Page 37 of Duality (The Archers #1)

“As touching as this is,” Carter drawled, coming up behind us and slicing through the ropes around my wrists. “We’re about to have three angry men descend upon us.”

I narrowed my eyes when Evelyn grinned sheepishly. “Did you leave them behind?”

She shrugged but smiled. “They were taking too long to come up with a plan,” she said simply.

I growled at her, and she laughed at me. I stood slowly, rubbing my wrists and wincing at the pins and needles in my legs from sitting in the same position for too long.

“Evelyn! Marcus!” I recognized Alexander’s voice from the hallway.

“Here,” Evelyn called back. She turned back to me. “Ready to face the firing squad?” She grinned wryly, and I laughed.

“Sure thing, troublemaker. You go first.”

She winced dramatically but faced the door, anyway.

Sebastian was first through the door. Some of the darkness in his eyes receded when his gaze landed on us all standing there. He swept Evelyn up in his arms, twirling her around before setting her down. His hands roamed over her, checking her for injuries as he scolded her.

“Evie! You scared me half to death! Next time, take me with you on your shenanigans. I thought we were partners in crime. You’re supposed to be letting me help!” He eyed her sternly, and she deflated.

“I know, but his death was mine,” she said softly.

Sebastian looked to the side and saw Finch’s body.

“I would have let you take the kill shot.” He nuzzled her cheek.

“I just would have roughed him up for you. Maybe tied him up with a bow like a gift.” Sebastian had kept a tight grip on his darkness over the years, but Evelyn was bringing it out of him more and more.

At first, I had been worried, but she also reined him in.

Adrian clapped a hand on my shoulder, squeezing tightly before he nudged Sebastian out of the way. “We’re going to have a conversation about you running off without us.” He cupped her cheek and frowned when he saw the bruises starting to form around her throat.

“Mmm… and what kind of conversation will that be?” Evelyn asked, pressing her body against him.

He barked out a laugh before cradling her gently in his arms, holding her like she was the most precious thing on earth. Which she was.

I was so engrossed in watching them that I didn’t see Alexander coming. He smacked the back of my head, and I groaned.

“Hey, a little sympathy for the kidnapping victim.”

“I’ll show you sympathy when you aren’t the reason you got kidnapped in the first place.” He growled at me, but I could see the worry in his eyes. He had always taken on the responsibility for our safety, even as little kids.

“I’m sorry,” I said gruffly. “It won’t happen again.”

Alexander studied me for a few moments before nodding. He moved to Evelyn and gave her his sternest look. I had seen full-grown men almost shit themselves when on the receiving end of that look, but Evelyn just smiled at him and held out her hand, still leaning on Adrian’s chest.

Alexander shook his head but took her hand, tugging her gently out of Adrian’s hold. “You scared at least a decade off my life,” he scolded gently. “I thought you were going to start letting us help.”

“I am, but you were moving too slow. I tried to tell you.” She pinned him with a look. “But you’ve got to stop seeing me as your helpless assistant.”

He crowded her. “I don’t see you as my helpless assistant,” he growled. “But as someone very precious to me. To us.”

Something in Evelyn deflated, and she looked down at her feet. I didn’t like seeing her so defeated. I moved forward, but Sebastian stepped in my way. He shook his head at me, and I stopped.

“I’m sorry,” Evelyn whispered. “I’m trying, I am. But I’m not used to having help, and SDS is already helping with the safe houses. I didn’t want anything to happen to Marcus.”

He softened and tipped her chin up. “I get it. I’m sorry we didn’t listen to you earlier. Thank you for saving him.”

She lowered her head to his chest, and he rubbed her back. It felt like I was intruding on a private moment, so I looked away.

“What did she mean by the safe houses?” I asked.

Sebastian clapped his hand on my shoulder. “We’ve got a lot to fill you in on.”

He gave me a rundown on everything I had missed while Finch had me.

Apparently, Citadel was attacking the safe houses right now.

Alexander had called in four of our teams to help the Archers and the Ghosts protect the safe houses and the people the Archers were helping, but Finch’s ransom call coincided with the start of the attacks, which I had no doubt wasn’t coincidental.

Carter approached us, phone to his ear. “Okay, I’ll let them know.

” He hung up and slid the phone into his pocket.

“That was Samson. They successfully evacuated everyone to Ashford, Langston, and Everton. Yarlton, Clay, Briar, and Mapleton were destroyed in the attack, but Holloway is still standing. It was either lose the buildings or take collateral damage.”

I didn’t even have to ask to know what Evelyn’s decision would have been. She would have chosen to protect everyone she could have, even if it meant losing the safe houses.

Evelyn sucked in a breath, and Alexander held her tighter before she moved back out of his arms. She looked exhausted, her eyes heavy and bruises starting to blossom on her skin. This was the last thing she needed.

“We’ll help you rebuild,” I promised.

Her eyes met mine and I could see the relief and trepidation in them. She was trying to lean on us, and I had been a big obstacle in getting her to trust us, but no more. I would do anything to prove to her that she could have trusted us with her secret all along.

“Together,” Sebastian said. Evelyn closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before she opened them.

“Together.”