“I will explain, and I never trusted Finch. All I wanted was for my scheme to work, buy some time so Archer and Lucas could be safe.”
“And I want to be there for that conversation, believe me. I play ringleader with you guys, and it’s giving me headaches. Oh, and Beatrice told me that she successfully neutralized the threat against your brother. Lucas is safe. And not even aware of what went on.”
Zoe was still in shock, deeply so, and she knew on a logical level that it was the reason why she didn’t feel relieved or happy, as she was supposed to for Lucas or crushed by Archer’s shutting her out. Her emotional brain seemed closed off, so she decided to use her logical brain instead. After all, her work here was done, even if she had been the source of all this chaos. Well, Finch, to be more exact, but the result was the same.
“Thank you, Gabrielle. For everything. I’ll call Beatrice and tell her everything. Can you tell the guys how sorry I am for putting them in danger? And I sure hope Liam gets better soon.”
Another silence, but Zoe handed the phone to Hector, as she turned to go to her room. She knew the tattooed man watched her, as if she was about to explode. It was not going to happen. Not within the city limits of Chicago. Grabbing her pajamas from her room, a much-needed shower on her brain, she returned to the living room where Hector was pocketing his cell phone.
“Are you going to be okay?” Obviously, he looked uncomfortable, not knowing what to do. Forcing a smile, she went to him and kissed his cheek.
Taken aback, the thug stayed silent.
“I will be. I’m alive. My brother is safe. And a lot of that is because of you. I owe you my life twice over. Thank you.”
Hector shifted, and she thought he would bolt out, but instead, his big scarred hand touched her hand.
“And what about Archer Blackwood?”
Arching an eyebrow, Zoe couldn’t believe her ears. “Are you trying to play Cupid? Please don’t quit your day job.”
His smile was blazing. “I’m not into child’s play. But from what I could gather, you care for him. Sacrificed and risked a lot for him.”
“It was more than sacrifice or risks. Much more. But you heard Gabrielle. Archer is not the kind of man to forgive easily. And he has every reason to hate me. I’ve put his empire, his life, his connections in jeopardy. It’s not stubbornness, but I’ve seen the same in Kai and Lazarus, once crossed, the bridge is burned.”
Hector nodded in silence, looking around for a moment before turning to her again. “Over the past year, I’ve learned a lot about Finch and what a monster he is. I’m part of the dark, the violent, and the bloody. It’s been my life, otherwise, we wouldn’t have met at El Diablo.”
“And you wouldn’t have bought your aunt that car.”
Hector ignored her comment and continued. “They are Finch’s bastards, the lot of them. They share the same blood, and you’re right, they can be fucking stubborn, controlling, and dark. I’m a lot like them. Men from the dark, we’re loyal too, we care, and we need to protect those who are important to us. Otherwise, why would we spill blood and stain our souls?”
Nice words for a man coming from the underworld, much like Archer. “And you’re a poet too.”
“What I want you to know, is whatever the pain, the anger, the hurt, it dissipates, and then you see clearly again.”
“You’re saying that you want me to wait for Archer to see the light?”
Hector shook his head. “Hell no. Live, take care of your brother. You’ve proven yourself to him. Now he needs to stop seeing the treachery and instead see the sacrifice.”
Zoe was far from convinced. “I’ll focus on the first part of your advice if you don’t mind.”
Hector shrugged and offered his hand. “A pleasure to have helped you, Zoe. Try to stay out of trouble.”
Taking his hand, she nodded. “That’s exactly my plan.”
He held on to her hand a little longer than what was polite. “And if you need anything. And I mean anything, ask Gabrielle for my number.”
The meaning wasn’t lost on her, but she wasn’t about to get tangled up with him, when Archer was still deep inside her heart, and might be for a long time to come.
