer gone? Maybe he needed some downtime. The thought of him sitting in a corner like a naughty child almost made her smile. Almost. A quick look at her phone confirmed that she hadn’t missed any calls or text message, apart from Archer’s earlier. And Finch was blessedly silent. Her finger swiped one of Gabrielle’s secret apps until she found her personal emails and photos from Lucas. Her little brother had grown since last time she had seen him. Six months now. He was entering his teenage years and looked so happy. It had been the greatest success of her life to have finally pulled him out of her parent’s clutches. Beatrice had not only saved her life, but also Lucas’ life. After being abused for so long, Zoe didn’t want him to suffer as she did. It was a miracle that not only did they find enough evidence of their parents abusing them, but one of Beatrice's computer hackers also dug data on a high-level fraud conducted by both of them. It had been the final nail in the coffin of her old life. Gaining custody of Lucas had been another battle altogether, added to the fact that she had to hide him as much as possible. Her parents decided not to go down alone during the trial and dropped many names, some of which were dangerous individuals. It had been her last request from Beatrice, a new identity for her and her brother. One that had worked until now.
Unable to sit still, she got up and stretched a little, trying to work out the kinks before walking to the wall of windows. The city looked so bright and lovely, like thousands of stars coming down from the sky. A very human and buzzing sky. Looking up, she couldn’t see any stars, as they were all hidden by the city lights. She missed a clear sky. The best she had ever seen was one deep in the Afghani mountains. It looked like a fine tapestry embroidered with diamonds. In a world surrounded by violence and uncertainty, it was something that would remain, even after her own death.
The thought settled her mind some as she knew what was going to happen next. Archer would demand answers she couldn’t give without endangering Lucas. Or Archer. It was preferable that he knew nothing of what she had done. That way, Finch wouldn’t suspect him, and if she got caught and thrown in jail, he would remain ignorant of her crimes.
Now, there was only one last assignment from Finch to be accomplished, whatever that may be. Not knowing if what she would have to do was related to Blackwood Corp, Zoe prayed Archer wouldn’t fire her.
“You can’t even listen to a simple order, can you?” Lost deep in her thoughts, Zoe hadn’t heard him come back. Crossing her arms, she turned, gathering her courage for the confrontation.
He had taken a quick shower, his dark hair glistening wet, with only a pair of dark sweatpants hanging low on his hips. Some of the civility had come back, but it was thin and brittle. The blooming bruises and scratches on his side and torso screamed who he was. Even furious and ready to attack, he was pure male sin. One Zoe would have indulged in if the situation hadn’t been so serious. Barefoot, Archer took two steps into the living room, crossing his arms, mimicking her posture. “You have some serious explaining to do, Miss Somersby. Or whoever you are.”
“My name is Zoe Somersby.”
“Well, my dear, I have serious doubts about it now. The Zoe Somersby from the resume I received is a multi-language interpreter for the American government, a pencil pusher as you would say. Care to tell me why you disappeared multiple times on the job and when I tried to reach you, you didn’t answer your phone?”
And it dawned on her, the question she hadn’t had time to ask. “This was how you found me. You tracked my phone.” She almost slapped herself for forgetting that detail.
“Technically, it’s my
phone, and even if I don’t use that feature for privacy purposes, I do have a tracking app available on it. After the multiple times I tried to contact you and you didn’t answer, I got worried. Especially since Ellen is in the hospital.”
Zoe rushed forward. “Ellen? What happened? Is she okay?” Even though she’d only know her for a short time, Zoe cared about her and prayed it wasn’t about Finch’s evil plan that had already cost Cynthia’s life.
Archer’s stance didn’t waver. “She was attacked while waiting outside for Sorenson to come around with the car. It was dark, she didn’t see her attacker. She said that she fended him off just as Sorenson was arriving. He called me immediately, and suggested I call you. Jones went to your place, and you weren’t there. Now, tell me why I tracked you down in a seedy club in a dangerous part of Chicago?”
And there it was, the question she couldn’t answer. And even with her wild imagination, there was no way to explain it. So again, she tried to deflect. “It’s a private matter. I’m sorry you got caught in the crossfire. I would have answered my phone once I left.”
With the temperature dropping under his cold demeanor, he looked at her with the haughty air she had seen when they met for the interview. He didn’t believe her. Hell, she didn’t even believe herself!
It was like a stare down; his deep gray eyes announcing a pending storm, and she couldn’t run for cover.
“Get out of here. I don’t work with liars.”
The utter pain she felt at his disdain and fury splintered her heart. “Archer...”
“Get out!” Zoe jumped as he bellowed, almost making the glass shake behind her. For a fraction of a second, she sincerely didn’t know what to do. It was as if she didn’t recognize the man before her. And then, her legs started working again as she rushed to the door.
The effect stunned her. Unknowingly, until that very moment, Archer’s presence had been a pillar, a source of strength for her. But now, she was alone. Tears rose, but she kept going and it took a few attempts to unlock the door with her trembling fingers. When she finally succeeded and opened it, it shut with violent force. Archer had followed her and slammed his hand to close it.