Chapter Nineteen
A ddy rested her head on her knees in the center of the elevator car. The hydraulic safety features had kicked in, slowing the elevator’s descent just before it hit the ground floor. Even though her body had felt like she was free-falling to her death, it was probably only several floors. She wasn’t the one who had been harmed, but Dr. Marks—when the elevator began moving with his hand still caught in the metal doors. Before the elevator car went dark, thick smears of blood had been tracking down the sides of the doors. With the severe damage sustained to his hand, he wouldn’t be a threat now. She didn’t wish that kind of pain on anyone, but it did ease her mind that he was incapacitated and probably wouldn’t be coming to kill her in the very immediate future.
She’d considered trying to pry the doors open to escape, then decided the safest thing to do was just wait—especially now that the lights were off. She’d left a message for Archer of where she was going to be. He’d check his phone after the meeting and alert the authorities when he couldn’t find her. Despite the growing temperature in the elevator, she shivered. She was still reeling from everything Dr. Marks had revealed during their meeting and was devasted that an organization whose mission it was to use their knowledge of people and cultures would then go to such lengths to exploit them.
She inhaled through her nose and exhaled slowly through her mouth. All she had to do was stay calm until Archer arrived. A bead of cold sweat trickled down her back. The aftershocks of the situation had left her shaken but replaying the past few days in her mind helped to ground her. Falling asleep secure in Archer’s embrace, walking along the bay hand in hand, laughing with his parents over a board game, and the profound feeling of connection as they made love on his balcony retreat comforted her.
“Addy!” There was a frantic desperation in the muffled shout. Archer. He’d come more quickly than she could’ve imagined.
“I’m here.” She got to her feet and pounded against the metal door.
“Addy, thank God. I’m coming. Fuck, I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?”
“No, but Dr. Marks is dangerous. Be careful. He might need an ambulance.”
“He’s not a threat at the moment. Hold tight, I’m going to get you out of there.” She heard the scrape of metal. “She’s here!” Archer called.
“Addison.” Julian’s anguished cry made her eyes fill.
“Everything’s okay.” She was incredibly lucky to have so many people in her life who cared. Dim light streamed into the elevator as the men pried the doors open. Then Archer was there, pulling her against him and out of the elevator car. He dropped to his knees, still cradling her in his arms, and began to sob, pressing kisses to her face as his tears coated her skin. The others crowded around them in a semicircle, murmuring how thankful they were that she’d been found. Julian got to his knees and embraced her along with Archer. She wasn’t sure how long they sat there on the concrete floor of the basement. Maybe it was minutes. Maybe it was hours. The sudden flurry of activity around them broke the timeless sensation. Paramedics, police officers, and a firefighter emerged from the stairwell and surrounded them. Archer was having a difficult time letting her go, so they began to assess her while she sat in his lap.
“I don’t need to go to the hospital,” she insisted after the fourth time Archer had asked. “I just want to go home.”
“It’s never been a home until you set foot in it. Not for me. It’s ours, Addy. I want you there permanently.”
She lifted a hand to his face. There was a hurricane of emotion building in his eyes. “I want that, too, but we don’t have to make any decisions while emotions are high. You might decide—”
“You, Addy. That’s the only decision I need. The last, most important choice I’ll ever make.”
“How could I say no to that?”
“You can’t,” Julian piped in, ruffling the top of her hair. “You’re stuck with him now. We’ll move your stuff in over the weekend.”
“I love you,” he whispered in her ear. His breath tickled her skin, and she angled her chin to look up at him, basking in the love reflected in his gaze.
“I love you, too, Archer. Forever,” she said as Archer dropped his forehead to hers.
“Always.” She could feel the way his lips moved into a smile against her skin. Everything that had happened throughout her life had brought her to this moment. To the man who brought her a sense of peace, love, and belonging. This was the life she’d always dreamed of but never thought she’d have. There on the floor of the office building, everything she’d ever hoped for was at her fingertips. She’d spent her whole life exploring, but her biggest, most exhilarating adventure was the one set before her. A life with Archer and their circle of friends that served as family.
She sighed and snuggled into Archer’s chest as the activity continued around them. Yes, let the adventure begin.