Archie's Accidental Kidnapping

by Toni Griffin

  Doctor Theron had asked Archie today if he wanted to go back to work. Archie didn't have an answer for her. While Archie had been in the hospital Adze had paid Archie's debts in full. Only telling Archie about his gift once he was home. Archie knew why Adze had done it, and hadn't had it in him to fight with Adze about it, at least not then. One day he'd open the discussion back up again, just not yet.

  Archie's physio appointments sucked almost as much as being laid up in the hospital. But Adze was there after every one when Archie's muscles ached so badly he didn't think he could move another inch. Adze helped him to do his exercises and then rubbed lotion into all his scars.

  Physically healing took time. It kept Archie from being as intimate with Adze as he'd like, even when there were times he wanted, even needed, the closeness and reassurance. His mind and body battled, the push and pull overwhelming at times. Too many feelings and thoughts barraging him at once, making him feel incomplete and broken. But when he came back, Adze was there, waiting and patient as always.

  Exposing himself to that support and love had taken time and reassurance. The reassurance Adze would be there every time Archie's own mind couldn't see through the fog. Adze listened when Archie wanted to talk and also understood there were days when he didn't want to say anything at all. On those occasions Adze often shifted and curled up next to Archie in his hound form. Archie took a great deal of comfort in knowing that Adze would protect him with his life, no matter what form he took.

  What intimacy they had shared together, as limited as it may be, had been amazing and mind-blowing. Archie hadn't ever thought he'd find someone he'd connect with as deeply as he and Adze clicked. He wasn't sure how Adze did it some days, between his duties as a hound and everything he did for Archie, but Adze never complained.

  Archie had been thinking about something, more and more often over the last couple of weeks, and he thought maybe it was time to put his plan into action.

  He pulled out his phone and searched through the contacts until he found the one he wanted. He connected the call and waited until it was answered.

  "Archie, is everything all right, do you need help?" Pyro asked quickly.

  Archie had to chuckle a little. Every one of the hounds was incredibly protective of him. Sometimes it could get a little overwhelming, but he knew they meant well. It was almost like he had gained five older brothers.

  "I'm fine, stop stressing," he admonished.

  "Well what do you expect, you never call me," Pyro said.

  "I've never needed to, but now I need your help."

  Pyro sucked in a sharp breath. "Are you sure you're all right? What kind of trouble are you in and why haven't you called Adze? Do you need me to get him for you?"

  Archie sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. They were all the same, bloody overprotective.

  "Pyro, I'm fine. I don't need you to get Adze. He is what I need your help with."

  "Oh?"

  "Listen, I want to do something, but I need you, and the other hounds help to pull this off. Can you help?"

  "What did you have in mind?" Pyro asked.

  Archie could hear the interest in the man's voice now that he'd stopped stressing and told Pyro the plan.

  "That's fucking awesome." Pyro laughed. "I'll get the others on board, they'll be happy to help with this. When were you thinking?"

  "Let me see when I can arrange it for and I'll send you a message."

  "Sounds like a plan."

  "Thanks," Archie said then continued, "For everything."

  "Ahhh man, anytime. You're one of us now. Part of the family."

  "Thanks," Archie said again, a lump in his throat. All of the hounds had been amazing over the last few months as Archie recovered from his ordeal.

  "I'm hanging up now, as I want you to go organise this so we can get started on the planning."

  Archie laughed and said goodbye to his friend.

  * * * * *

  "What the fuck!" Adze shouted as he was jumped from behind by four of his pack mates. Nicor, Oriax, Pyro, and Daevas had just tackled him to the ground. They'd play fought before, but never four on one, and not usually when the target didn't know what the fuck was going on.

  Adze struggled, trying to get the four of them off him. Instead, their grips tightened on him, and before he could really get pissed, his hands were tied behind his back, and his ankles were bound together with duct tape.

  "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Adze yelled, then a sleep mask was lowered over his face, and his world went dark.

  He could hear the others laughing and carrying on, but none of them were keying Adze into what the hell they thought they were doing.

  All Adze had wanted was a quiet night in with his mate. Archie had been making giant strides in his recovery and Adze was loving every minute they got to spend together.

  Archie had even told him he would think about moving into the penthouse permanently. Not that he hadn't been there every night anyway. But he still had his apartment he shared with Amal, and Archie still went back there to see his friend and grab some more items, or even just to get away and chill by himself for a little bit.

  Adze couldn't wait. He loved seeing Archie's things all mixed in with his own in their room.

  "Hey, whoa. Where are you taking me?" Adze bitched as he was lifted by four hellhounds. At least Cacus wasn't involved in whatever the hell this was.

  Being carried and blindfolded in a lift was a whole 'nother experience for Adze. His stomach churned a little as the lift took them from the top floor down to the basement.

  The sound of the guys' shoes on the smooth concrete was loud to Adze. At least he knew roughly where he was right now. He just wished someone would tell him what the hell was going on.

  "None of you are going to tell me what you're doing?" he asked. When no one spoke up, he continued, "Just remember, I have an awfully long memory!"

  A car door opened and Adze found himself being manhandled into the back seat of their car.

