Page 43 of My Ruthless Neighbor

River’s husband clenches his jaw. “You stay out of it.”

Archer tucks his hands in his pockets and regards him with an unreadable gaze.

Despite his relaxed posture, I sense tension radiating off him. His brows pinch as he tilts his head. “I decline.”

River’s husband’s eyes narrow. “You decline?”

Goldie lets out a small bark. Archer looks down at him. The attention makes Goldie excited and he begins wiggling his tail.

Bending down, Archer lifts him. Goldie rubs his face against his chest, inhaling his scent. Seriously? Now my dog is smitten with him.

When I look up, my eyes lock with his. For a few short seconds, all I can do is stare. There’s something in his dark brown eyes. Something I can’t really name. Oddly, it makes me feel… safe.

“Take him to the apartment. Lock the door behind you.”

I open my mouth to argue when he speaks, “Do as you’re told for once, Summer.”

His expression is unmoving, his eyes never leaving mine.

I clamp it shut, take my baby from him and walk back to my apartment. But instead of doing what he said, I lock Goldie inside and charge over to them.

He sighs as he watches me like he expected me to defy him.

“Where were we?” Archer asks no one in particular. “Ah, yes. I just witnessed a man threaten a woman half his size in my hallway.”

Silence.

The hallway is buzzing with tension.

“Hmm.” River’s husband murmurs. “Let’s pretend that I was. What are you going to do about it?”

Archer looks at him with a piercing gaze. “I am not a violent man. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t consider becoming one if need be. But the real question is whether thereisa need for it.”

My heart skips a beat. Archer subtly threatened River’s husband. He is defending me. The thought makes my insides feel ticklish.

The man in the black suit doesn’t get offended. Instead, he lifts a single brow. His voice is dark as he says, “Is she your woman?”

I inhale sharply at the question.

“What if she is?”

“Then I think you should have her on a short leash. So she would keep her nose out of other’s business.”

My eyes flare. What the hell? Indignation burns in me.

Archer’s lips tighten in a thin line, his fingers curling in tight fists. “She will do whatever she damn well pleases. If I were you, I would shut my mouth and think twice before disrespecting her.”

The way they are snarling at each other doesn’t sit right with me. I always wondered about the reasons behind River’s somber eyes. Now I know. I hate her husband. If he is this rude with strangers, I don’t know what he is like with her.

“Enough!” River snaps. Pushing between the two men. He tears his gaze off Archer and stares down at his wife. She meets her husband’s eyes with a hard glare.

“Stop it.” She grinds out. “Fine. I’ll go with you.” Her cheeks are red with anger.

“River…” I interrupt their intense staring contest. “You don’t have to. He can’t force you.”

She smiles wryly. “It’s okay. I’ll live.”

Snatching his wrist, she enters the waiting elevator. As the elevator door closes, I notice one thing. As soon as she touched her husband, Archer and I became invisible to him. All that mattered was his wife.

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