Page 49

"What the fuck are you wearing?" Archer's gravelly voice made me jump out of my skin as I fixed my hair in the mirror.

I frowned at my reflection, unsure of what his problem was. "I'm wearing secret mission clothes?" Turning to inspect his outfit, I scoffed. "You can't wear a bright white sweater on a stakeout Archer, you already stand out like a sore thumb with your giraffe-height and that handsome face."

Archer adjusted the neckline of his sweater over my head in the mirror and smirked. I rolled my eyes, knowing he only focused on me calling him handsome.

"You're doing the stakeout, dummy." He laughed. "I'm the talent remember?"

"Well then Lord helps us all," I said dryly.

I picked up the black ballcap from the counter and adjusted it to cast a shadow over my face. Spinning on my heels I held out my arms for Archer to see the full effect. I felt like G.I Jane with my black canvas army-pants, black long sleeve, and a puffer vest. Also black of course.

"You're beautiful." He smiled as he leaned down and kissed my cheek.

My insides melted at how sweet he could be.

The stinging smack on my bum was a firm reminder of the big brute my boyfriend actually was though.

"But you're delusional if you think my dad won't recognize you just because you're in all black. "

"Obviously I'm also gonna be super sneaky," I assured him.

Archer stared at me for a moment then a sly grin tugged at his lips. "Well, then Lord help us all."

"Okay, Jerkface let's get this show on the road." I led him out of the bathroom and down the hallway. I knocked on Madeline's door when I passed as a goodbye and then left the dorm. I knew she was studying for finals in her cave so I didn't want to annoy her by going in.

The poor girl had been spending so much time with Cole recently, she'd left all of her studying until the last minute.

I didn't blame her of course, I totally understood how much of a distraction a hot boy could be.

Luckily, Archer was determined to pass all of his classes, so we'd been keeping each other in check with studying.

It crossed my mind how easily Madeline and I had fallen into these routines of living together.

We never even had to articulate rules, we just knew them.

We knew when it was okay to invade each other's space and spend hours chatting about nothing on our beds.

But we also knew when the other needed to be left alone.

When Archer asked me to move in with him, I was absorbed with the fantasy of being with him all of the time.

Spending every night in his arms, and every morning getting ready together.

But over the last few weeks, it has really hit me what I'd be letting go of as well.

Not to mention the headache that I would have permanently from my Dad's judgement.

"Okay, Sweetheart." Archer opened the truck door for me and helped me in. "You know the plan?"

"Stay in the truck with my dad. Keep an eye on the restaurant. Whoop your dad's butt if he tries anything with you." I recited it easily.

"Not quite," he said pointedly.

"Whoop your dad's butt even if he doesn't try anything?" I offered with innocent eyes.

"You know what? Yeah, that's the plan," Archer laughed. "But you forgot to protect me from your dad when he sees I brought you."

Archer shut the door and walked around the truck.

I grimaced as I thought about how my dad might react.

I hadn't really given Archer a choice in whether or not I could come.

From the second he said tonight was the night to stick it to Bryan, I was in.

I knew my dad would blame Archer though.

It's not like this was a dangerous spy mission but my dad didn't want me involved.

We drove to the bar where Archer had arranged to meet his dad. It would take place in an hour, and if all went as planned, we would have proof soon of everything Bryan's been up to.

I looked around for my dad's car but didn't see it. Archer's hand in my lap was the perfect toy to fiddle with as my nerves rattled through me.

Archer had parked in the far corner of the parking lot, so we could see anyone who came in or out.

This bar was specifically chosen because the whole front wall was large, wide windows.

The small interior allowed us to basically see from one end to the other.

We could keep an eye on Archer and his dad and make sure everything was going smoothly.

A tap on my window made me jump. It was dark outside the truck but I could still clearly see my dad's frustrated frown.

I rolled down the window and pasted the sweetest smile on my face. "Hi, Dad."

"What is she doing here?" He said gruffly over my head to Archer.

"She is an adult who can do whatever she wants," I snapped before I could stop myself. My dad looked down at me with surprise and I huffed. "Dad I'm here to support Archer."

Dad's gaze roamed over my clothes, then returned to my face. "And to rob a bank by the looks of it."

Archer choked on his own laughter behind me and I raised an eyebrow when the edge of my dad's mouth quirked.

"Where's your car?" I decided to ignore his comment. If being the butt of their jokes helped them get along, I was all for it.

"Bryan would have recognized it right away." Dad gestured over his shoulder. "That blue Jeep is a rental. "Is everything set on your end?" he directed towards Archer.

"He agreed to meet me here at 7. I'll go inside soon just to hold the table and make sure I'm ready. I've been practising and if I have my phone in my pocket, it should record him fine."

Dad nodded, approving of the plan. "Okay, Lotty you can come sit with me then. Hopefully, we won't be needed, but if Bryan doesn't give us what we want, I thought I could put a little pressure on him."

