Page 37 of Bleed for Me

“Alex,” I started skeptically. “Where is my mom?”

He released a sigh, pulling out his own food before leaning back in his seat and met my gaze. “She’s not doing so good, Rosie. Daisy’s funeral was yesterday.” He grimaced before continuing. “So was Gentry’s.”

My heart plummeted into my stomach, heat spreading through my veins. I knew there would be a funeral. It just hurt that I wasn’t able to go. To hear all the beautiful things said about my little sister. Suddenly, food was the last thing I wanted.

“Oh,” I said quietly.

He reached across the table, grabbing my hand and squeezing. “I know it’s hard. It’snotyour fault, baby. Things just got out of hand that night. I’m on your side completely.” I bit my lower lip, guilt consuming me. Alex was too good for me. He was kind, caring, supportive, and understanding for the most part. I had no business letting Archer touch me in any capacity, or evenlikingit for that matter.

Tears burned my eyes, and I blinked them away. I’ve done nothing but cry since I got here. It wouldn’t bring her back. Nothing was going to bring her back. She was dead. I’d never see her again. My breath hitched as that thought settled in. Realistically, I’d always know that. It just felt even more real now and it hurt.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “For being here.”

His eyes softened and he ran his thumb along the back of my hand in a comforting gesture. “Absolutely. I love you, Rosalie. This doesn’t change anything for me.” Lifting my hand to his lips, he brushed them across my fingers. The action had nothing sparking inside of me and it made me hate myself even more.

Someone dropped down into the seat next to me, making me gasp out in alarm. I withdrew my hand and snapped my gaze over to the intruder.

Archer.

“What the hell are you doing?’ I demanded, narrowing my eyes at him. “Shouldn’t you be sitting with your family?”

Alex glanced between us in confusion, making my heart rate increase. Surely, he didn’t think there was something going on between the two of us. I wouldn’t do that to him.

“They’re over there if you want to say hi.” He smirked, motioning to a couple who were seated near the back at the table closest to Seven and his family.

“I’ll pass,” I bit out dryly.

His smirk widened into a grin. He knew exactly what he was doing. Reaching across the table, he stole Alex’s fries and plopped one into his mouth.

“Archer,” I snapped.

He hummed in approval. “I love it when you say my name. Soon, you’ll be fucking screaming it.”

My jaw dropped, embarrassment and heat mixing together inside of me. “Archer,” I growled, trying to tell him to cut it out, but he intervened again before I could finish my sentence.

“You’re making me hard, my little salvation. I suggest you stop before I bend you over this table and fuck you right in front of your little boyfriend.” His gaze slid to Alex. “You wouldn’t mind, right?” He snorted in amusement, more to himself than anything before he continued. “What am I saying?” he asked rhetorically. “Of course you wouldn’t?—”

“Stop,” I snapped, refusing to let him finish that sentence. If he told Alex that I told him I was a virgin, it would look horrible. How the hell could I explain that away? “You need toleave.Right now.”

Archer’s expression hardened, his eyes seeming to grow darker as he peered into my own. My heart raced wildly, fear coiling through me. He reached out, latching his fingers around my neck in a firm grip, causing my heart to beat even more furiously than it had been.

“Let her go,” Alex demanded, his face flushed from all the crude things Archer had just threatened to do to me. He started looking around frantically, probably in search of a security guard, but for some reason…there were none anymore.

Someone else flanked my left side and I glanced in that direction. Seven grinned maniacally, clearly getting a kick out of whatever this was. “Funny how a little bit of money can have even the government turn their backs for a little while,” he said casually, confirming that he was the reason there were no guards present.

“Rosalie,” Alex began with a shake to his voice. “What is this? Who are these people?”

Archer’s hand tightened around my throat, warning me against saying the wrong thing. A few people from other tables started glancing in our direction, whispering amongst each other, but no one made any move to help.

Suddenly, I was back on that floor with Seven hovering over me, warning me to stay away from Archer. Now, here he was, threatening my relationship. Tears blurred my vision, and I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He pulled me closer, our faces inches apart as he took his other hand and rested it on my bare thigh. Electricity shot through my veins, making me clench my legs together, my breathing coming out uneven.

“You’re scaring her,” Alex snapped.

“Am I scaring you, Rosalie?” Archer questioned with a hint of amusement, his fingers inching up higher.

“There are people everywhere. You’re insane.” I breathed.

Another hand landed on the opposite leg and my eyes moved to Seven, who kept his gaze trained on my boyfriend across the table. His touch made something stir deep within my stomach, too and I clenched my eyes shut, trying to block out the way their hands felt against my skin.

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