Page 79 of Viper

I nod. “Sometimes that happens with women. They get so wrapped up in a relationship that they forget everything and everyone else for a while.”

“This time feels different,” he admits, pulling away. I let him go and ease back to give him the space he wants. “It’s like she’s a whole other person.” He licks his lips nervously. “Don’t tell Dad, but I think she’s doing drugs.”

Which is exactly the direction my thoughts were going. And I would bet that this Tony guy is the one who introduced her to them. “What makes you think that?” I ask him.

“I found some needles when I was cleaning the living room,” he admits. “They were under the couch and when I was sweeping I pulled them out. I made sure I didn’t touch them or anything,” he assures me before I can ask. I nod, pleased, and settling back. “Mom and Tony don’t have any medical problems that I know about, but there were a lot of them. Like twenty.”

“And did you find these recently?”

“Earlier today. Mom told me I needed to sweep and dust before I left, and I saw a bunch of paper and stuff coming from under the couch, so I thought I better clean that up. I threw it all out in the garbage, but I didn’t do much more cleaning. I was scared of touching something.”

“And that was a smart thing to do,” I assure him. “But, Archer, you need to tell your Dad this.” I hold up my hand before he can protest. “I’m not saying this so your mother gets in trouble, but people on drugs can be very dangerous. I see it every day at work. I’m not saying your mother is dangerous, but if she or Tony are using drugs it could happen. Your dad might be able to at least get you to live with him full-time until your mother can get help and then you can decide if you’re ready to stay with her again at that point.”

“I don’t want her to hate me,” he whispers. “I know she says that she doesn’t want me around, but I don’t want her to hate me either.”

“Baby, your mother doesn’t hate you,” I try to assure him. “Knowing what you’ve just told me, I think there are other things going on right now. Addicts change with time and the drugs. If your mother is using, then she’s saying things that her brain at the time might think, but deep down, I think she loves you. She’s just sick and weak right now, and if Tony is saying something, she’s going to agree to it because he’s going to help her get her next fix.”

“Did she turn to drugs because of me?” he asks in a small voice.

“No,” I say firmly, reaching out to pull him back into me. “Absolutely nothing your mother says or does is your fault, Archer. She’s a grown woman, and she can make decisions for herself. None of that lies with you, I promise.”

He hugs me tight. “I’m glad you’re here, Eden,” he murmurs so low that I almost don’t catch it.

“I’m glad I’m here for you, baby,” I murmur back, kissing the top of his head. “And thank you for feeling safe enough to share this with me. I promise I’m always going to be here for you, okay? No matter what. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your dad about this or anything else, I’ll make sure to be here to support you, or I’ll tell him if you’d prefer and stand behind you when he has questions. Because you know your dad loves you right?”

“Yeah. I’ve never doubted it. I heard Dad tell Uncle Shadow once that it kills him to be away from me, and that was why he was fighting so hard to spend more time with me. He wasn’t nice about my mom, but I know he was mad, so I ignored it. And he didn’t know I was around. He thought I was playing with the other kids.”

“I’m sure he won’t be mad at that. Your father told me from the beginning that you are always going to be his number one priority, and I think he’s living up to that statement.”

“Yeah.” He pulls away and looks at me. “I’m glad the two of you are together, Eden. I know Dad’s been lonely, and I know he really likes you.”

I smile at him. “And I really like him, baby.” Probably more than like, but I’m still trying to wrap my head and heart around that.

“And you’re going to stay?” he asks hopefully. “You won’t leave?”

“I won’t lie to you, Archer, that sometimes things don’t always work out, but your father and I are really enjoying each other, and I don’t see it ending any time soon, or at all. We have a great connection, like a lot of the same things, and we enjoy spending time together. All those things point to us keeping our relationship going for a long time, but if that ever changes, I won’t disappear, okay? I’ll always be here for you, even if your father and I don’t work out.”

He nods, accepting that. “Dad said the same thing pretty much.” He gives me a small smile. “Thanks, Eden. I feel a bit better.”

“Good. We still need to talk to your dad, but we can leave that until later when he’s back, or tomorrow when you’ve had a chance to sleep on it. Sound good?”

“Sounds good,” he agrees. “Can we watch some more Lord of the Rings? I fell asleep in the middle of the second movie last night.”

I chuckle. “Me too. So I think we can definitely do that. Why don’t you start getting?—”

The sudden crack of something hard hitting the apartment door has us both freezing. But at the second hit, and the sound of wood splintering, I’m up and moving. “Lock yourself in your room, Archer,” I order him as I quickly look around to find something to use in case whoever is trying to break in succeeds. I see my phone and shove it at Archer. “Call your father.”

“Eden…” he says in fear.

“Baby, I promise, I’ll be okay,” I assure him quickly. “You need to go in your room and lock the door, okay?”

“No need,” a deep Russian voice says behind us. I spin around, shoving Archer behind me as I face the man stepping out of Archer’s room, gun in hand. He’s dark, dangerous, and the smug look in his eyes tells me he’s pleased with himself. The door splinters as it finally gives way and another bruiser of a man makes his way in, like he hasn’t even broken a sweat. “Ah, Ms. Mercer,” the man with the gun says jovially, “you have just made my job much simpler. What is it you Americans say? Two stones, one bird?”

My blood runs cold but I don’t look away, keeping my body between him and Archer. I won’t let him touch him. Not while I’m still breathing. “What do you want?” I demand.

“You’ve caused us considerable trouble,” the man explains, leveling the gun at my chest. “So I’m going to dispose of you, and then I’m going to take this brat and we’re going to make sure his father and their club know to stay out of our way.”

“Like fuck you are,” I spit at him. “Touch him, and the only one who is going to die today is you.”

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