Chapter 25
Planning with Beatrice was like being caught in a whirlwind, and with Lazarus and Archer thrown into the mix, Zoe felt a slight loss of control. In a matter of minutes, Kai and Lance arrived with boxes of electronics. Archer’s rental turned into an improvised headquarters. However, what threw Zoe really off balance was how Archer accepted this new situation. How could he so easily accept blood brothers from a man who was nothing but evil? With his past, she believed he would doubt this more, and push them away.
When Kai arrived, and Lazarus introduced them, Archer shook his hand and smiled. Smiled! And they talked some more, Beatrice being the focal point, the one in charge of making sure she and Archer were under electronic surveillance at all times. Cameras had already been installed and there was only an hour before they left for what would be one of the most elegant soirées of the year. Meanwhile, Beatrice was flying to Lucas, with the firm intention of finding the man following him. Gabrielle would take the lead for Purgatory.
Zoe felt as if she was set in stone, unable to move. She needed to know what was planned, how to react, the contingency plan. They were all around the kitchen island, and Zoe was slightly back, leaning against the wall, feeling gloomy, unable to process the data like she was usually so good at. She had to get ready, that much she knew, but still…
The entire place was filled with people, and it was becoming more and more difficult to breathe. Without a word, Zoe turned around and went back to the guest bedroom she had woken up in, just a few hours ago.
Now everything was in the open, except one thing. Her feelings for Archer. Removing her glasses, she put her forehead against the cool glass of the window. Something was holding her back, and her mind was too unsettled to know what it was. Pushing away, Zoe let herself fall on the bed. Even if she had promised herself not to do it, she got the phone out of her pocket and dialed.
“Hello?”
Zoe quickly swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing cheerfulness in her voice. “Hello buddy! How are you?”
“Zoe! Hey! Cool for you to call. You’re back stateside?”
Again, lying seared her throat. “Just got back.”
“Tired of the desert sand?”
The teasing from her little brother made her smile. “Yeah, you know, sand in my panties is getting on my nerves.”
“Ugghh! Don’t ever refer to your underwear with me!” The teenager made gagging sounds.
“How’s school?”
Gagging turned to endless exasperated sighs as Lucas started describing his lessons and latest scores. Zoe couldn’t focus on the words, but instead let herself be reassured by the sound of his voice. He was alive and well. Beatrice was on her way to protect him and discover who was taking pictures of him. Closing her eyes, tears started to flow. From the moment she had taken custody of him, it hadn’t been easy. Working to pay for his school and board, Zoe would have preferred staying close by, but Lucas understood the situation with a lot more maturity than most boys of his age. For that she was grateful, although it hurt not to see him often.
“When are you coming to see me? I did good enough to skip a few days of school, don’t you think?” The hope in his voice almost broke her in two, and it was a miracle hers sounded steady at all.
“Well, I have a few reports to fill out and once I shake what’s left of the sand, I’ll be on my way to see you.” And with those words, she prayed to be right. “Do you need anything?”
“Just a break on the veg and lots of junk food.”
Zoe snorted. “You’ll have a one-day free pass when I arrive. All you can eat. What about that?”
“Oh yeah! Cool! I miss you, Z.”
“I miss you more. Take care, okay? Study hard.”
Lucas whined a little and laughed as she disconnected the call. He was safe. Safe and sound, unaware of the threat lurking. He had suffered enough in his young life and she prayed that whatever happened next, it would remain untouched.
“Zoe?”
Damn, Archer moved like a ghost! She hadn’t heard him open and close the door, much less kneel before her. The concern on his face almost unraveled her.
Angrily, she wiped her cheeks. “Don’t you ever knock?” Stupid question as this was his place after all.
“You called your brother?” It was an easy guess. “Is everything alright?”
Zoe nodded. “Yeah. He’s acting his usual self which is reassuring.”
“And I’m sure that promising a junk food fest raised his spirits.”
Zoe sniffed. “We always have one big cheat day. The place where he’s staying is keen on good food, but we agreed that when I come and see him, we have a gorge fest. It’s our thing.”
Still not touching her, Archer smiled. “You’re taking good care of him.”
