Page 63 of Cold Bastard

“Not the best I could. I need to work, and the State Department offers the best salary I could find. Which means I’m away more than I wish.”

“Everything will be back to normal in no time now.”

Zoe shook her head. “I wish I had your confidence.”

“Don’t you trust Beatrice?”

It was easy to answer that. “With my life. However, what astonishes me, is how you can trust any of them implicitly. How can you believe what Lazarus and Beatrice told you?”

“Simple. I trust you. And you trust them. It’s not so surprising. These are dangerous times, and I know from experience that we need to determine friends from foes quickly.”

Zoe gaped. “And Lazarus and Kai?”

“If your question is if I believe who they claim to be, I do. I’m not blind, Zoe. I see the similarities between us all. And I did double check the laboratory results. They are legit. Lazarus told me of other documents that are quite clear. I’m a pragmatic man. Again, I could debate and fight, but this is not the time to do it. Not when your life is at stake.”

“Jamieson Finch is your father...”

“My father died a long time ago, Zoe. Same as my mother. It was a hard life, but it was what it was. When everything is over, I’ll think about the fact that I have half-brothers. As for Jamieson Finch, he needs to be stopped.”

“You made it sound so easy.” Unable to not touch him anymore, Zoe cupped his face. “Don’t underestimate him. I have the bad feeling that he’s a few steps ahead of us and he’s waiting to strike. You could be in the line of fire.”

Frowning, Archer shook his head. “I don’t know if I should be happy or angry that you constantly forget who I am.”

Letting her hands fall on her lap, she pouted. “Forget who you are? You mean the annoying businessman, the short-fused biker, the former gang member, or the sharp-suited billionaire?”

His smile was swift and lethal. “And you better be convinced that all of them will keep you safe.”

“I’m almost convinced.”

“Almost? Really?” A mischievous gleam lit up his face. “I think you are a very stubborn woman, Miss Somersby. And don’t think I didn’t notice you keeping mum earlier when I poured my heart at your feet.”

Gulping, her smile wavered. “How can you trust me? Let alone...”

He arched an eyebrow, mockingly. “Let alone love you? That’s what you were about to say? Miss Somersby, you came into my life like a firestorm. I didn’t stand a chance.”