Chapter 22
Not a single word was exchanged from the moment they’d left the bar. Certainly not when they were riding at full speed, as it would have been useless. Not when he made his way through the business district, bypassing Blackwood Corp, until they reached a posh residential building. Not when they entered the underground parking lot. Not when he shut the engine and grabbed her wrist again. Not during the elevator ride up. Not when they entered the penthouse overlooking the city, until Archer pointed the couch and said a single word, “Sit”. Normally, Zoe wasn’t the kind of woman to be ordered around like a dog, but she suspected that if she confronted the beast right now, it would get her nowhere.
He disappeared from sight and Zoe looked around. Despite the few lights, the place seemed to be well decorated, but clearly a rental. Cold and trendy. Temporary.
Leaning back on the leather couch, her body slowly relaxing, aches and pains started to make their appearance. Her hands and face felt grimy, her clothing reeked of sweat and booze and she didn’t want to know the state of her hair. Even her glasses were streaked and in need of a wipe.
Where had Archer gone? Maybe he needed some downtime. The thought of him sitting in a corner like a naughty child almost made her smile. Almost. A quick look at her phone confirmed that she hadn’t missed any calls or text message, apart from Archer’s earlier. And Finch was blessedly silent. Her finger swiped one of Gabrielle’s secret apps until she found her personal emails and photos from Lucas. Her little brother had grown since last time she had seen him. Six months now. He was entering his teenage years and looked so happy. It had been the greatest success of her life to have finally pulled him out of her parent’s clutches. Beatrice had not only saved her life, but also Lucas’ life. After being abused for so long, Zoe didn’t want him to suffer as she did. It was a miracle that not only did they find enough evidence of their parents abusing them, but one of Beatrice's computer hackers also dug data on a high-level fraud conducted by both of them. It had been the final nail in the coffin of her old life. Gaining custody of Lucas had been another battle altogether, added to the fact that she had to hide him as much as possible. Her parents decided not to go down alone during the trial and dropped many names, some of which were dangerous individuals. It had been her last request from Beatrice, a new identity for her and her brother. One that had worked until now.
Unable to sit still, she got up and stretched a little, trying to work out the kinks before walking to the wall of windows. The city looked so bright and lovely, like thousands of stars coming down from the sky. A very human and buzzing sky. Looking up, she couldn’t see any stars, as they were all hidden by the city lights. She missed a clear sky. The best she had ever seen was one deep in the Afghani mountains. It looked like a fine tapestry embroidered with diamonds. In a world surrounded by violence and uncertainty, it was something that would remain, even after her own death.
The thought settled her mind some as she knew what was going to happen next. Archer would demand answers she couldn’t give without endangering Lucas. Or Archer. It was preferable that he knew nothing of what she had done. That way, Finch wouldn’t suspect him, and if she got caught and thrown in jail, he would remain ignorant of her crimes.
Now, there was only one last assignment from Finch to be accomplished, whatever that may be. Not knowing if what she would have to do was related to Blackwood Corp, Zoe prayed Archer wouldn’t fire her.
“You can’t even listen to a simple order, can you?” Lost deep in her thoughts, Zoe hadn’t heard him come back. Crossing her arms, she turned, gathering her courage for the confrontation.
He had taken a quick shower, his dark hair glistening wet, with only a pair of dark sweatpants hanging low on his hips. Some of the civility had come back, but it was thin and brittle. The blooming bruises and scratches on his side and torso screamed who he was. Even furious and ready to attack, he was pure male sin. One Zoe would have indulged in if the situation hadn’t been so serious. Barefoot, Archer took two steps into the living room, crossing his arms, mimicking her posture. “You have some serious explaining to do, Miss Somersby. Or whoever you are.”
“My name is Zoe Somersby.”
“Well, my dear, I have serious doubts about it now. The Zoe Somersby from the resume I received is a multi-language interpreter for the American government, a pencil pusher as you would say. Care to tell me why you disappeared multiple times on the job and when I tried to reach you, you didn’t answer your phone?”
And it dawned on her, the question she hadn’t had time to ask. “This was how you found me. You tracked my phone.” She almost slapped herself for forgetting that detail.
“Technically, it’s my phone, and even if I don’t use that feature for privacy purposes, I do have a tracking app available on it. After the multiple times I tried to contact you and you didn’t answer, I got worried. Especially since Ellen is in the hospital.”
Zoe rushed forward. “Ellen? What happened? Is she okay?” Even though she’d only know her for a short time, Zoe cared about her and prayed it wasn’t about Finch’s evil plan that had already cost Cynthia’s life.
Archer’s stance didn’t waver. “She was attacked while waiting outside for Sorenson to come around with the car. It was dark, she didn’t see her attacker. She said that she fended him off just as Sorenson was arriving. He called me immediately, and suggested I call you. Jones went to your place, and you weren’t there. Now, tell me why I tracked you down in a seedy club in a dangerous part of Chicago?”
And there it was, the question she couldn’t answer. And even with her wild imagination, there was no way to explain it. So again, she tried to deflect. “It’s a private matter. I’m sorry you got caught in the crossfire. I would have answered my phone once I left.”
With the temperature dropping under his cold demeanor, he looked at her with the haughty air she had seen when they met for the interview. He didn’t believe her. Hell, she didn’t even believe herself!
It was like a stare down; his deep gray eyes announcing a pending storm, and she couldn’t run for cover.
“Get out of here. I don’t work with liars.”
The utter pain she felt at his disdain and fury splintered her heart. “Archer...”
“Get out!” Zoe jumped as he bellowed, almost making the glass shake behind her. For a fraction of a second, she sincerely didn’t know what to do. It was as if she didn’t recognize the man before her. And then, her legs started working again as she rushed to the door.
The effect stunned her. Unknowingly, until that very moment, Archer’s presence had been a pillar, a source of strength for her. But now, she was alone. Tears rose, but she kept going and it took a few attempts to unlock the door with her trembling fingers. When she finally succeeded and opened it, it shut with violent force. Archer had followed her and slammed his hand to close it.
“The phone. I want the company phone back.”
At the words, Zoe’s blood turned to ice. She couldn’t give him back the phone! Not only because of all the text messages from Finch, but it was the only way that monster had to contact her, and she didn’t have time to transfer the data to her old phone. With the cell still in her pocket, she shook her head.
“I said, give me the phone!”
Slowly turning, she saw his muscled body towering over her, menace pouring out of every pore. He wasn’t kidding, and neither was she. Zoe knew perfectly the kind of man standing in front of her, what he was capable of. She also knew how far she would go to save Lucas.
When she stayed mute, he repeated, pronouncing every syllable with a snarl. “Give. Me. The. Damn. Phone.”
Finally getting her voice back, she shook her head. “I can’t.” It was a stupid answer, but the only one that mattered.
Zoe held his gaze, ready for anything, even hurting him. And it was a harsh reality that before her stood the second most important human being in her life, even if he wanted nothing to do with her anymore. She was prepared for his hatred, if it meant he would walk out of all this alive.