  "Oh man," Cacus laughed, the sound muted. "That's fucking hilarious."

  "You too?" Adze bitched. "And here I thought you were the sensible one, not to get involved in whatever convoluted scheme these guys have cooked up."

  "Who said it was us who cooked this up?" Daevas laughed, then the sound was cut off as the door closed.

  Adze waited, then felt some of the guys climb into the car. Someone, Pyro by the scent of him, pulled Adze seatbelt over his chest and buckled him in.

  "I am the sensible one," Cacus said as he started the car and drove them out of the building. "I'm also the getaway driver though!"

  "Where are you taking me?" he asked for what felt like the umpteenth time.

  "Quit being so bloody impatient, you'll find out soon enough," Pyro said.

  Adze scowled but shut up and settled back for the car ride to where ever the hell he was going.

  He had no idea how long they drove, his mind fixated on his mate and what he was doing right now, while Adze was stuck with these hooligans. Adze had been looking forward to a nice quiet night in with his mate, that had obviously gone out the window now and he couldn't help but resent that fact a little. The car stopped, and Cacus turned off the engine. Adze vowed he'd pay each and every one of his so-called pack mates back for this.

  "Time to deliver the package, boys," Pyro said as he unclipped Adze's seatbelt then climbed out of the car.

  The door beside Adze opened, and he was once again lifted into strong hands and carried away.

  He could tell when they were no longer outside, the sounds and scent of the air was different.

  He heard a couple of gasps, and some laughing when they came to a stop. Then they were moving again, through a couple more doors, in which Adze found himself being jostled around. When he was finally placed on his feet, Adze could scent his mate. His heart felt like it skipped a beat, just knowing his mate was here with him. This in no way meant that Adze was going to easily forgive the guys for what
they'd done. They'd get theirs in time.

  A door closed behind him, and the room was filled with silence for a second before Archie giggled. Yes, the man giggled!

  Adze scowled, still not able to see anything, or even reach out and touch his mate.

  "Is this all your doing?" he asked.

  Archie's giggle turned into a full-on laugh. The mask covering his eyes was finally removed, and Adze blinked in the sudden light of the room.

  "I may have had something to do with it, but I left the execution of the plan up to the guys. I must say, I didn't quite expect them to go this far." He laughed again then walked around Adze. "Now I understand why Daevas gave me a pocket knife this morning."

  Adze stood there and waited as Archie freed him from his bonds. He rubbed at his wrists, but they weren't too sore.

  It was then that he looked around the room and furrowed his brows.

  "Where the hell are we and what are we doing here?" Adze asked.

  The room they stood in looked like a laboratory, but not quite. There were little things that were off, didn't quite follow what he thought a lab should look like.

  Archie held his arms wide, showing off the room, and grinned at him. "Welcome to Trapt."

  Adze stared at his mate for a second before everything clicked into place. His grin was huge as he stared at his mate.

  "You kidnapped me!" he said with such enthusiasm he was close to breaking into laughter himself.

  Archie winked at him and grinned back. "Nope. The guys did that."

  "On your orders, though."

  "Well, if you're going to get technical about it," Archie said, a pout on his face and his hands on his hips.

  "Oh, I'm going to get technical, just like you did. Now we're even!"

  "Not even close," Archie whispered as he leaned in and gave Adze a tender kiss.

  The overhead speaker crackled to life. "Gentlemen, welcome to Trapt. You're currently in a high-security government laboratory where the scientists haven't been heard from in days. It's suspected that something has gone terribly wrong. You have forty-five minutes to try and escape before the military destroys this facility. Good luck." The loudspeaker crackled again before they were left in a silent room.

  Adze stared at Archie, who raised his brow in question. "I thought it could be fun." He shrugged and Adze couldn't help but pull his mate into his arms and kiss him soundly.

  "Let's do this!"

  * * * * *

  Archie was laughing so hard as they were let out of the room, Adze grinning behind him.

  "That was so much fun," Archie said. "They have three other rooms here, please tell me we can come back and attempt them as well."

  "It was a lot of fun," Adze agreed. He gave Archie what he was coming to know as his indulgent smile then nodded. "We can come back and try the others. Hopefully, we'll have better luck with those."

  Archie laughed. "Probably not, but it'll be fun to try."

  Adze pulled Archie in close until their bodies were pressed together. "So, my little kidnapper, what did you have planned for me now?"

  Archie quickly kissed Adze, then took his hand and led him downstairs. "They have this really cool old-style speakeasy bar. I thought we could check it out, have a drink or two, maybe order some pizza for dinner from the little café up top."

  "Sounds like heaven," Adze said as he followed Archie.

  Archie stepped into the bar and stopped. The place looked amazing. Brick walls with low lighting surrounded the entire room, thick columns stood at intervals throughout the room. Leather couches and chairs were scattered through the entire space, with low wooden tables. The bar was set back against the wall, bottles of every type of spirit imaginable lined the backlit brick.

  The entire room looked incredible and certainly made him think of a prohibition era bar.

  "Over there," Adze pointed at a couple of chairs that looked to be free.

  Archie dragged Adze through the crowded room to the chairs and sat. The leather was buttery soft and smelled incredible.

