Lazarus crouched beside her and took her hand, carefully avoiding touching her belly as if it was on the verge of recreating a scene from Alien. “Zoe, Archer never hated you. He’s miserable since you disappeared. He searched for you, even threatened Beatrice with Hell’s fury, but she told him you didn’t want to see him. I’ve never seen someone crushed like that. I had to force him back to work, and the fight with the FBI became the only reason for him to get out of bed in the morning. He was on the verge of selling the entire company because you wouldn’t have him. He fought to regain control of Blackwood Corp with everything he had and was able to prove the evidence had been planted. With the help of some very creative hackers from Beatrice’s team.”
Zoe found it harder and harder not to be swayed by the hormones playing against her. “Look at me! If he ever saw me like this, he would immediately see his late wife and the unborn daughter he lost. I didn’t intend to get pregnant, it only happened. I’m the 0.01% failure rate of the contraceptive pill. I can’t compete with a ghost, Oz.”
Lazarus seemed to consider her words. “I never knew his wife, but I’ve seen pictures and read reports. You’re nothing like her. Not physically, not by your personality. You are you, and Archer fell for who you are. Remember that.”
Zoe was feeling drained, her fighting spirit dimming by the minute. “Oz. Why did you come here? I’m tired of this. At the end of my rope, really.”
“I’m here on a diplomatic mission.”
Lost, Zoe was about to tell him to get lost with his riddles when someone knocked on the door. Lucas was on his way home by now, but unless he ran all the way, there was no way it was him. Most importantly, unless he’d lost his key again, which he would pay for this time.
Zoe tried to shuffle up, but her body was stuck.
“Help me up, Oz.”
Lazarus got to his feet but didn’t take her outstretched hands. “Maybe you should stay seated.”
Frowning, Zoe didn’t like the way he avoided her gaze. “Why?”
The person on the other side of the door pounded again, this time with more force. This was not a kid. Zoe’s heart skipped, her accusing eyes on Lazarus. “You didn’t.”
At least he had the good grace to wince. “I didn’t have a choice, he finally found out where you lived, and I was just lucky to learn about it. He wanted to barge in here without calling you first.”
Archer. Archer Blackwood was behind her door. The thought made her panic to an unscaled level.
“Help me up, dammit! I won’t stay seated here like a beached whale.”
Reluctantly, he helped her up, making sure she was steady before letting go of her hands.
Palms on her belly, as if to protect the baby and herself, Zoe wasn’t quite sure what to do. She feared that if she let him in, her impossible fantasy of a happily ever after would crash and burn, and worse, that she would hurt him like never before if he saw her like this.
“Zoe?” Lazarus stayed close, protective, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. The pounding increased, and Lazarus went for the door, waiting for any cue from her. Nodding, Zoe took a deep breath as the door opened. Lazarus tried to block Archer, slow him down, but his voice boomed as he entered.
“Zoe, you have to hear me out.” He entered like he owned the ground he walked on and stopped as if an invisible wall stood in his path. In a fraction of a second, strong emotions flashed on his face before his usual mask of cold and detachment took his place.
Lost for words, Zoe had so much to say, and none of those words crossed her lips. She took a step in his direction, and pain tore at her. It was so sudden that it robbed her of breath. Warmth ran down her legs and it seemed that nature had decided on the next course of action. Willing or not.
Archer and Lazarus were instantly on each side of her, although Archer was the one supporting most of her body. His familiar smell, the strength and aura of power surrounding her brought her back with a vengeance. Making her yearn for something so primal and deep inside her heart. But with more urgent matters at hand, that wasn’t something that took precedence.
“Okay, guys, I’m fine. You can let go of me now.”
Lazarus hesitated, and Archer did the exact opposite, circling her arm around her back. He let go of her elbow, though, and touched her belly with extreme gentleness and care. His eyes were fixed on it, and he pulled her t-shirt, so he could see it fully.
“Zoe...” His voice was low, with a tremor in it, and there, she saw his mask slip off. What she saw on his face was awe, fear, caring, and an incredible amount of love and hurt. “Zoe, why?”
The question was so complicated, complex, deep and so simple at the same time. She put her hand on the one caressing her stomach, and he looked up at her. “I thought you hated me after what I did to you. I was convinced of it. And when I learned about the baby, I feared not only would you be forced into something you didn’t want, but you’d also have to relive a very painful part of your past.”
The look he gave her was so vulnerable, it tugged at her heart. “Zoe. I could never hate you. I understand why you did what you did, and I was pissed as hell. Nobody in my entire life had ever protected me, wanted to keep me safe. I had to fight every step of the way. I’m not used to being saved, Zoe, let alone having someone risking their life for me. It didn’t sit well with me. That’s the way I am. You can’t place yourself in a situation of danger to shield me, Zoe. I won’t allow it.”
After such a long time, amused laughter bubbled up. “You can’t allow me to do or not do anything, Archer. If you haven’t figured that out yet, you’re in trouble.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips and his forehead touched hers. And in that instant, with that simple connection, her world shifted, righting itself again.
