by Toni Griffin
The guy happened to be drop-dead gorgeous, just like in his fantasies, and Archie cursed himself for being kidnapped by someone so good-looking. Knowing his luck, he would end up falling for the guy and having Stockholm syndrome or some such crap.
His kidnapper had short black hair, clipped close to the skull, and dark, heavy stubble coating his face. Archie wanted to reach out and run his hands over the whiskery hair. In the low light of the room, Archie couldn't tell what the man's eye colour was, but he already knew. Archie shook his head trying to dislodge his fanciful thoughts. This guy's nose had a small bump in it though, as if someone had broken it one too many times for it to heal completely right.
Archie stopped his perusal of the man when his eyes caught sight of the sinfully wicked grin curving his lips. He'd seen that grin before, somehow Archie doubted it meant the same thing as it had when he'd seen it previously.
Why had this man taken him in the first place? Archie was a nobody. He wasn't anyone important. He had no money for a ransom, hell, he didn't even know anyone with money.
It wasn't as if he had witnessed a mob hit or something and suddenly found himself running for his life from assassins. Archie lived a quiet, boring life of all work and absolutely no play.
So why in the hell had this man found it necessary to abduct him off the street when all he wanted to do was go home, eat, and sleep before once again getting up to go to work? Archie groaned when he thought about work.
Archie looked up at the man still hovering over him, he doubted very much that he would be making it to work in the morning. He really didn't want to lose his job. He had bills to pay, but he didn't think this man was going to let him use a phone to call in sick for the rest of the week.
Archie started to hyperventilate because of all the different thoughts running through his head.
"Calm down."
Oh God, even the guy's voice was sexy as hell, all deep and masculine. Archie was never going to survive this in one piece.
"You calm the fuck down. I'm fine," Archie said even as his heart started pounding in his chest and Archie's breathing became more rapid.
The man's eyes softened noticeably as he slowly moved back so he was no longer leaning over the bed and now just sat on the edge. "Please, calm yourself, Cor Coeunt. You are safe, this I swear to you."
Why the hell did this man just call him his heart mate? Archie had taken a couple of classes of Latin while at university, so he understood what the man had said. He just had no idea why this man was calling him that. It made no sense whatsoever.
"How stupid do you think I am? You kidnap me and then tell me I'm safe? You've got to be off your fucking rocker if you think I'm going to fall for that line of BS," Archie yelled.
He knew he probably shouldn't be raising his voice to the crazy man, but Archie might have been losing it, just a little, even if he refused to admit it to himself. He'd never been abducted before, so he wasn't sure what the normal range of emotions should be, and apparently, his couldn't settle on just one as his kept bouncing all over the place.
He watched as the corners of the man's mouth seemed to fight to turn up, and Archie found he liked the look of the man.
"I did not kidnap you," the man said after what seemed like forever.
"Sure you didn't," Archie huffed. He folded his arms across his chest as he leaned back against the headboard. He tried his hardest to pull off an air of nonchalance, but he really wasn't sure if he managed it or not. On the inside, his stomach was in knots, and his nerves felt like they were stretched to breaking point. His muscles also ached from being tensed for so long.
Archie watched in utter fascination as the man before him clenched his teeth together.
"I. Did. Not. Kidnap. You," he bit out.
"Ah huh." Like Archie was going to believe anything the man said. Archie casually looked down at the watch on his wrist and groaned when he realised it was now after two in the morning. He needed sleep. Archie really didn't think he could deal with this right now.
He ignored the man now glowering at him and looked around the room for the first time. Archie had to admit to being a little confused at being in a place that looked like it was someone's bedroom. There was a clothes basket in the corner overflowing with dirty laundry, a large flat screen television mounted on the wall opposite the large bed Archie currently sat on, and two nightstands sat on either side of the bed. Off to the side of the room, a small two-seater couch and single armchair with a wooden coffee table resided.
On the other side of the room, there were two doors. Archie assumed these would be to a walk-in wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom.
To say he was confused as to why he had been brought here would be an understatement, but hopefully, his brain could better process his surroundings in the morning after some rest.
Ignoring the still-glowering man sitting on the edge of the bed, Archie scrambled off the bed and headed to the far door, happy to still be fully dressed.
"What are you doing?" his kidnapper asked, one eyebrow raised.
"I need sleep," Archie replied as he stopped mere feet from the door.
"Do you sleep standing up for some reason?"
Archie stared at the man like he'd grown a second head. How stupid was this guy?
"I'm not a fucking bat or a bloody vampire, I sleep in a bed just like everybody else," Archie huffed, annoyed with this man.
"Then what the hell are you doing? You were just in bed."
Archie growled. Getting frustrated the more he talked with his kidnapper. He then yawned, his jaw cracking and his eyes watered. He needed sleep in the worst way. He couldn't deal with all this right now.
"If you think I'm going to go to sleep in the same room as the man who kidnapped me you've got another thing coming."
The stunning man stalked across the room until he stood in front of Archie, the door to his back, his impressive arms crossed over his even more impressive chest.
