Page 83 of Broken Love

“Told you,” Caleb gloats.

I flash her a smile and adjust my arm around her as we step inside the house. Elijah flicks on the first light switch, illuminating the dark entryway, along with the foyer and front hallway.

Caleb stays quiet as her eyes jut around, noticing the extreme lack of Dani’s presence on anything. The movie posters are gone, along with the picture frames that once littered the end tables.

“This is Fox’s house?” Lilah asks.

“Yep,” I answer. I lead them through to the living room and I let Caleb slip down onto the sofa next to a few throw pillows stacked by the arm.

Lilah pauses at the photo of us in the desert and she shrugs. “Seems a little strange for his tastes…”

“That would be the point, wouldn’t it?” I ask. “Why hide in the shadows when no one will expect you out in the open? Plus, it’s big and nice —” I pat the pillow next to Caleb’s shoulder. “Perfect for special occasions.”

Her eyes flick up at me. I flash a smooth smile, letting my hand linger a little longer on the pillow before I step away. She slinks closer to the pillows, doing nothing to draw attention as she inches her hand beneath them.

“Well…” Lilah lets out a thick sigh. “If this is Fox Fitzpatrick’s house then where is Fox?”

I shrug. “Upstairs, probably.”

“And he didn’t come running when his front door opened?” Elijah asks.

Lilah’s nose turns upward, no doubt smelling the exact same suspicious air.

“It’s a big house,” I say. “I’m sure Caleb comes and goes all the time, right? He’s used to it.”

Elijah eyes Caleb for confirmation and she nods from the couch. “Well, how about you and Lilah go get him…” He steps closer to Caleb and plants the barrel of his gun against her head. “And I’ll stay here with her.”

Rage tickles at me. Caleb with a gun to her head has never been my favorite sight in the world, but I have to keep my cool. I look at her and she gives me the most subtle of nods.

“All right.” I gesture for Lilah to follow me. “Let’s go get Fox.”

I head toward the stairwell, training my ears to pinpoint Archer’s location. Any creak in the floorboards would be great right now but this house is way too perfect for any flaw. Even the stairs make no noise as Lilah and I walk up them.

She pokes her gun into my side, just to remind me it’s there.

“Hey, Fox!” I announce as we reach the landing.

I realize how unfamiliar I am with the layout of the place. I could go left or right, but each direction gives me about a half-dozen options for doors.

Lilah digs her gun in a little deeper, forcing me to choose left.

“Fox?” I ask again.

We keep walking and I push open the first door to peek inside.

As we pass, I feel a shadow brush through the open doorway.

“Hey, buddy.”

I bite my lip to keep from grinning at Archer’s horribly disguised voice and turn around to see a shotgun nestled against Lilah’s red head.

“Is that the best American accent you can do?” I ask.

Archer shrugs. “Sounded good in my head.” He looks at Lilah. “Hands up.”

She slowly raises her hands, presenting her palms forward with a look of inconvenience crossing her face. “Who the hell are you?”

“Archer Allen.” He grins with pride.

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