by Dark, Raven
Gwen joined Archer on the couch, grateful when he squeezed her hand. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, he sees himself as a caring suitor. Based on his letter after he saw the emails between the two of you and his other behavior, he alternates between idealizing you as his perfect woman, and seeing you as someone corrupt. Which explains his reaction to Archer. He views Archer as a threat to his plans for you, but also the source of her corruption.”
“Agent Lassiter, what aren’t you saying? There’s something more.”
He straightened in the chair and flicked a look at Archer.
“Sir, please stop trying to protect me. Whatever it is, I can handle it.”
“All right. If he took out the garbage, he likely took it out to the bin I saw out back before coming up. He would have had to walk through the building and back. He’d have been seen.”
Gwen exchanged a look with Archer. Lassiter went on at their confusion.
“Any man who would walk through the whole building like he lives here, without worrying about anyone seeing him, is either stupid, bat shit crazy, or incredibly dangerous.”
Gwen gulped. “He knew how to disarm the alarm, and he got in here and without anyone being the wiser. He’s not stupid.”
“Right. It wasn’t someone who works for the company I set you up with. If he was an alarm installer, he would have disarmed it properly, not destroyed it”
“Jesus Christ.” She pushed to her feet. “Who is this guy?”
Lassiter swung up off the chair and crossed the room to her, his eyes intense. “There is one more thing.” He glanced at Archer.
Archer stood up and rubbed Gwen’s back.
“Miss Stanton, do you usually mark your calendars?”
“What? Why? No.”
“The calendar on your fridge has three days marked off, but none anywhere else. It had to be him.”
Gwen’s eyes widened and she felt Archer tense beside her. “Sir, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
Lassiter nodded. “He was here waiting for you, and he marked off the days you were gone. He was here the whole time, and he wanted you to know it.”
“Oh God.” Gwen covered her mouth. She looked at Archer, her eyes huge. “If we… if I’d come back, he would have…” Images of a man in a mask waiting in the dark assailed her. She barely kept herself from swaying. Archer watched her too closely and slid his arm around her. Was he holding her up?
“Here, sit down.” He gently pulled her onto the couch.
Gwen swallowed hard. So hard to breathe. Why were her teeth chattering? Archer’s big hand made soothing motions over her back.
“If I’d come back sooner…” She shook her head, trailing off again.
“I know.” Archer stroked her hair. “Shh. You didn’t. You’re safe.”
Agent Lassiter seated himself in a chair opposite them, leaning forward, saying nothing. Letting Archer soother her, perhaps. He wore a scowl, looking deep in thought.
“I can’t stop shaking.” She looked at both men. “I’m sorry. I’m not handling this well.”
“You’re handling it fine.” Lassiter sounded oddly gruff as he scanned some of the photos with the magnifying glass he’d brought in with him. What was he thinking? His eyes were like steel as he scrutinized one photo, then another.
“Archer, what if he comes back? What if he comes for me? I’ve learned a lot from you, but I’m not ready. Not for this.”
For an instant he almost looked… relieved. Why? “Don’t think like that.” He rubbed her arms. “You aren’t alone in this, all right? We’ll get this guy.”
She nodded and slid her arms around him. How could she have ever compared him to her father, or Ace? None of them would have been there for her like this.
“Agent Lassiter, how did he do this? I mean, how did he live here for three days without anyone noticing? My landlord is too much of a busybody not to pick up on it.”
Lassiter set the photos down. “Good question. He must have figured out a way to blend in here.”
“How the hell does someone do that?” Archer demanded. “Her landlord would know she lives alone.”
The agent dug into his bag of sunflower seeds. “We will find out how. I’ll say one thing. It says a lot about him.”
“Like what?” Gwen asked.
“For one, he’s probably average looking. He knows how to keep a low profile. He’d have to in order to avoid raising suspicion.”
“Great. How are we suppose to catch him?”
“Very carefully.”