Dad's eyes flicked to Archer and softened slightly. "You know there was a point where I really thought your dad was a good man. That he was a friend."

Archer shifted uncomfortably then shrugged. "Sorry to disappoint you."

"You ready?" Dad gestured with his chin for me to get out.

"Yeah, just give us a second, I'll be right out."

Once he left us alone I turned back to Archer. "Are you going to be okay?" When he didn't respond right away I reached out and touched his hand. He lifted his gaze from his lap to give me a reassuring smile. My heart squeezed though when it didn't reach his eyes.

"I'll be fine. I just want to get this over with so I never have to see that man again."

"You know," I said gently, "Archer he's your dad... it's okay if closing this door hurts. It's even okay if you don't want to lock it after."

Archer shook his head and patted my hand. "No, after everything that's happened, I just need this done." He climbed out of the truck and walked around the front to my door. I smiled when he opened it and offered me his hand. When I jumped down his body blocked me from the view of other cars.

I stretched up on my toes and dropped my hand to his chest. He bent down to brush our lips together, softly and only for a moment, then he straightened.

I watched anxiously as he stiffened his shoulders and walked towards the entrance. Once he pushed through the doors I went to the passenger side of the blue Jeep my dad had pointed to.

"Here's hoping this goes smoothly," Dad sighed as I got inside.

From our parking spot, we could see everything clearly.

My eye's stayed on Archer as he followed a hostess to a small table in the middle of the room.

Most of the other tables were filled by people drinking craft beers and eating small plates of food.

A large bar ran along the back wall, with several waiters standing behind it slinging out drinks.

'Why do you think Bryan is putting him through all of this?" I said into the silence.

Dad sighed again. "I think Bryan spent a lot of years resenting his life. He lived a pretty charmed one growing up and he wasn't used to doing things he didn't want to do. That anger for his circumstances obviously flooded over onto Archer and Annie. Which is point-blank wrong."

"He doesn't deserve either of them then." I kept my eyes locked on Archer as I spoke.

"You really think the world of him." Dad's voice was softer as he said this. It pulled my attention back to him. His eyes held curiosity but also some resignation.

"You have no idea, Dad. He's so good. Too good. Sure he has some rough edges. I mean he doesn't play well with others and the f-bomb is his favourite word. But he is the most selfless and caring man I have ever known."

"So does that include your dear old Dad?" He joked. Though I could tell my words made him sad.

"When I told Mom about Archer and me, she said he reminded her of you." I smiled. "I didn't really see it at the time, but now I think I get it. The qualities I love in him, they're the same qualities I saw my whole life in your relationship with mom."

"Love hey..." Dad pursed his lips while his head bobbed.

"Yes Dad," I said sincerely. "Love."

We stayed quiet after that. I left him to consider everything I said. I knew he was struggling so much with me growing up, maybe even more than he actually struggled with the idea of Archer.

We both perked up when a sleek black car pulled into the parking lot. It slid into a spot near the entrance and I stiffened when Bryan got out. He adjusted his suit jacket, reached back into the car, and straightened with a brown envelope in hand.

When the light from the window hit his face, I shivered at how alike he and Archer looked. Only if Archer lost all of his muscles and became a spineless twit.

Bryan walked into the restaurant and paused for a moment before he caught sight of Archer and moved smoothly towards his table. Archer stood when he noticed his dad and held out his hand for a shake. Shock momentarily crossed Bryan's face, before he smiled and took his son's hand.

Dad nodded approvingly at Archer's acting. From an onlooker's perspective, he looked calm and even happy to see his dad. Of course, they didn't know him as I did. I could see the stiff posture in his shoulders, and how he kept stretching his neck to relieve the tension I knew he held there.

It was almost laughable how little Bryan knew his own son because he was eating up Archer's fake smile and calm demeanour. Bryan relaxed back into his chair and gave a grandiose wave to the waitress to call her over.

My lip curled in disgust as Bryan leaned into the young woman and spoke with a smarmy smile. He gestured to Archer, who immediately sat back in his chair and shook his head. I could only imagine what games Bryan was playing.

Even from where I sat in the parking lot, I could see the glint in Bryan's eye when he turned to his son.

He kept the waitress at their table much longer than necessary, talking animatedly with his hands and throwing his head back with fake laughter.

Archer rested his elbows on the table and said something pointedly to his father.

Bryan finally nodded and gestured to the relieved waitress to walk away.

Once the two men were alone, Bryan's demeanour became more serious. The corner of his lips still tugged into a smirk, but his eyes focused more soberly onto his son.

"Here we go," I sighed.

I let my eyes wander away from Archer while they talked. Somehow I felt like Archer would know if I was watching him, and I didn't want to put any more pressure on him than he already had.

The bar was getting busier now, fewer people sat at the tables eating and instead chose to socialize by the bar.

This place must become more of a party scene at night because a large burly security guard positioned himself outside the door.

I people-watched for a while, trying to guess what they might be doing there.