"For the last time, I did not kidnap you. I rescued you from an exceptionally dangerous man. I…saved…your…life."
"If that's the case then you won't mind proving it," Archie said.
"Just how the hell would you like me to do that?" The man asked, sounding incredulous.
"No idea, it's something you can think about out there." Archie nodded in the direction of the door he assumed lead out of the room.
"I'm not leaving you," the man said stubbornly.
"The hell you're not. I'm not sleeping with you in here with me," Archie argued. "You've got two choices. You're either right, and you didn't kidnap me, in which case you let me leave, and I can go home, forget this whole thing ever happened and actually get some sleep."
"What's the second choice as it's not safe for you to leave," the stubborn man said glowering at Archie.
"Option two is you admit to kidnapping me, leave me the hell alone so I can get some much-needed sleep and let me deal with whatever the fuck this is in the morning."
"Option three?" the man asked.
"There is no option three," Archie screamed in frustration.
Suddenly the door opened wide behind them, another man standing there. Archie didn't even think. He reacted on instinct. He placed his hands on the kidnapper's chest and pushed with all his might. Not expecting the move, the man stumbled back into his friend, the two of them tangling together and collapsing to the ground in a heap of arms and legs.
Archie didn't pay them any attention. Instead he slammed the door and twisted the lock, the click loud in the suddenly quiet room. He doubted it would be enough to keep the man out of the room if he was really determined, but Archie would make it as hard as he could.
He made his way over to the sitting area and dragged the heavy recliner over in front of the door.
Relatively happy that he was as safe as he could be Archie stumbled back to the bed. He toed off his shoes and shucked out of most of his clothes. They were filthy and wouldn't be conducive to a good night's sleep. Eventually, he cra
wled onto the heavenly bed and pulled the covers up. Archie let out a contented sigh as he breathed in a rich masculine aroma and warmth enveloped him.
Archie ignored the pounding on the door and the indignant voice that went with it. He was too tired and too weirded out to move, he could deal with everything in the morning after he'd had a decent sleep and his brain was working at full capacity. As freaked as Archie was it didn't take long for sleep to claim its victim.
* * * * *
Adze stared at the closed door in front of him, unable to comprehend what the hell had just happened. Behind him, Nicor stood pissing himself laughing.
"That mate of yours seems to have quite the temper." Nicor clapped him on the shoulder before disappearing back down the passage.
Adze glanced after him and noticed the rest of his pack gathered, all trying to hold back their laughter, but not succeeding. He flipped them all the bird and went back to contemplating the closed door in front of him.
Adze was pretty sure he hadn't met a more infuriating man in his life. Adze wanted to unlock the door and ask his mate what the hell he thought he was playing at. But he knew if he did that it would be showing the stubborn little man that Adze couldn't respect his space or privacy.
He had to think about this from Archie's point of view. The man had just been the attempted victim of a psycho nephilim, only to be rescued by hellhounds and taken back to a penthouse apartment while he was unconscious.
Adze sighed and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He wanted to be back in the room more than anything. Just to check on his mate, make sure Archie was okay. Adze stalked away before he did something he'd regret later.
Adze went to his office and closed the door behind him. He really didn't feel like dealing with the rest of his pack right now. He needed something to distract him from the tantalising man currently asleep in his bed, so Adze buried himself in work.
He read report after report that Matti had sent through detailing all the possible cases they were keeping an eye on across the country in case they turned into a job for the hounds.
Matti had also updated the Bates file and re-sent that through with all the details Oriax had passed along to her tonight. Archie's ID had been left out as at the time Oriax had spoken with her no one knew Archie's identity, but Adze was sure in time even that would be added to the file.
Adze yawned and looked at his watch. It was getting on to four a.m. He needed to get some sleep as he had a mate to deal with in the morning. Adze shut the computer down and headed out. The penthouse was quiet. Everyone had gone to bed an hour ago. Adze quietly walked over to his room and placed his hand on the solid wood door. He closed his eyes and prayed that his mate would be able to accept him for who he was.
He took a deep breath then turned away. Adze grabbed a spare blanket from the linen cupboard and made his way to the living room. Thankfully, since six of them lived there, their couch was massive and quite comfortable. Adze had slept on the couch previously, but this would be the first time on purpose.
Adze snatched a couple of the black and grey cushions and placed them against the armrest, then lay down and pulled the blanket over him. He had trouble falling asleep. Now that he wasn't buried in work Adze's mind kept going over and over the events of earlier. Adze would have lost his mate for all eternity if they hadn't been as close as they were. A couple more minutes, if that, and Bates would have had Archie in his car and taken him to God knows where and killed him.
Just the mere thought of that had Adze throwing the blankets off and dashing to the bathroom where he dry retched into the toilet.
"Jesus Christ!" he groaned. He needed to get his shit together, and fast. Bates was still out there, still a threat, to Archie and to others. Adze rinsed his mouth out and trudged back to the couch. He needed to get some sleep, or he'd be no help to anyone.
