Chapter Ten #2
“Is that what we’re calling it? A strategic retreat?”
“That’s what we’re calling it.”
Japer was glad that Cullen was taking this well, but his mind was already on the phone call he had to make. He didn’t only have to tell Archie that he was hurt, but also that he suspected that the reason these hunters had confronted him now was what had happened at the warehouse.
This wasn’t going to be fun.
* * * *
ARCHIE WAS STARTING to dread seeing Jasper’s name on his phone screen. It felt like every time Jasper texted or called him, he had bad news, and this time wasn’t any different.
“They did what?” he asked, already gathering his things from his desk.
He had Braith’s attention. His friend was watching him, a frown on his face, his body tense as if ready to act.
Archie wished there was something Braith could do, but apparently, he would need to be with Jasper twenty-four seven to be able to protect him.
He didn’t know if it was Jasper’s fault for having a knack for getting people to confront him or if someone out there was out to get Archie and give him a heart attack, but he’d had enough.
“We’re both fine,” Jasper reassured him.
“You were attacked by hunters, Jasper. You’re not fine.”
“A neighbor patched us up. I promise we’re okay.”
“I don’t care. I’m picking you and Cullen up and taking you to a safe house.”
“There’s no need for that. We’re home now, and the door’s locked. No one’s getting to us.”
“No one’s getting to you because you’re not staying at the apartment.
Kester found you there. The hunters know where you live.
That’s too many people wanting to hurt you, and I’m done with this.
Until things calm down, I want you and Cullen to be safe.
I won’t be able to focus on anything else otherwise, and I know you don’t want that.
” That was a low blow, but Archie knew it would work.
He was desperate to keep Jasper safe, and if this was what it took, he’d use it.
He didn’t care if that meant he was being manipulative.
As long as Jasper was okay, he’d do anything to ensure things stayed that way.
Jasper groaned. “I’m not going to change your mind, am I?” he asked.
Jasper knew Archie too well. “You’re not,” Archie confirmed as he waved at Braith and rushed out the door.
He didn’t think much about it until he realized that Braith was following him.
He wasn’t surprised, though. Of course Braith would want to be involved.
He cared about Jasper and wanted him to be okay, if anything, for Archie’s sake.
He didn’t know what had happened beyond what he’d heard Archie say, and he was probably worried.
“Fine,” Jasper said. “Cullen and I will pack. We’re not happy about this, though.”
“And I’m not happy you were attacked again.” Archie sighed and held out his car keys to Braith. “Humor me, okay? Just for a little bit.”
“I just don’t like the thought of hiding.”
“You won’t be hiding. I’m not telling you that you can’t leave this place, but I’d feel better knowing that the hunters and Kester don’t know where to find you for a bit.”
“I’m pretty sure Kester will find a way to get to me if he really wants to.”
“Probably, but it’ll be easier to protect you from him and an entire organization of hunters if they have to work a little to find you.”
“It’s not the entire organization,” Jasper argued.
“Okay, half of it, then.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“Well, my boyfriend just got attacked by a bunch of hunters. I think I have a good excuse for being dramatic.”
They stayed on the phone while Braith drove.
It was useless because there was nothing Archie would be able to do even if he heard Jasper being attacked, but it made him feel better to listen to his boyfriend move around his bedroom and pack his stuff.
By the time Archie and Braith reached the apartment Jasper shared with his best friends and now Cullen and let themselves in, both Jasper and Cullen were sitting on the couch, a bag by their feet.
“Kerry and Corey won’t want to leave,” Jasper warned.
“No offense, but I’m not as worried about them as I am about you,” Archie told him as he rushed to his side. “I’m sure they’ll want to be with you, though.” And if they didn’t, well, as much as Archie liked them, it wasn’t his job to protect them.
“They can’t afford to lose their job. I can’t, either.”
“Are you going to? Did you tell your boss what was happening?”
“Yeah, and he agrees with you.” It looked like it pained Jasper to admit that. “He doesn’t like that I was attacked by hunters. He told me to take some time off.” Jasper sighed. “I just feel awful because I keep taking time off.”
