Page 156 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

I glance over my shoulder at the clock over the mantle. “I’m supposed to be downstairs in like ten minutes. Hunter is coming over for dinner.”

“I figured he’d come here the minute he came out of hiding.” Archer rubs the stubble on the side of his face. “But that doesn’t matter. You’re not seeing him tonight.”

“Dad wants me to join them for dinner.” I gesture toward my cocktail dress as proof.

“You’re most certainly not dining with him wearing that.” The lust in his eyes makes me melt into him.

“I have no choice.” I kiss his shoulder.

“I would rather go downstairs right now and shoot them both,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Please don’t do that. I can’t lose you again.” I hug him. “Dad has extra security with him. “You against them. You can’t beat them.”

“I know.” He kisses the top of my head. “I didn’t come here for them.”

“What?” I glance up at him.

He touches the back of his fingers to my cheek. “I came for you.”

“What?” I stand back to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not leaving here without you.” He’s dead serious. “We have a small window to get out of here. Grab your shoes.”

“It’s too dangerous, Archer. Dad’s men will shoot you on sight.” I run a hand through my hair. “They’ll kill you without a second thought.”

“I know.” His jaw clenches. “But I can’t stand watching you in this room, night after night, all alone.”

“Watching me?” I scan the room, looking for a camera.

“You didn’t think I’d let you live here with a known killer without adding a few precautions, did you?” He cocks an eyebrow.

“What did you do?” I ask.

“Before my lawyer let you take over the mansion, Gardenia and Jacob made a few modifications to the house. There are cameras everywhere.” He points at the light fixture overhead. “I’ve been watching over you since you came here.” He cradles my cheek. “It was pure torture to have you so close and not be able to touch you. To see you so sad over my death and not be able to tell you the truth. For that, I am so sorry.”

“I wasn’t sad, Archer. I was dead too.” I wipe my cheek. “Why did you wait so long to tell me?”

“Because your father is a very dangerous man. Up until the night Hunter shot me, I didn’t know just how much.” He releases a breath.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I’ll explain everything later. We have to go now.” He takes my hand. When I don’t move, he cocks his head to look me in the eyes. “I don’t care if I have to carry you out of here kicking and screaming. You’re coming home with me tonight. You’re still my wife, Paloma. You belong with me.”

“If they kill you for real this time, I don’t think I can survive losing you all over again. It’s too risky.” I brace my hand on his chest. “Now that I know you’re alive, I can face something as trivial as a dinner with Hunter.”

He purses his lips, his dark gaze zeroed in on me as he says each word slowly. “Over. my. dead. body.”

“This is not the time to be stubborn.” I furrow my brows at him. “You have to go.” The idea of him leaving me again makes me want to puke, but I can’t let him put himself in danger again. I can’t lose him.

“Not without you. Grab your shoes, you’re going to need them.” He stands back to wait for me to decide.

“You are so stubborn.” I shake my head in disbelief, but then I do as he says. Mostly because I can’t stand the thought of being apart from him again.

My sneakers are by the bed where I left them on the way in. I pad toward them then slip them on. He takes my hand and ushers me to the terrace where he has a dark rope hanging over the balcony wall. He climbed two floors to get to me. The man is insane. And I’m madly in love with him.

“Have you ever rappelled before?” he asks as he hooks a harness around my waist and thighs.

“I’m a ballet dancer. I’m not allowed to participate in risky sports.” I let him secure the double rope around me. “What about you? Where’s your harness?”

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