Page 55 of Broken Love

I keep it pointed at him. “Who are you?” I ask.

“What happened here?”

“I said, who are you?”

“Nevermind,” he says. “I’ll figure it out myself—” I pull back the hammer with my thumb and a laugh spills off his lips. “Mr. Carson, please. Don’t embarrass yourself here.”

“How do you know who I am?”

“Because I’ve been tracking the same pair whose been tracking you across the country.” He holds his hand parallel to the floor and slowly brings it down with his words. “Lower the gun and we’ll talk.”

I let my arm fall to my side, but I keep my finger hugged around the trigger. “You’re after the Harts?”

“I’m after a Hart,” he says. “Fellow by the name of Dante.”

I recall the name. Lilah and Elijah’s big brother.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because my client is offering a lot of money if I bring him in alive.”

I pause, glancing the man up and down. “You’re a bounty hunter?”

“In layman’s terms, yes.” He extends his hand to me, flashing a quick, polite smile as he moves. “My name’s Archer Allen.”

My trigger finger relaxes as I shift the gun into my left and reach out to shake his hand. “Boxcar,” I say.

He nods as if he already knows that and steps back to glance around the shop. “What happened here?” he asks again.

My tongue weighs heavy in my mouth. There’s no way for me to verify anything this guy says right now, but I don’t have time to mess around.

“The twins broke in and kidnapped the owner,” I answer.

Archer looks at me with a wrinkled nose. “What would they want with him?”

“She knows where they can find their target.”

“I thought you were their target.”

“No, they’re looking for a friend of mine.”

“Who?”

I close my mouth. I’ve already told this guy as much as I’m comfortable with. There’s no way in hell I’m name-dropping Fox Fitzpatrick right now.

“A friend,” I say instead.

He shrugs. “And how do you fit into all this rubbish?”

“I’m her husband.”

“Ah.”

He gives his smooth chin a quick scratch and walks away from the counter, glass crunching beneath the heel of his boot.

“So, the Harts show up looking for you and snatch up your wife instead, is that right?”

“Pretty much,” I say.

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