Chapter 132

Beau and I followed closely behind Archer as he made his way toward Neil’s bedroom. Steven, carrying Mia, skirted along behind us.

At Neil’s door, Archer doesn’t bother knocking, he simply barges inside. The door’s still unlocked. You’d think Neil would have learned his lesson by now.

I’m about to plow into the room after Archer, when Beau grabs me with both arms around my waist, and yanks me back. He holds me prisoner against his chest.

“Shhh,” he whispers in my ear. “It’s better if we just stay out here and listen.”

I want to argue, but a lot of that desire stems from the embarrassment at being so suddenly and closely held by Beau who, unfortunately, has the same effect on my body that the other brothers do.

Still, even through my vaguely lust-fill fog, I can Beau’s making sense. Neil would be more willing to talk to Archer alone. With my presence, or all of us, he might clam up even more. Better for him to have a one on one.

“Archer?” Neil says, startled. Then, he sighs. “I really need to start locking that door.”

“Enough of this bullshit act, Neil. Tell me what is actually going on.” Archer gets right to the point. Sometimes I miss his directness.

“What are you talking about?” Neil asks.

“Playing dumb,” Beau whispers in my ear. “A deflection tactic. Archer has his work cut out for him.”

“The silver,” Archer says flatly.

“Father’s pissed about what happened at the engagement party,” Neil says. “You know that.”

“Yeah. So he’d beat you, or put you in that dark room, or whatever else. He wouldn’t actively try to kill you. Not so directly.”

“He’s ramped up his game,” Neil says.

“Bullshit,” Archer says at once, and there’s a hint of anger in his tone.

“Bullshit on you,” Neil snaps back, matching his anger. “I’m the one who fucked up, so I get the punishment.”

“That’s not what this is about,” Archer says. Then, he corrects, “Well, it’s not only about that.”

“Oh? So you know better? Then why don’t you tell me what you think it is about?”

“Chloe,” Archer says.

My breath catches.

…Me?

No way.

Yet, even disbelieving it, my heart hammers out of control. It’s so loud and fast, I feel like it might leap from my chest at any moment.

No way Neil would do this for me. And if he did… If he’s holding onto that silver to protect me somehow…

No. I refuse.

“Deny it,” Archer says. “Lie to my fucking face.”

Neil sighs again. I wish more than anything I could see his face. I try to inch forward, but Beau holds me back. From here, I can hear, but not see. It’s maddening.

“So I’m right,” Archer says.

“What do you want me to say, Archer?”

“The truth, Neil. Finally. You’ve got a piece of silver lodged in you, killing you. You think your brothers don’t deserve to know what’s so important you might die for it?”

“I’m not going to die.” He sounds fairly confident about that. That does nothing to ease my quickly growing anxiety. “I just have to hold on until Chloe’s contract is over.”

“What—?!” I start to say. Beau covers my mouth with his hand to keep me quiet.

“Father wants me to fire Chloe,” Neil says. He sounds resigned now. “He wants it so badly, he put poison in me to make sure I do it. He’ll only let me remove it when she’s gone.”

“Neil, you absolute dumbass,” Beau whispers.

I struggle against him, but he’s stronger than me and holds me still without much effort. I think of licking his hand in an attempt to gross him out, but the pervert would probably just enjoy that. Maybe I could bite him? He might enjoy that too. Ug!

“So fire her,” Archer says. It hurts a little, but under the circumstances, I applaud Archer for suggesting it. I’d suggest it myself if Beau would let go.

“Her contract is almost done,” Neil says. “I just have to hold on until then.”

“Why not just let her go now? What’s another three weeks?” Archer asks.

“I bet you know the exact day that is set to be her last,” Neil says.

Archer doesn’t reply. I don’t understand what that means. Surely they all will just be happy to get rid of me, right?

“Tell me, Archer. What would you do, if it were you? Would you fire her? Or would you endure the pain for three weeks?”

After a moment’s pause, Archer says, “I would fire her.”

The words pang inside of me. But they are reasonable. That’s how people should feel. No one should go through such pain just to hold onto an employee.

I love Mia. But there are other girls who could take my place. Didn’t the brothers themselves say so in the beginning?

“You’re a liar,” Neil says.

Archer doesn’t reply.

I can’t take it anymore. I’ve stood out here for far too long without being a part of a conversation that has everything to do with me. And I refuse to do so for even one minute more.

So I focus on my warrior training, and I think back on how to escape holds. All at once, I throw my weight forward, and then, while Beau is surprised and trying to right us with the sudden weight shift, I lift my foot and kick Beau soundly in the shin.

“What the fuck?!” he shouts. His hold on me loosens and I snake out of it.

Beau reaches for me once more, but I duck under his arms and rush into the room.

Archer and Neil both turn to look at me. Neil seems surprised to see me. Archer just looks at me flatly, like he has been expecting me and I’m late.

Beau comes barreling into the room behind me, but by now it’s too late. He stops for only a second, before pushing past me to walk right up to Neil.

“Over the fucking nanny, Neil?” he snaps.

“You couldn’t understand,” Neil says. Then the edge of his lip curves upward ever so gently. “Not yet, anyway.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Beau asks.

Steven stands in the doorway, with Mia in his arms. He knows not to bring her too closely to Neil. “It’s not logical, Neil. She’s going to be gone soon enough. The silver could leave permanent damage.”

“I know what I’m doing,” Neil says, but those sound a hell of a lot like the words a man says right before he does something terribly reckless and stupid.

“Excuse me!” I say, reclaiming all of their attentions.

Suddenly four sets of eyes – Mia included – all look at me. I swallow down my sudden nerves and step toward Neil. Beau is in the way so I lightly nudge him to the side. He lifts his brow at me as he moves.

Neil stands tall and proud. His eyes are clear and defiant. Confident. He’s made his choice and he’ll see it to the end.

That’s great, except he’s not the only party involved here.

If his life depends on whether or not I work for them, then the solution is simple.

I look him in the eye, and I say, “I quit.”