Page 85 of Silver Tears

Archer clears his throat and places his cup down. “You want to come and see a cool sports car in the garage, Charlie?”

Charlie’s eyes brighten. “Can I sit in the divers seat?”

Archer chuckles and nods his head. “Sure thing. Rafe will make you pancakes after, yes?”

“Yes!” Charlie agrees with eagerness. “I can wait for pancakes.”

Archer lifts him down off the stool and he slips his little hand inside Archers and happily allows Rafe and Archer to lead him through the house down to the garage.

I squeal when my stool I spun and I’m suddenly facing Seb. He leans down, his arms resting on either side of my stool. “Morning, Mills. Did I tell you how good you look in my T-shirt?” He bites his lower lip as his eyes trail over my naked legs. Before I let my stupid libido dive into overdrive, I remind myself that this is Seb Collings, the player. He flirts like this with everyone with a vagina.

I roll my eyes at him and push gently on his chest. “Quit it with the Seb charm. They didn’t find Lenny. What if he went to the police and I’m about to be arrested?”

The flirty smile drops from his face and, sighing, he takes both my hands in his. “He won’t go to the police. He’ll be too afraid in case you press charges against him.”

I shake my head. “We don’t know that.”

“Mills, I’m an Ace. You understand that, right? I might not like some of the things my family and the society do, but it has some perks, and one of those is that we have power and influence. Me and the boys will make sure that you are safe.”

I gulp, taking in the way he emphatically declared to take care of me. “You know, you’re pretty good at this fake boyfriend stuff.”

He grins, winking at me. “Well, of course I am. I’m amazing at everything. I’m going to be the best damn boyfriend you ever have.”

“Fake,” I say.

“What?”

“Best fake boyfriend, because this is fake. It isn’t real,” I say. Reminding myself, Seb doesn’t need a reminder this is all just a game to him.

“Right. Best fake boyfriend,” he replies. Clearing his throat, he straightens and walks over to the sink. I frown at his back. What’s his problem? It’s not like he’s actually got a thing for me. I’m about to ask him what’s with him when the guys return with Charlie in tow, who is buzzing with excitement and bursting to tell me all about the car.

I listen avidly to Charlie describe the car and how it has heated seats, which he is extremely impressed about. Seb coughs and gestures with his head for Rafe and Archer to follow him out of the room.

“Where’s Rafe?” Charlie asks, a frown on his cute face. “He said he’d make me pancakes.”

“I’m sure he’ll be back real soon, Chops.”

I settle Chops on the sofa beside me and put on Iron Man for him to watch. I lift my arm and he leans into my side, with my arm draped over his shoulder. He chats excitedly about the movie, and I realise how close we came last night to disaster. Was Lenny planning to do something to Charlie after he’d finished with me? What could have happened if Charlie had woken and come into the kitchen when Lenny was attacking me? I’ve been so determined that I didn’t need anyone’s help; that I could handle all this on my own; that I put Charlie at risk. Admitting I need help doesn’t mean I’m a failure and if it helps protect my brother, then who cares how it makes me look? The Aces all know my secret now, so apart from my dented pride, what’s the worst that could happen if I admit I need their help?

SEB

The boys follow me into the small study down the hallway. I smile to myself as I listen to Chops talking excitedly to Mills about the car. She’s so good with him. She listens patiently and pretends she is excited about the car like him. I sit on the edge of the desk and wait until Rafe has closed the door, ensuring we have complete privacy.

“Okay, we need to find him. She will not relax until she knows he isn’t going to go to the police,” I tell them.

“We’ll find him. He can’t hide forever. Bastards like him always resurface eventually,” Archer says, rubbing his fist against his palm. “And when he does, we’ll make sure he never hurts another female again.” He’s itching to get his hands on the fucker as much as I am.

“I’ll call the Brownlee brothers and ask them to keep their eyes and ears open,” I say. I clench my fists. The need to find this lowlife and make him hurt for what he almost did to Mills. It’s a strange feeling, worrying about someone else to where it causes my chest to hurt. “We can’t let him get anywhere near her again. He’ll be smarting that she got the better of him.”

Rafe nods his head in agreement, a frown wrinkling his brow. “We’ll make sure she’s always got someone with her. Do you think he’s brave enough to turn up at the house?”

I shrug my shoulders, sighing, sitting on the edge of the desk. “I doubt it, but part of me hope’s he’s stupid enough to.” I shudder as an image runs through my head of that dirty, fat bastard pinning her down and trying to undo her pants. “I hate he put his hands on her.”

I feel Archer’s eyes on me, and I raise my head to look his way. “What is it?”

“Are you serious about her?”

I blanch at his question, not expecting it. How can I be serious about her when it’s not real? I’d be angry over any guy trying to force himself on a girl. “I don’t do serious,” I reply, and he half smirks at me and nods his head. “Don’t give me that look, fucker.”

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