Chapter 4 #2
“Coulda fooled me,” he calmly retorted.
I’d glared at him and returned my attention to where it was supposed to be—though definitely more alert. Hell, no, I didn’t want to fucking die.
He’d stayed, and honestly, I was a little grateful for the company, though he didn’t say much.
“You’re not here for a career,” he’d finally observed without looking at me.
“No,” I’d truthfully answered.
“You’re here because you don’t know how to stop moving.”
I’d almost laughed. This fucker didn’t know me. Who was he to say why I was there?
We’d taken fire together an hour later. Fast. Close.
For a second, I froze. I’m pretty sure I felt a round pass by me.
He shouted at me and I quickly snapped out of it.
When it was over, Archer had dragged me behind cover without once asking who I was or why the name on my uniform didn’t match my accent.
“You’re not very good at this military stuff,” he’d joked afterward as we both leaned against a dusty, crumbling wall. We were both breathing a little heavy. My head was spinning because everything was catching up to me.
“No.” Though he was teasing, there was no point in lying. He was spot-on with his assessment.
He’d nodded once. “Doesn’t matter, really. You’re here and that’s that—no going back now. Keep your fucking head on swivel and don’t leave your team hanging. With a little luck, you’ll make it home. Don’t re-enlist.”
I’d snorted. “Didn’t plan to.”
He’d grinned. It was one of the few times I ever saw that bastard smile.
That was the beginning.
We’d kept in touch after that. I got out. He would randomly pop up at my place. I’d never asked how he knew where I lived or how long he’d be there. He would usually leave in the middle of the night without a goodbye and as quietly as he’d come.
Years later, when I needed a man I could trust with my life—and with hers—I’d made one call.
Archer hadn’t asked for explanations. He never did.
* * *
The jet touched down before dawn.
I didn’t go to my apartment—I went to the safe house.
As I arrived at the home I owned under a dummy corporation in City Island, it seemed like the snow fell heavier there, muting the city. It was as if it wrapped it in a hush that made it seem like the entire world held its breath.
After punching in the code, I entered without announcing myself. Archer sat in the shadows of the living room, weapon resting in his lap.
“You always did have a death wish. You could’ve called or texted. She’s asleep,” he informed me. “The inner room, like you wanted. No windows.”
I’d specifically designed that room. It had an escape door under the rug that led to the basement, where I had a tunnel that ran under the house behind me and the street, then came out in a small back room of the floral shop. It was a convenient leftover from the Prohibition days.
I smirked. “You knew I was there. I knew you’d be watching the cameras like a hawk. Any issues?”
He chuckled as he glanced at the monitors. “Not tonight.”
I nodded. “You did well. I owe you.”
“You’re paying me well,” he teased. Then he hesitated before he quietly murmured, “You know this was all about wanting her afraid. They wanted her to know they’d been close. They wanted you to know they’d been close.”
“Yeah, well, they succeeded,” I replied. “Once.”
I moved down the hall and stopped outside the door where Sofia slept. I didn’t go in. Not yet. I rested my hand against the frame, swearing I could feel the steady rush of her presence on the other side.
“They crossed a line,” Archer said behind me.
“Yes,” I agreed. “And now they die.”
“Simple as that?”
I turned back to him. “Yes. Exactly as simple as that. Get some sleep. I slept on the plane a little, so I’ll be up for a while. You can take over for me in a few hours. We’ll switch out. At any point, if anyone so much as breathes wrong—”
“They don’t breathe anymore,” Archer finished. “I know.”
I trusted him because over the years, he’d walked through fire with me and never flinched. Because he guarded what mattered without needing to be told why. Because he had become the only family I had in the US.
I looked at the door again.
My hand tightened into a fist.
“I’m assuming they wanted leverage,” I softly explained, then heavily sighed. “There’s someone in my circle who has betrayed us. Someone who is testing me. I’m pretty sure they wanted to see if I would choose.”
Archer waited, a single brow raised.