It kept me distracted, focusing my mind on something other than Archer.

A shiver ran over my spine when a group of men walked in front of our Jeep and towards the door. I didn't know what it was about them, but the hairs on my arm stood at attention.

I kept my eyes on the men, frowning as I tried to understand this strange instinctual pull to detest them. From what I could see in the dark, they were just a random group of 20-something friends out for a beer.

They flashed the bouncer ID's and went inside easily. A waitress moved to welcome them but they immediately walked around her to stand by the bar. They laughed and shoved each other as one guy held up four fingers to the bartender and gestured to his friends.

I focused on each man for a moment, and one in particular jumped out to me. He stood facing the bar, so his back was to me. There was something about his tall, lanky body though. The way his grey tee-shirt clung to his shoulders. It tugged on a memory that I couldn't place.

"Okay look's like Archer got Bryan talking," Dad said approvingly.

I moved my attention back to Archer and did indeed see his dad talking passionately.

If I read his exasperated brow and over-dramatic hand-gestures correctly, he seemed to be venting to Archer.

Archer played his part well, keeping his mouth closed but nodding encouragingly for Bryan to continue.

When I turned back to the group of guys at the bar, my blood ran cold. The man that had caught my attention was facing the windows now while he leaned against the edge of the bar and surveyed his surroundings. Every nerve on my body felt raw and exposed as bile rose in my throat.

Long, black, greasy hair.

Pale, sallow cheeks.

He had the same blood-shot eyes and sweaty skin as he did that night.

Tears blurred my eyes as I watched the guy that drugged me laugh with his pals and smile easily at the women around him.

My skin crawled with invisible spiders when his eyes shifted out the window.

He scanned the parking lot before returning to his friends.

It was only for the briefest of milliseconds, but having his eyes on me made me feel exposed and vulnerable.

I clasped my fingers together to stop them from shaking. Somehow, I was transported back to September. I was at that party, in that chair all alone.

"Lotty, what's the matter? What's happening?" Dad's voice tried to pull me back to the clarity of the present but it didn't work. My breaths came quick and ragged as I was shoved back under the rough waters of those drugs.

My dad's worried voice drifted away as the edges of my vision darkened. My chest burned from the energy it took to suck air through my tight throat.

The only clear thing my brain could focus on was the greasy, disgusting man by the bar. Every time he opened his thin lips I heard the slurs of the man who had shoved a drink in my face.

My body was seconds from shutting down completely when his hand caught my attention.

He reached into his pocket and dug around for a moment.

When he pulled his hand out, he kept it cupped as though he were holding something in the folds of his palm.

I kept my eyes glued on his hands. I didn't know why, but I knew it was important.

My hand went to Archer's Saint Christopher pendant. My thumb fit perfectly into the curve of the oval metal. I rubbed gently at the familiar engraving and tried to breathe. I needed to focus.

I briefly registered that my dad was slinging curse words in the background, but I couldn't think about him right now.

The greasy guy turned back to the bar and settled onto a stool.

He protected his cupped hand while maintaining a casual exterior.

My spine straightened when he turned to a woman sitting one seat over.

He smiled politely at her, but she barely acknowledged him as a waiter dropped a glass of wine in front of her.

Her stiff pencil skirt and jacket made it look like she was there to kill time, not to socialize.

She leaned back and scowled when he reached across her drink for a napkin from the tin dispenser.

My eyes narrowed at his action. The way he moved his hand was so awkward and unnatural.

My blood ran cold when he settled back in his chair and used the napkin to wipe at the palm he'd just been protecting seconds earlier. Everything clicked into place and suddenly my mind and body had complete clarity.

"He's not getting away with this again," I said hurriedly as I opened the Jeep door.

"Charlotte! Stop what are you doing? If Bryan sees you it could mess all of this up." Dad's hand clamped onto my wrist just as I was about to jump out. I whipped back and shot him an apologetic grimace. My body was acting on instinct but I knew he was right. I also knew I didn't have a choice.

I pulled my wrist out of his hold and jumped down. As soon as my sneakers smacked the pavement I was running. The cold air in my lungs cleared the remaining fog from my limbs as I pushed forward.

The bouncer stepped out and held up his hand for me to stop as I flew towards the bar.

"Miss I need to see some ID."

I stared at him wild-eyed and tried to tug on the door to get by him. His hand came down on my shoulder and his forehead creased in concern.

"Hey get your hands off my daughter!" The bouncer looked over as my dad slammed the jeep door shut and ran over to us. I took advantage of his distraction and ripped the door open, slipping inside.

My eyes found their target as soon as the heat from the interior flushed my body. The businesswoman was still on the stool where I'd last seen her. The greasy man stood now as he leaned in and tried to make conversation with her.

I weaved my way through the tables and came up right behind them. Just as I skidded to a stop, the man turned and smiled at me. His yellow teeth mocked me as he repeated the same words that had haunted my dreams for weeks in September.

"Hey there georgoussss."