Adze closed his eyes again and prayed sleep came for him soon.
Chapter Eight
Archie came awake slowly, the warmth of the thick blankets surrounding him and trying to lull him back to sleep. Archie couldn't remember the last time he had felt this good in the morning; his face was resting against a pillow he could have sworn was made of clouds it was so comfortable.
The fog of sleep slowly started to lift, and Archie blinked his eyes open. He wished he hadn't when he took in the strange bed and room in the light of day. Suddenly everything from the night before came rushing back. He frantically glanced around the room, his heart beat easing a little when he realised he was alone and the recliner he had dragged across the room still sat against the door, barring entry to anyone.
His mind was a chaotic mess of thoughts as he tried to figure out how the hell he was going to get out of here. He wondered if Amal was worried about him. Of course, he'd be worried about him, the man never stopped mother-henning. Archie spotted his phone and wallet on the bedside table and couldn't remember putting it there. He snatched up the phone to call Amal and ask for help, only for the damn thing to be dead.
"God damn it," he shouted.
Archie took a deep breath and put the phone down again before he threw it at a wall like he wanted to. He could do this. He could work out why these people wanted him. And hopefully, talk them into letting him go.
He doubted in the history of kidnappings across the world that a kidnap victim had ever been able to talk his or her captors into letting them go, but Archie was going to try.
The first thing he needed was a shower. He still smelled like the restaurant from last night, and the scent was making him queasy. It was either the smell or the situation he currently found himself in. Archie wanted to rectify one issue, then work on the other.
He grabbed up his clothes from the ground, where he'd left them last night before he'd crawled into bed and made his way across the room to the two doors.
The first one he opened led to a nice sized walk-in robe. The man who this room belonged to was a bit of a slob, clothes piled haphazardly here and there, not folded and put away in their designated spots.
Archie thought about borrowing some clothes, his were dirty and also smelled from last night's dinner shift. He didn't know if that was a good idea, though. He hummed and hawed for a minute before snatching up a faded T-shirt. He'd keep his own pants, it was the shirt that smelled the worst anyway.
He opened the next door and felt inside on the wall until he found the light switch and flicked it on. This door led into a lovely en suite. All grey and white tile with smokey glass partitions. Archie stepped inside and stopped when he saw himself in the mirror. His eyes were wide, his pupils blown. He had a couple of bruises where he could remember being forcibly grabbed last night. They didn't look too bad. Hopefully his kidnappers wouldn't do worse to him. Archie wasn't a massive fan of pain.
Archie shucked the last of his clothes and stepped into the shower. He'd love to be able to just wash the entire incident away. That wasn't about to happen, though. He tried to wrack his brain for a reason why someone would want to grab him. He wasn't wealthy, nor were his parents or roommate. Hell, Archie didn't even know a single person that would consider themselves to be rich. He hadn't witnessed anything he was aware of and didn't know any state secrets. He was an accountant for crying out loud.
As much as Archie would love to stand under the spray all day, he knew he couldn't bury his head in the sand. He needed to face up to the situation. He washed, his movements rough and short then rinsed, and turned off the water. Archie grabbed the towel that was hanging on the railing and dried himself. He had no idea what he was going to do, or how he was getting out of this situation. Archie had never felt so incapable in his life. He wrapped the towel around his waist then searched the bathroom drawers. Luckily, he found what he was looking for and quickly divested the new toothbrush of its packaging.
When Archie was done, he slightly felt better. He quickly dressed, the T-shirt was soft and smelled amazing. It was also far too big for him, but Archie wasn't about to worry about that.
<
br /> He took a deep breath and stared at his reflection in the mirror.
"You can do this!" he tried to reassure himself.
It didn't really work. With butterflies doing divebombs in his belly, Archie headed back into the bedroom.
Archie looked around the room for anything he could use as a weapon. He couldn't see anything, so he went back to the walk-in robe to see if he could find anything in there. He spied a well-used cricket bat leaning against the side of the shelving unit. Archie grinned and grabbed it. Perfect. He stepped back into the bedroom holding the bat with both hands and gave it an experimental swing or two.
The bat cut through the air nicely and would hopefully hurt like hell if anyone so much as tried to lay a finger on him.
Archie grabbed his phone, wallet, and keys and shoved them into his pockets then put his shoes on. He wanted out of there. Archie placed the bat against the wall as he pulled the recliner out of the way of the door. He wasn't going to put it back where it had been in case he needed it again in a hurry.
Archie took one more deep breath, grabbed up his bat, then unlocked the door and turned the handle.
He opened the door slowly. He expected his kidnapper to be on the other side of the door glaring at him. He wasn't.
Archie stuck his head out the door, and couldn't see anyone. What he could hear was voices, many voices coming from down the passage. Archie really didn't want to go out there, but he couldn't stay in the bedroom for the rest of his life.
Archie hefted the cricket bat in both hands, the solid wooden bat giving him a modicum of comfort. He stepped through the doorway and into the passage, slowly making his way toward the voices one quiet step at a time.