“I’m certain you’re aware I already have. Maybe it makes me a fool in this world I live in, but I will choose her over everything.”
Outside, snow kept falling.
Inside, my war began in earnest. Archer waited and listened.
“You think it’s the same person?” he finally asked.
“God help them if it is, but yeah, probably.”
With a brief squeeze of my shoulder, he passed me and went into the room at the end of the hall.
I turned the knob and went into the one where Sofia slept. A small lamp cast a soft glow over her small form bundled up in the bed. As I stared, her even breaths became music to my ears. I had no idea how on edge I’d been until that tension slowly uncoiled in my shoulders at the sound.
Making as little noise as possible, I stripped out of my clothing, placing it neatly on the dresser.
Then I lifted the covers, slid under them, and drew her close.
At first, she startled awake. Her wide eyes found mine and relief instantly softened her furrowed brow.
Her arms and legs immediately wrapped around me.
“I missed you,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
My hand cupped the back of her head as she rested it on my chest. For a moment, we simply held each other. I ignored the aching of my cock, but she obviously didn’t.
Her hand slid down and wrapped around it.
My breath caught.
“I need you,” she said, her lips softly brushing over my skin as she spoke. “Please.”
A groan escaped me as she stroked my length.
It was all the encouragement she needed. She pushed up from the bed and straddled me, guiding the tip into her wet heat. A sigh parted her lips and her head tipped back slightly as her gaze remained locked with mine.
“Take this off,” I demanded, jerking on her T-shirt.
Immediately, she ripped it up and over her head. Her full tits jiggled as the hem caught on the tips of her nipples and quickly popped free.
She was stunning.
The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
And she was mine.
As I thrust up deep inside her, I wrapped my hand around the front of her throat. “You. Are. Mine.” I punctuated each word with a savage stroke, reveling in how her breasts swayed with each movement. “Understand?”
“Yes,” she replied in a whisper.
My fingers tightened. “I can’t hear you.”
Her eyes darted to the door.
“I don’t give a fuck if he hears us. Hell, I’d let him watch if it wasn’t for the fact that no one sees this body but me. Now, tell me… do you understand?”
As she replied, I gripped her hip with my free hand and jerked her down, just as I shoved my cock into her tight pussy, causing her to scream, “Yessss!”
A wicked grin lifted the corners of my lips. “Yeah, baby, just like that. Now ride my cock like the good girl I know you are.”
Her fingernails dug into my chest, and I relished the burn because at that point, she started to grind.
The entire time, our eyes held—hers slightly glazed and mine focused and watchful.
I heard the way her breathing went ragged and uneven—could feel it against the palm of my hand.
I felt the way her sheath squeezed tighter. I noticed the way her nipples puckered.
When she screamed my name and her tight cunt pulsed around my shaft, I held her tight, helping her draw out her orgasm. Only after she had collapsed on my chest did I flip us over. Rolling her face down, I lifted her ass into the air as I pressed on her back to keep her chest on the bed.
With her soft brown curls fisted in my hand, I drove into her hot, wet core over and over. I didn’t stop until she cried out in ecstasy into the pillow, her pussy contracting so hard I couldn’t hold back.
“Jesus, baby, I’m going to come. Fuck, yes. I’m going to fill your tight little pussy with my cum,” I ground out before I exploded inside her.
Both of us slick with sweat, we collapsed onto the damp sheets. Our ragged breaths filled the room.
“God, I missed you,” she whispered in the dark as if I needed reminding.
I tucked her head into my shoulder and kissed the crown of her soft hair. “I missed you too, kitten.”
Like her namesake, she cuddled into my side and purred.
I held her until she fell asleep again. For a few moments, I luxuriated in the feel of her soft skin against mine.
Then I carefully and reluctantly extricated myself from her arms. My gaze fell on her small form as I dressed.
A smile lifted the corners of my mouth as I wondered if we would have a boy or a girl and if they would have her beautiful eyes.
Unable to stop myself, I leaned over and kissed her again.
With a heavy sigh, I walked out of the room.