  Archie picked up the menu and glanced at all the cocktails they had associated with the different escape rooms. He chose the Lazarus potion number 9 from the Biohazard list.

  "You know what you want?" Adze asked him a minute later.

  "Yeah."

  "Okay, I'll go order."

  "Thanks." Archie watched as Adze got up and walked to the bar, he couldn't take his eyes off his man. His man! Archie still couldn't believe that Adze was all his.

  He'd crawl into bed every night and hold Archie as the bad dreams over took him, never once pushing for things Archie wasn't yet ready to give. Adze glanced back at Archie as he waited at the bar for the drinks to be served. Archie felt his insides flutter at just the merest look from his man.

  Adze had been everything Archie had needed and more, and Archie wanted to be the same for Adze.

  His thoughts continued to swirl until Adze came back carrying their drinks. He handed Archie his Lazarus drink then took his seat next to Archie again.

  "The pizza shouldn't be too long," Adze said.

  "Awesome, I'm starving." Archie took a sip of his drink and moaned. The hint of lime really set it off, he took another drink then placed it on a coaster on the small table.

  Adze sipped his own drink then he too placed it on the table next to Archie's.

  "So," Archie said, grinning shyly. "Just how much trouble are the guys in?"

  Adze laughed. "You have no idea. I'll get them back, one day when they least expect it."

  "Try not to be too hard on them. They were helping me out," Archie reminded Adze.

  "Oh, I know, and that's the reason why there won't be any blood spilled." The gleam in Adze's eyes was wicked.

  Archie didn't know if he should apologise to the guys or sit back and buy some popcorn. Surely they knew what they were getting themselves in for? Especially as Archie hadn't specified how Adze was to be brought to him, they'd come up with that all on their own.

  Adze picked up Archie's hand and brought it to his lips for a tender kiss. Archie stared at the man, still unsure how he'd gotten to be so lucky. The stubble of Adze's face scratched against Archie's skin, and his mind started swirling to how that same stubble felt when Adze was kissing other places on his body.

  "Archie?" Adze asked, his voice laced with mirth.

  "I'm sorry, did you say something?" Archie had been a world of his own and hadn't heard a thing.

  "I asked if you're really sure you're ready to move in completely?" Adze said. "I don't want to push you to do something you're not ready for."

  Archie's heart melted. Adze had shown him constantly since they'd met that he wanted what was best for Archie. This was just another shining example.

  "Yeah, I think I am."

  "What about Amal? Is he going to be okay, seeing as how you won't be paying half the rent anymore?"

  Archie laughed. "He'll be just fine considering Rebecca moved in officially two weeks ago."

  "Okay then, now I don't feel so bad about stealing you away for myself."

  Their pizza arrived then, and they happily ate the cheesy goodness, their conversation moving to lighter topics as they had a couple more drinks before deciding to call it a night. Archie couldn't remember the last time he'd had such an incredible time. Actually, yes, he could. The day Adze had taken him on their picnic. He'd been floating on cloud nine after that. But it had come to an end when Adze had taken him home, whereas tonight didn't have to end. Adze had told him weeks ago that he would have to bite Archie to complete their mate bond, he felt ready for that now.

  Archie stood and held his hand out to Adze.

  Adze didn't even hesitate, just took Archie's hand and let him help Adze up.

  "Where to now?" Adze asked.

  "Home."

  Adze stopped in his tracks for a second, his expression blank. "Archie, you know we don't have to, if you're not up to it, your body needs time to recover…"

  "I got the all clear today. S
aw my doc. He's happy with my progress, said it was okay to resume light to mild duties as long as I didn't over do things and kept up with my exercises. If we take things slow I'll be fine."

  "Are you sure?" Adze asked, his voice soft and concerned.

  "More than anything else in the world right now."

  Adze leaned in and kissed him softly.

  "Then let's go home."

  Archie beamed at him, even as butterflies did dive bombs in his stomach. He could do this. He wanted to do this.

  They thanked the staff on the way out for such an amazing experience, promising to be back.

  "Would you like me to call for a taxi, or would you like to walk and catch the tram?" Adze asked.

  "It's a nice night, why don't we walk it?" Archie asked.

  "Sounds perfect." Hand in hand they headed down the street to the nearest tram station that would take them home.

  Adze dragged Archie through the door of the Penthouse, everyone else was sitting in the living room watching Netflix, playing on iPads, or in Cacus's case, had his nose in a book.

  They all glanced over at the pair of them as Adze led Archie through the living room and down the passage.

  "How was it?" Daevas called out.

  "Why are you so late?" Pyro wanted to know.

  "What's it like being kidnapped?" Cacus catcalled, much to everyone's laughter.

  "So the plan worked?" Nicor asked.

  Adze ignored the lot of them. Archie turned as he was being dragged down the passage, the other five hellhounds scrambled to the end of the passage to watch them. Archie grinned and gave them all a thumbs up as Adze pulled him into their room and slammed the door behind them, locking it.

  Archie chuckled. He couldn't help it. They could hear the others laughing as they went back to what they were doing. At least Archie hoped that's what they did. He didn't exactly want them listening in at the bedroom door.