Chapter 24
Zoe had seen the image of Lazarus King, but hadn’t ever met the man in the flesh. The build, coloring, and eyes were so identical to Archer’s, it was stunning. As for the other brothers she knew who looked different but with a family resemblance, the two men could have been twins, apart from Lazarus’s sporting a thick black beard.
Beatrice glanced at Zoe before returning her attention to Archer, offering her hand. “I’m Beatrice Dante and this is Lazarus King. We’re here about the security details as well as the other assignment we’ve previously discussed over the phone.”
Archer shook her hand and Lazarus’, but his eyes flicked over him with suspicion. Did he notice something? A familiarity? Without having time to delve into that, he stepped aside, allowing them to enter. “This is Zoe Somersby.”
Lazarus took her hand and nodded. Beatrice offered her hand, but the look she gave her was pissed, a clear indication that she was in for a nasty dressing down.
Archer led them to the living room, but Zoe was still by the door, debating what to do, when in fact, there wasn’t any other option but to follow. Lazarus and Beatrice declined a drink and sat on the L-shaped couch. Archer looked at Zoe and she walked in his direction, like a robot, sitting beside him on the sofa in front of them.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet me and organize the security for tonight at such short notice.”
Beatrice nodded. “I understand, Mr. Blackwood. You have the full cooperation of my organization. Purgatory normally doesn’t do security jobs, but these are special circumstances.”
“According to my research, you normally do more elaborate rescue missions, isn’t that right, Ms. Dante?”
Beatrice’s eyes slid from Archer to Zoe. “Indeed.” And her focus went back to him. “I know this is the worst possible timing, but at the same time, circumstances are what they are. After our discussion last night, your request to dig into certain matters, I thought best to come with Mr. King here to give you a complete and entire report on the situation.”
Archer slid a little bit more forward on his seat. “I asked for a complete report. That’s what I’m paying for. According to your reputation, that’s what I’m expecting of you.”
Beatrice looked at Lazarus who leaned forward, mimicking his brother. “We will give you all the information. All we request of you is to wait until you have all the information, all the data, before making any decision or taking any action.”
Frowning, Archer clenched and relaxed his fists a few times. “I gather it’s not good news then.”
Zoe’s felt her anxiety increasing as she didn’t quite understand where the discussion was going. Lazarus removed an envelope from his vest. “This is the first part of the information we need to give you.”
Archer stood to take it. Taking out a few pages, he started reading, walking toward the windows. Zoe turned to Beatrice who shook her head. Lazarus didn’t remove his gaze from Archer, his hands fisted, his knuckles white from the effort.
Time seemed to stretch indefinitely. Zoe couldn’t read Archer’s expression with his back to her, but the tension radiating from his body was undeniable.
When he spoke, his voice was so low, it sounded like a growl. “Why give me this information now? Why?” Lazarus was about to stand up, but Archer shook his head.
Lazarus racked his hair. “I never had any intention of telling you we were related. For years, I only searched for my siblings to make sure they were all okay.”
Archer let the papers fall on the table between them. “And you want me to believe this? A piece of paper?”
Lazarus stood, but kept a neutral posture. “I didn’t think you would believe any of this. But I assure you that it’s legit. From a renowned laboratory.”
Archer shook his head. “How were you able to get a sample from me?”
“Your last medical. You had a blood sample drawn. It was easy rerouting it to our lab. But I have more proof.”
Handing him a piece of folded paper, Lazarus retreated once more. Archer’s face darkened as his eyes read the words. This seemed to affect him even more, and Zoe couldn’t keep her distance any longer. Going to him, she touched his back. It was a risky move, especially since she didn’t know where they stood with each other. He didn’t acknowledge her but didn’t pull away either.
Before she could ask, he handed her the paper. It was a photocopy of a letter from a woman called Ruth Blackwood. At the name, she looked up at Archer. He wasn’t looking at her, but it gave her the answer. Lowering her eyes back to the letter, she read how Archer’s birth mother pleaded with a man whose name was cut out, for help and money as she was pregnant with his child and didn’t know what to do.
“My mother always told me that meeting my father had been the best thing that happened in her life. I never understood why. We were poor, scrambling to get by in one of the worst parts of town. But I now see why she said that. It was not about meeting the man who brought me life, but the man who helped her bring me up. Even if I wasn’t his blood. And I looked nothing like him. And I mean so much that I’ve been bullied about it. Well, until I was big enough to defend myself.”
Archer looked so pensive, it threw Zoe off. Beatrice and Lazarus looked closed off, waiting. Once again, he took the papers that lay on the table to look at them. A full minute of silence went by, until Archer looked back at Lazarus. “Why now? Why would you make contact now?”
Lazarus looked weary. “Our father... he’s not a good man. And in the last few years, he’s done awful things. He kidnapped my mother, threatened me and now he’s starting to attack the children he sired. Our brothers. I can’t let that happen. He’s vicious and will use any weakness he finds in people, making them his puppets.”
The words resonated through Zoe’s body, making her shiver. Fear spread through her limbs, forcing her to take a seat, unable to look up anymore. What Lazarus said described Finch perfectly, but the target was a bit off.
Archer nodded. “You think the man would be fool enough to threaten me?”
Beatrice shook her head. “He would never act up front but snake his way around your throat until he gets what he wants.”
