When he reached for her, she swiftly ducked under his arm, keeping a watchful eye on him. “I’m sorry. I need the phone. I will return it, I promise.”
With the slow movement of a seasoned predator, he started walking toward her as she carefully walked back. “I don’t believe your promises, so you can stop using that word.”
Zoe continued to back up. She wasn’t afraid of him, she was afraid of failing Lucas, of failing Archer. All she needed was the phone, and time. She could work out the rest. There was no other possibility.
Turning the corner, she seemed to have walked back into the living room, and there Zoe caught a glimpse of the door. Archer was still following her, at a distance, but she had to try.
With all the desperate strength and energy she had in her, Zoe made a mad sprint for the door. It was unlocked she told herself, allowing her to flee down the stairs. Amazed to get the door open, her world turned upside down when she was tackled to the floor. Well, it was more like a tumble as Archer rolled with her, partly softening the fall, but when his arms circled her, it was like metal bands, that were impossible to get free from. With one of his legs trapping hers, she couldn’t move. Even wriggling and screaming at the top of her lungs didn’t help. For a fraction of a second, she felt his arms opening, but it was only to better trap her under his body on the cold wood floor. With his weight over hers, there was no way out. Calm and composed, he looked at her with his icy stare.
Not a word from him, his entire being closed off. Swiftly, he manacled both her wrists in one of his hands and retrieved the phone from her pocket before letting her go. Zoe was in full panic mode and rolled toward him as he got up. Heaving, she could only get to her knees.
“Please. Archer. I need the phone. I’m begging you.”
Oh, she was ready to beg, to crawl, to humiliate herself, whatever was required to get out of this situation. Deep down, she knew tears wouldn’t help. Not against the detached man before her.
“Please, I’m desperate. I need the phone. If I don’t get it back...” The words failed her, and she tried to stifle a sob with a hand over her mouth. She had to regain control over herself before looking up at him again. Trying to regain her composure was challenging, and fighting for it, she put a hand on the floor.
There had to be a way to convince him to let her keep the phone for the time being. After a few deep breaths, Zoe realized that Archer hadn’t said a word. Tentatively, she lifted her head and saw that he was crouching before her, only a foot away with still his indecipherable expression. It was as if he had been trying to read her and was in the middle of an inner debate with himself. She lowered her gaze.
Extending his arms at her, Zoe winced but didn’t move. His knuckles were bruised with nasty splits and scrapes. Fighter’s hands. Featherlight, his fingertips skimmed her cheek, replacing a strand of hair behind her ear. When he tried to make her look at him, she avoided his eyes.
“Zoe.” Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest at her name said so softly. His large hand cupped her chin and she had no other choice but to lock gazes with him.
Again, it was like a storm was brewing, but it wasn’t as explosive, more like simmering. “Who put that fear in your eyes, Zoe?”
She inhaled deeply, shaking her head. “Please, please. I need to keep the phone. It’s temporary. I promise I will give it back to you.”
Archer kneeled before her, searching her face over and over again. This time, both his battered hands cupped her face, his thumbs wiping away the tears. “Zoe, you have to tell me. If you are in danger, if someone is after you. Is it linked to what happened to Cynthia, and Ellen?”
Shaking her head, she weighed her words. “I don’t know. I swear, I would never hurt anybody, I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Whoever is calling you on the phone, he’s not threatening you directly, but using someone as leverage. Am I right?”
Ignoring his statement, Zoe touched his forearm. “I can’t tell you more. It would put you in danger. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you or...” She almost slipped. “Give me the phone, let me go. It’s safer. Don’t get involved, please.”
Ever so slowly, Archer finally shook his head. “I’m not letting you leave with the phone.”
At his words, she felt her world was crumbling down, all her hopes, all her sacrifices, turned into ashes.
“But you can keep it, if you promise to remain by my side. Continue to work until the end of the contract. I want you within sight at all times, and if I’m not there, with one of the bodyguards. You’re not allowed anywhere alone; do you hear me? And you are not putting yourself in danger like you did tonight. Whoever you are facing, we’ll find a solution.”
His determination, the steel in him floored her. “No, I’m not putting you in danger, Archer. You can’t.”
“It’s not a negotiation, Zoe. It’s an ultimatum. You want the phone. These are my conditions.”
Zoe put a hand on his shoulder, but she knew this was all she would get from him. And she could deal with it for now.
“Okay. I agree.”
Tension started leaving his body. “Good. I trust you will hold that promise at least. You know what I’m capable of.”
His hands slid down her neck, over her arms until they finally settled on his thighs.
“I don’t fear you, Archer.”
“You should. There is something dark inside me, you’ve seen it tonight. If not for your scream, I was ready to kill him.”
This time, it was Zoe that reached out to him. “I know. But still, I don’t fear you. I see no evil in you. You struggled, you were hurt, maybe broken, but you are not a bad man.”
