Page 54 of The Soul of Archer
Lance barged into the house with Alora trailing behind him. She wanted to say something but had no idea where to even begin. She watched as he headed upstairs and jumped a little when a door slammed shut. Hugging herself, she made her way toward the kitchen. Needing to stay busy, she set about making some coffee. Her mind was replaying what happened after Lance received the box. Jimmy, Cain and Wilson had come right away and went through the box. Alora felt violated as she spotted a few pictures of her and Lance when they had been in the gardens at Tyron Palace and a few the night before he had taken her to Raleigh when they made love in his parent’s back yard. But what shook her the most was the pictures of her, Lance and Carter at the hotel in Raleigh obviously taken with a telephoto lens from across the street. None of them had thought to close the curtains completely since they had been on the top floor. Then there was that damned note. It was obvious the Malconi's had no idea what kind of man Lance was, otherwise they wouldn't have taunted him this way.
She turned just as Lance walked in, his hair still wet from a shower talking on his phone. “Yes mom, I’m sure. I want you and dad to be extra careful. If I thought for one second, I could get you to, I’d say go stay with Aunt Shelby, but you won’t.” He was quiet as his mom talked. Alora handed him a cup of coffee. “Yes. Yes, ma’am you’re probably right and whoever was there isn’t since Alora and I are back in Austin. Okay. Yes ma’am. I will. I love you too mama, good night.”
“They okay?” she asked sitting at the island.
"Yes." Lance bit out.
"Lance, it's going to be okay. I know it will."
"He threatened you, violated our privacy and you're talking so calm like we were discussing the fucking weather." He growled.
"What good is going to do to lose our cool? Am I mad, hell yeah. Do I feel embarrassed? Yes, but..." She began
"Embarrassed? So, what we do embarrasses you?"
"What? Lance, no that's not..."
"Forget it. I knew I should never...ah fuck it."
Lance walked toward the living room, but Alora wasn't letting him walk away, "You should have never what Lance? You started this fight, so you better finish it."
"I knew I should never have risked falling for a woman again." Lance spat.
Alora's eyes narrowed. "I see. Goddammit Lance, I'm not Teagan!"
Lance turned slowly toward her. His eyes glacial. "What?"
Alora sighed and licked her lips before answering. "Look, you’re worried about this and so am I. But you can’t let your anger get in the way. Especially now. This is what they want. When I said I was embarrassed, it was because some of those pictures were taken during private moment between us..."
"Us? Oh, you mean you don’t want the world knowing that you were with me and Carter at the same time? Huh? Afraid it would ruin your good girl image? No, I got it, you’re just worried that you haven’t found a way to rob me blind too." Lance challenged, stepping closer to her.
Alora’s hand shot out and connected with the side of his face, the slap echoing in the silence of her living room. "You fucking bastard. You don't know a fucking thing about me. Well, let me enlighten you. I’m not that blood sucking fucking bitch okay. I don’t want your fucking money and I don’t need it. I have my own. As for my image I could give a rat’s ass what people think about me, but I do value my privacy and I thought you of all people would understand that."
Lance stood in shock as Alora spun on her heel, grabbed her keys and headed for the door. When the front door slammed closed, it was like a cannon blast echoing in his ears. By the time he came out of his stupor and bolted for the door, she was gone. He whipped out his phone and activated the tracker for her cell then hissed when he heard her phone dinging. It was in her purse which was laying on the entryway table.
***
Alora stood on the porch trying valiantly to keep her tears at bay. She had no idea why she came here, but she couldn't think of anywhere else to go. She was about to turn away, when the door opened.
"Alora? What's..." Ethan stopped, took in her face and sighed. "Lance."
Alora nodded, "I... I’m sorry for...just showing up but I didn't know where else to go."
Ethan opened his arms and she rushed to him. Gently he pulled her inside, closed the door and called for Krista. He had feared something would happen once Lance and Alora had left. In fact, he had told Danny and the others to be ready in case he called.
"Ethan, what's...Alora? Oh honey." Krista said once she entered the living room.
Alora let go of Ethan and flung herself at Krista, the tears she had been trying to keep in now burst free. Krista hugged her and cast a glance at Ethan. He walked over and kissed her forehead. "Baby, call your girls. I'm going to Lance."
"Okay. Just don't kick his ass too hard." Krista smirked.
Ethan chuckled, patted Alora's shoulder and walked away. Krista eased Alora onto the sofa. "It's going to be alright honey. You stay right there, I'm going to make a call."
"W…who are you…”" Alora sniffed.
"I'm calling my girls. You need lots of wine and several shoulders right now. Just hang tight." Krista grinned. “Ethan and the guys will handle Lance.”
“Actually, let’s make it a Jack night.” Alora suggested. “I’m more pissed than hurt. I go to wine when I hurt and Jack when I’m pissed.”
