Page 7 of Cruel Love

Caleb makes eye contact with me. Without a word, I know we’re both on the same page. Fox needs help. The Harts can’t be trusted. Archer, whom I would otherwise have no issue trusting, is now in the gray column and — holy shit — I’m going to be a father.

“They’re probably with Fox now,” he says, pulling me out of that thought. “I’m supposed to pick up Boxcar and meet them. We should go now before Myra picks up our scent.”

A chill fires down my spine. “Myra?” I repeat.

Archer studies my reaction. “You know her?”

“Yeah.” I ignore the heavy rock in my stomach. “We’ve met.”

Caleb frowns. “Who’s Myra?”

“The Boss’ mouthpiece,” Archer says. “She found Fox and sent a team to kill him. They’re on their way to LA, assuming they aren’t already here.”

She turns to me. “How do you know the Boss’ mouthpiece?”

Archer presses his lips together, looking just as curious as she is.

I exhale and scratch the bridge of my nose beneath my glasses. “So, honey... you remember that two-year hiatus we took?” I ask slowly.

“Yeah...”

“I might have met her during that time.”

Her eyes narrow. “Oh, really?”

“In Paris.”

“What were you doing in Paris with some girl named Myra?”

Archer clears his throat. “Should I wait outside for this?”

“No,” I answer. I turn to Caleb. “I’ll tell you everything, just... not now. All right?”

She swallows her questions. “What do they want Boxcar for?” she asks Archer.

His eyes shift. “His hacking and tracking skills will come in handy. I’m quite adept at tooting my own horn but even I know when I’m out of my depth. Also, we’re hoping he can map out a family tree for us. Myra Black, sister. Mercer Black, brother.”

Fuck.

“Marilyn Black,” I say. “Mother.”

Archer pauses in surprise.

“Wait, wait.” Caleb looks at me. “The woman who sent you to Afghanistan?”

I nod. “Yeah, she’s...” I sigh. “She’s the Boss. She runs Snake Eyes.”

She blinks. “How do you know that, Boxcar?”

I glance between them, feeling their hard stares boring down on me, and let out a light chuckle.

“Guess I’m telling that Paris story a little earlier than I thought...”

Chapter 4

Dante

Fox Fitzpatrick.

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