Page 159 of Grumpy Billionaire Bad Boy

The light goes from the first floor to the second to the third, and dings at the fourth. I take a big step away from him and move toward his room, hoping like hell he doesn't put his hands on me again but very aware that's exactly what he intends on doing once we're behind closed doors.

Joe is much larger than me, significantly heavier, and no doubt stronger. It wouldn't be hard for him to overpower me, even with a gun trained on him, and I don't exactly wrap my head around that until we're on the other side of the door inside his hotel suite.

"Let me get you a drink." He goes over to the minibar and yanks the cork out of a whiskey bottle, pouring two glasses with three fingers’ worth. "Cheers to us." Joe gives me no choice, clinking his glass against mine and keeping his stare on me as he gulps down his drink.

I swallow the golden liquid, ignoring the burn as it ripples down my throat and warms my belly.

"What made you change your mind?" Joe takes my empty glass from me and sets it on the counter next to his.

I pretend to explore his suite to put some distance between us. "Archer had nothing to do with this. I didn't see a reason for him to suffer." I manage to keep my composure pretty well, considering I'm screaming on the inside to get the fuck out of here. My nervous system hasn't felt this high of an alert since my father was alive.

"Hold that thought." Joe picks up the hotel phone and pushes a button. "Yes, I'd like champagne and strawberries sent up." He mumbles something else I can't quite make out overtop my heartbeat pounding loudly in my ears.

"Can I use your bathroom?" I ask him.

"What's mine is yours, wife." He pokes his finger toward a closed door. "Through there."

I bolt quickly, but not so quickly it raises suspicion, into the room, closing the door shut behind me. I let out a breath and rush over to the sink, turning the water on and lifting my shirt to adjust the gun pressing into my flesh. Staring at my reflection, I consider how I got here, almost actually escaping this man, if it weren't for Madison blowing my cover. I hate her for what she did to me, what she did to Archer. And I hate myself for doing the same fucking thing. I shake my head because I can't think like that, I can't let his feelings come in the way of my own. I have to choose myself—I'm the only person who ever will. I cannotrely on a father, a man, or anyone to save me. I have to do it myself.

When I'm sure I've been in here almost long enough, I flush the toilet and pretend like I'm washing my hands. I wipe them on a fresh towel under the sink, not trusting the one sitting on the counter. Joe is gross and there's no telling what he did with it.

"I figured we could celebrate," he tells me once I've returned. "We're going to have a great life together, London girl. I'll arrange the jet to fly you home tomorrow, and I'll join you as soon as I've finished my meetings. Don't worry about your belongings, I'll get you brand-new everything. You won't want for anything." Joe comes closer, so close I can smell the whiskey on his breath struggling to mask the stench of the cigars he must have been smoking earlier. "And soon enough, I'll put a baby in you."

It's everything I can do not to vomit, my lips pressing together.

A knock sounds on the door and my heart nearly leaps out of my chest.

Joe smiles, plaque buildup on his teeth showing. "Must be our dessert." He winks lazily at me and heads to the door, peeking through the peephole.

I reach into my pants, taking hold of the gun and putting it behind my back while he isn't paying attention.

Joe opens the door, the hotel worker bringing in a tray on wheels, the man’s head hung low to avoid eye contact.

"Over there," Joe tells him and pulls out his money clip, sliding a twenty off and tossing it onto the rolling table. He grins at me and the tug of the ticking time clock blares that my moment is coming and if I don't act quickly, I'll miss my chance.

But when the hotel worker notices that someone else is in the room, their head snaps up, their eyes locking onto mine—eyesthat have stared at me far too many times to be mistaken for anyone else's.

Archer's brows pinch together, genuine concern and surprise lining every beautiful inch of his face.

Joe takes far too long to realize it's Archer, but it doesn't matter, because my arms move, pointing the gun in my grasp right at Joe's fucking chest.

"Sit the fuck down," I blurt out and rush toward him, my grip trembling.

Joe laughs and lowers himself onto the couch, throwing his arm over the back of it. He doesn't seem the slightest bit concerned, and that alone concerns me. How can he be so cocky when I'm training a loaded gun right at him?

"London, put the gun down," Archer tells me.

I shake my head. "No." Tears well in my eyes because there's no way out of this, no way that I won't kill Joe Vito with Archer witnessing my betrayal. I was supposed to do this myself, not have him here to see it.

"London," Archer says again.

"Stop," I yell. "You're not going to talk me out of this. You weren't supposed to be here. Why are you? Did you follow me? I told you to stop stalking me." I don't know why I'm blurting out words instead of shooting, but I am, and I know once I pull the trigger, there won't be time for questions, because I'll have to get out of here before Archer kills me for ruining his life.

"I wasn't following you, London. I came here to talk to Vito myself."

I blink a few times, the tears in my eyes clouding my vision. "That doesn't make sense." None of this makes sense. But it doesn't matter. "I don't care why you're here," I tell him. "I have to do this, Archer. You don't understand. I won't live like this. I can't do it again."

Joe tilts his head as if he's trying to comprehend what I'm saying. "So let me get this straight. Archer didn't know you were here, and you didn't know he was coming." His brows perk up and he nods. "Great communication you two have there." He licks his gross lips. "Archer came here to talk, and you came here to what, shoot me? Oh, sweetheart, you and I both know you're not going to do that. And neither is Archer, so whatever your grand plan is, you should give up without making things worse."

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