When she didn’t look convinced, Lassiter surprised her by squeezing her shoulder.
“Miss Stanton, perverts like this are the beasts I know how to cage. We’ll get him.”
“Now what?” Archer asked. “We can’t stay here.”
“No, you can’t.” Lassiter picked up some pictures, putting them in an evidence bag. “Miss Stanton, do you have someone you can stay with? Family, friends? No one can be in here until I sweep this place for evidence, and until this guy is caught, it’s not safe.”
“I can’t stay with family.” Her stomach clenched at the thought of having to tell Ace or her father any of this. “I don’t want to stay with Zoe. I’m not making her or Nick a target.”
Archer squeezed her elbow. “Stay with me.”
“What?” For some reason heat swept over her face and neck. “Archer, no.”
“Why the hell not?”
Lassiter scowled at her. When she glanced at him, he muttered something about obstinate women and wandered to the kitchen. Gwen sighed. The Agent was definitely a Haven man. He had the overprotective, woman’s place thing in his DNA.
She looked at Archer, who crossed his arms, waiting. “Oh, come on, aside from not making you a bigger target, you know we aren’t ready for the cohabitation thing.”
“I already told you, I can take care of myself.”
“No one can take on everyone. This guy obviously knows how to get around things.” She ran her hand through her hair. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, okay?”
Irritation flashed in his eyes. “I’m not saying I’m invincible, but you’ll be safe with me. I know how to protect you.”
“He does.”
Gwen glanced at Lassiter. When had he come back in here? The quietness of his tone and the urgency in his eyes surprised her.
“Master Archer may know shit about criminology, but he taught me everything I know about protection.”
Archer squeezed her hand. “Don’t think of it as living with your boyfriend. It’s about keeping you safe.”
“But I’m such a mess. Do you see this?” She gestured at the apartment, the cluttered surfaces, the disarray. Archer was so disciplined and she was… well, not.
“You think I care more about cleanliness than keeping you safe?”
She rolled her eyes, but nodded. “Alright, I’ll stay with Archer.”
Lassiter clapped Archer on the shoulder, but when Archer looked at him, his face turned even more stoic than it had been. “We’ll do everything we can to catch him, Miss Stanton. Archer, a word?”
Archer nodded and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, then followed the agent through the apartment into the hall.
Once outside in the hall, Quinn made a gesture for Archer to close the door. Goose pimples rose on Archer’s arms at the somber look on his face. He pulled the door over, making sure Gwen couldn’t hear what they said.
He’d be lying if he said he didn’t want to kill the pervert who stalked her. The bastard had been in her apartment. Every protective instinct in him screamed to drag her off to some secluded place where the stalker couldn’t get to her.
“Quinn, how much worse is this going to get? Is being with her putting her in danger?”
“No. It’s important you go about your lives as normal. If you end what’s between you now, it gives him power. And you’re the only one in her life who’s taken her seriously. She needs to know she has you.”
Archer concealed his relief with a nod.
“Master Archer, whatever you’ve been teaching her, I’d upgrade her training as far as she can handle it. I’m talking crash course.”
Archer widened his eyes. Images of Kimiko’s lifeless body invaded his mind and he shoved them away. “Done.”
“The smallest thing could set this guy off again. And if it does...” Quinn’s blocky shoulders tightened. “Do you still have a gun?”
He swallowed. “Yeah, haven’t carried it in years, though.”
“You better start. Pissed as this guy is, if he gets close enough, he might just kill her.”
Archer’s fist struck the padding covering Gwen’s chest. She stumbled back but caught her balance. He struck out again and she blocked him. How could a strike from him feel so much like a battering ram? When he struck the padding over her chest, she flew backwards onto his mat with a grunt. Thank goodness he’d put a mat down in the training area of his apartment.
“You’re slow today,” He rubbed his wrapped knuckles.