“He was a hunter. He understands what you’re dealing with.
He knows exactly how dangerous the hunters are.
” Which was probably why he wanted Jasper to stay away for a bit.
Not only would it keep Jasper safe, but it would also keep hunters away from his business.
Archie had never met the guy, but from what Jasper had told him about his boss, he respected him.
Not everyone would have taken in Jasper after he left the hunters, and even fewer people would’ve kept him around once news that he was a monster started spreading.
Archie hated that Jasper had to go through this, but he was glad he’d lie low for a bit.
A lot of things had been happening, and it felt like Jasper was getting hurt every time Archie wasn’t with him.
Archie didn’t know how to deal with that beyond doing what he was doing now.
It didn’t matter that Jasper wasn’t happy. He could be unhappy and safe.
Jasper grumbled all the way to the car and continued doing so once they were in.
Archie let Cullen sit in the front with Braith while he took the back with Jasper.
He needed to be close to his boyfriend, and it looked like Jasper felt the same way because he leaned into Archie’s side as soon as they were settled.
“You have to stop scaring me like this,” Archie murmured as he stroked a hand over Jasper’s hair. There was a scratch on Jasper’s nose, and Archie had to resist the urge to lean over and kiss it.
Come to think of it, he didn’t have to resist that urge, so he pressed his lips against it, smiling when Jasper wrinkled his nose.
“I wish I could stop scaring myself,” Jasper said. “I went grocery shopping. I didn’t expect to be attacked.”
“I’m glad your neighbors intervened.”
“Me, too. There wouldn’t be much left of Cullen and me if they hadn’t.”
The thought made Archie want to scream and cry at the same time. “We need to do something about this mess,” he murmured.
“I agree, but I don’t think that hiding will be enough. I don’t want to do that forever, Archie.”
As much as Archie did want to hide Jasper forever, he understood why Jasper was against it.
Hell, he didn’t actually want Jasper to stay hidden.
He wanted them to get back to a normal life, but he suspected it would be a while before that happened—if it ever did.
Considering everything, it would have to be a new version of normal.
It wouldn’t be a bad thing, but it would be nice not to have to worry that someone would try to kill Jasper every time he turned a corner.
“We need to go on the offensive,” Braith said from the front seat.
He kept glancing at Cullen instead of the road, and Archie would say something about it if he continued doing that.
They needed everyone in the car to make it to the safe house in one piece, and that wouldn’t happen if Braith crashed the car because he was distracted by Cullen.
“What do you mean?” Cullen asked. He looked at Braith, which wasn’t new for him, but he had stars in his eyes when he did it.
It was something Archie would have to tease his best friend for later, once everyone was safe. He wasn’t sure what was going on between the two or if anything was going on at all, but Cullen could do much worse than Braith. At the same time, Archie wouldn’t want Kester as a father-in-law.
“We obviously can’t take down the hunters and their entire organization, but I don’t think we should wait to see what their next move is, either,” Braith explained.
“I think we should expose the bad apples hiding in their ranks publicly. You saw the news about what happened at the warehouse. They’ll jump on something like this. ”
“Or they’ll find an excuse for the hunters who did that,” Jasper pointed out. “They love hunters.”
“They love being famous more. I think that as long as we’re careful, we can find a way to make it work. Besides, we don’t actually need proof. We want the hunters distracted, and distracting them using the news isn’t a bad idea. It’ll require minimal effort if we stick to anonymous tips.”
“I agree,” Archie said. “We don’t even need to talk to anyone.
We just need to gather information and hand it over, maybe email it or something.
We can stay anonymous. Once we’re done, we just need to lean back and watch.
With the hunters distracted, we’ll be able to focus on finding the hunters involved and getting rid of Kester permanently. ”
Cullen snorted. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“You don’t have to worry about your father,” Braith told him. “We’ll protect you.”
“Yeah, but who will protect you from him?”
That was a good question, and not one Archie had an answer to.