Page 139 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

He shoves Dad out of the way and ushers me out. Dad stays frozen in place glaring at the floor. I can’t even find a reason to feel sorry for him. He brought this on himself. He wasn’t wrong when he said I went to Archer to protect him. But I stayed with Archer because I’m in love with him.

I plan on being mad at Archer for a very long time for putting me through hell with the auction. But for now, I just want to go home with him. I want to forget all the terrible things Dad said about Mom and his reasons for hiding her real face.

Mom couldn’t have been so bad. She loved me. Sole told me so. Even if she also lied about the portrait. I know in my bones that she never lied about who Mom really was. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that Sole loves me as if I were her own daughter.

The minute we emerge from the study, Dad’s guests turn to look at us. They all seem shocked at Archer’s violent behavior. As if they can’t fathom such a thing. Hunter is among them, glaring at us with murder in his eyes. But Archer doesn’t hesitate. He wraps his arm around my waist and ushers me toward the front door. He must’ve done quite a number on them if no one dares block his path, not even Dad’s security detail. They all move out of the way, not exactly afraid of him, but afraid of catching his wrath.

All these people are here because they were invited to a sex party. They came here to play with subs dressed as the black swan. And still, they have the gall to stand there and judge Archer for punching his way through to get to me.

“The car is that way.” I point in the opposite direction he’s taking us.

He considers something for a second, then nods. “Yeah, let’s take that car.”

I don’t even have to tell him which car I drove. He recognizes his own sports Audi. He walks me to the passenger side, but instead of opening the door, he pins me with his body and bends down to kiss me.

His body heat feels like coming home. Desire rushes through me. I want to tell him what I saw in the house and how it made me feel. I know he won’t judge me. Instead, he’ll call me his insatiable little dove. My love for him flutters in my chest. I let it engulf me and lull my senses until it washes away all the bad from tonight. I will never want anyone else but him.

“Don’t ever leave me again,” he mutters in between kisses.

“I don’t regret coming here.” I kiss him back. “I see him now. I see it. All the things you were trying to tell me about him. I see them.”

“I’m so sorry.” He cups my neck. “I wanted to tell you everything.”

“Then tell me.” I wrap my arms around his waist. “You used me. Didn’t you?”

“I did.” He nods.

“Why?”

“You haven’t figured it out yet?” He asks sliding the pad of his thumb over my lips.

“I think I have.” Tears well up in my eyes. “Say it. Out loud.”

He shakes his head, clenching his jaw. He agrees with me. Once we both admit what we are to each other, will we be able to forgive? Or rather, can Archer ever forgive me for being the daughter of the man who brutally killed his father?

“My dad killed yours.” Tears stream down my cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”

“I told you before. You’re not the one who needs to repent.” His mouth claims mine again in a desperate kiss. “Will you ever forgive me for putting your through hell?”

“I don’t know.” I slip my hand inside his tuxedo jacket. “The auction was pretty awful. But not as awful as all the nights I had to sleep alone.”

“Hmm.” He nuzzles my neck. “I’m more than ready to spend the rest of my life groveling until you forgive me.”

“The rest of your life?” I smile up at him, loving the idea of living one happy life with him. “Archer, I?—”

“Get away from her.” Hunter stands in the middle of the narrow street, legs wide apart, chest out, as if he’s here to fight Archer in a pistol duel. “Paloma.” He snaps his fingers. “We’re going home. I’ve had enough of this asshole treating you like you’re his own private whore.”

“You know, I regret breaking your nose.” Archer braces his hands on my waist and moves me behind him. “I considered breaking your fingers for texting my wife. But now, I realize I should’ve clipped your tongue.”

“I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.” He pulls out a gun.

“Fuck,” Archer says under his breath, cutting a glance to me to make sure he’s shielding me completely. “You don’t want to do this. You’ll spend the rest of your life in jail. The Senator won’t be able to help you. His days are numbered. And you know that.”

“Maybe. But I will still get the satisfaction of wiping that know-it-all smirk off your face.” Hunter lifts his gun a little higher as if aiming for Archer’s head.

I can’t stand the thought of Archer getting hurt because of me, or for any other reason. Hunter’s jealousy isn’t Archer’s fault. When Archer was jealous of him, he used his fists, not a fucking weapon.

“Put that away.” I step in front of Archer. “No one has to get hurt. I’ll go with you. We can talk this through.” Please, I say in my head. I don’t want to beg Hunter for mercy. But I’m one second away from doing so. Archer is my life. I can’t let him get hurt. “Hunter?”

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