“I know.” The same manic determination that had become an almost constant companion in the week since the stalker had broken into her house seized her and she vaulted to her feet. “Again. Do it again.”
“Excuse me?”
“Sensei. Please?”
He unwrapped his hands. “We’ve been training for hours. Enough for now.”
“But Archer…”
He took her face in his hands. “Gwen, stop. You’ve been training every spare moment since you moved in here with me. You’ll wear yourself out. You can’t push so hard.”
She pushed out a breath, but crossed the room and sat on the side of his bed as she pulled off her protective padding. He did the same and sat down with her, covering her hand with his.
“I just feel like it’s not enough, you know? He’s gonna come for me, and I won’t know how to fight him.”
“I get it. But you have to trust the process. You’ve learned so much. There is no magic bullet for this.”
Desperation and anxiety coiled in her, but his promise soothed some of it. She stroked his cheek with her hand, heart swelling for him.
“I’m not gonna let him take you from me, Gwen.” He kissed her forehead. “Now go get a shower while I make us some dinner.”
“You’re making me dinner?” She grinned at him.
“Yes. Go.” He pushed her for the bathroom. “Supper in twenty minutes.”
“Bossy.” She rose from the bed, slinking slowly across the room to the bathroom. Taking her time, watching his eyes darken.
“You want to end up over my knee?”
She blew him a kiss. Archer growled and got up, moving to follow her. Gwen slid into the bathroom and shut the door.
A short time later, she donned one of Archer’s huge T-shirts after drying off, smiled at the Iron Fist logo on the front, and opened the door, expecting to see Archer setting out dinner in front of the TV. The moment she stepped out, she froze.
“Since you seem to be avoiding me, I thought I’d bring beer night to you…” Ace cut off in the middle of shutting Archer’s apartment door and his eyes widened as he looked across the room to the bathroom. The smile slid off his face. “Gwen…”
Gwen gulped hard. “Jesus. Ace.”
24
Coming Clean
For what felt like minutes, neither Ace nor Gwen moved. Ace stared at her, looking her over with obvious confusion. Everything in Gwen screamed at her to scurry back into the bathroom.
Archer flashed her an apologetic look. God, Gwen could only imagine what her brother thought.
Ace’s eyes narrowed, a hardness she’d never seen before taking over his face. “What the hell is this?” His voice was a terrifying hiss.
Gwen swallowed. Ace looked between her and his sensei, visibly trying to connect dots that wouldn’t connect.
“Ace.” She tried to stop her thoughts from racing. If only she’d had time to sort out what to say. “Maybe I’d better get dressed before we talk.”
“Sorry, Gwen. I didn’t have time to warn you. Ace, you’d better sit down. We have a lot to tell you.”
Ace ignored his advice and prowled across the room toward Gwen. He kept looking back at Archer, then at her. He looked like he was going to drop the beers until Archer took them. Archer took his arm to stop his progress toward her, but he twisted free.
“I asked you a question, Gwen. What the hell is going on here? Why are you in Master Archer’s apartment in nothing but his T-shirt?”
The judgment in his eyes choked her, tightened her chest until she could barely breathe. And all the worse when the look he gave Archer held only confusion.
Of course, his teacher could do no wrong. Gwen cleared her throat. “I should think that would be obvious, brother.” His eyes widened and her whole body prickled with a nervous shiver.
Behind him Archer snorted and Ace rounded on him. Ace’s back stiffened. He gave an ugly laugh. His disbelief would have been funny if it weren’t so insulting.
“Okay, what is this, Archer? It’s a sick joke, right? You… you and she can’t be…”
Archer nodded. “We are.”
Ace shot a glare at Gwen, then another at Archer. “How long?” His voice ground like steel.
“A couple of months. Look I wanted to tell you. I—”
“No way. I’m being punked, right? It’s a joke. I get it. Funny, really.”
“Gee, thanks.” Gwen rolled her eyes. “He’s too good for me, right?”
Archer moved around Ace and stopped at her side, touching her shoulder. The reassurance in that single touch felt like it was the only thing keeping her from bolting.
“It’s not a joke, Ace. We’ve been dating since shortly after Christmas.”
“How? Gwen, how the hell did this start?”
“I…” Crap, How to explain? “Um…”
Archer squeezed her nape softly. “I’m teaching Gwen karate.”
“You?” Ace’s lip curled at her. “Why the hell are you taking karate? You wanna get hurt?”
Knowing how he felt about the stalker, she grappled for an answer he’d listen to, but he didn’t give her a chance to reply.
“No, I don’t want to hear it. Whatever is going on here, it stops now.” He reached for her arm.
Gwen stepped aside without thinking. His brows shot up, and her heart thudded faster at the lividness on his face.
“You’re coming home with me. Get dressed. Now.”
“Ace, cool it, man.” Archer stepped in, but Ace shifted, blocking him. He reached for Gwen again.
She glanced at Archer, drawing strength from his presence and stepped aside again. She made herself meet her brother’s glare. “I can’t do that, Ace. I’m sorry.”
Ace’s eyes flashed. “What the hell is wrong with you? Do as I say, now.”
“No.”
“Ace, she can’t.” Archer put a hand on his shoulder, a calming gesture.
Ace glared daggers at him and swatted his hand off. Archer’s eyes widened. “Back off, Archer. We’ll talk later. Gwen. Clothes. On. Now, or I’ll take you back like you are.”
“Ace, you don’t understand.” When he narrowed his eyes, she sighed. “My house is a crime scene. Look, sit down.”
Ace rolled his eyes and looked between them both until Archer nodded. “What are you both on about? A crime scene? What is this nonsense, Gwen?”
Gwen caught herself fidgeting and put her hands behind her. “I told you, I’m being stalked. I went to Archer to learn self defense.”
“Oh, now I see. So you’ve pulled Master Archer into this little game now? Are you that desperate for attention, you need to pester my teacher?”
Anger welled up in her, hot and fierce. She balled her fists. Her body shook. “Ace, stop it. This is not some game. The stalker was in my house.”
“I’m not surprised. That’s it. We’re going to Dad’s and you’re quitting that ridiculous job at the club now.” H
e seized her arm. “I intend to have a word with this Nick Kincaid, too.”
“Ace, let go.” She pulled against him, but he didn’t release her. Weakness flooded her. Archer said something, but she couldn’t hear it over her racing heart. She thought she heard Archer grab him.
“Get off.” Ace released her, and there was a loud thump. Gwen spun to see Archer stagger back, surprised, like Ace had pushed him hard.
“Ace, I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“If you won’t dress and come with me willingly, I’ll drag you out.” He pushed her toward the door.
“Get off me.” She pulled to get free, and his grip tightened. Something kicked in inside her, and she twisted her arm in a circle. He let go with a surprised grunt and she thrust her palm hard into his chest. The instinctive ki-ai sounded loud in her ears.
Ace stumbled backward, catching himself with one foot put behind him. Gwen glared at him, hands up in defense. “Back off.”
It occurred to her she wouldn’t’ have moved him at all if he weren’t caught off guard. Archer stared at her, pride shining in his eyes. Ace’s fists tightened and his face twisted. He stepped toward her.
Gwen barely saw Archer move. One moment, he was looking at her, stunned, and the next, he had Ace’s arm behind his back and he shoved him against the wall. Ace cursed and struggled, but Archer put his arm up higher until he winced and finally gave up.
“Listen to me, cause I’m only going to say this once. Your sister is here on her own free will.”
Ace flicked a look at her, and she crossed her arms.
“I am.”
“She’s in very real danger. You wanna help her, you’re welcome to, but if not, we got someone on the case. You wanna fight me, we’ll take it to the mats. But I will not have you talking to Gwen like that.”
“But I…”
“No, Ace. Shut up. Listening time now.”