Chapter 197

I recoil backwards from Neil’s room on instinct. I don’t want to hear any more of what he might say. It is just so difficult to believe. After everything Neil has gone through to keep me here, now he is so ready to push me out the door?

I can’t believe it, but I’m hearing it for myself. Worried that the next thing he might say is how much he despises me or something, I keep backing away until I’m all the way down the hallway and can’t hear them anymore. I’m lucky. They never noticed my footsteps.

I could only imagine if Neil or Angela saw me in the door. It sounded like Angela was advocating for me to stay at the Pyramid due to my personal safety.

What seems strange is that this is typically a concern for the brothers as well. They’ve even told me before that they are searching for a way to protect me after I leave.

Perhaps Neil has changed his mind? Maybe he has faith in my ability to protect myself now?

Yeah, that seems unlikely.

Ug. I need to clear my head for a while, and there’s no way that’s going to happen within the confines of the Pyramid. I could hide myself in my room, but I’ve been there for days and days by now. If I have to stare at my ceiling for even one minute more, I’m going to lose my mind.

So I turn my feet towards the front door. A short walk. That’s really all I need. If I suck in some fresh air and stretch my legs, then I’m sure I’ll feel better.

When I push open the door, a blast of cool air hits me and I already feel better. If I close my eyes, I can be anywhere. Anyone. At any point of time.

“Chloe.”

Or not.

I open my eyes to find Archer standing off to the side. He’s doing cool-down stretches, likely having returned from a jog. His skin glistens with a light coating of sweat. I stare at him for a moment, my thoughts quieting.

Gods, he is devastatingly handsome. He’s wearing track pants and a sleeve-less shirt that shows every ridge and line of muscle in his arms. His hair is slightly messy, damp with sweat.

He’s frowning at me, but that, I’ve learned, is his typical face.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks me, and it takes me too long to process the questions. His brow lowers with impatience.

It really isn’t my fault that his hotness makes my brain need a reboot! Some people should come with a warning label.

When my brain finally does come back online, and his question takes root in my brain, I answer, “For a walk.”

He doesn’t really need to know more than that. And I’m certainly not going to explain to him everything I’ve just overheard from Neil and Angela.

So instead, I nod a little at him, hoping to indicate an end to our conversation. Then I start walking down the stairs. When I reach the bottom stair, Archer is keeping pace beside me.

I glance at him sideways as I start walking along the sidewalk, but he doesn’t say a word. He just keeps walking right along beside me.

“Weren’t you just coming back from a run?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I could afford to go longer.”

He’s lying. Archer always pushes himself to his limits when he’s working out. But he’s going even further beyond that now, staying with me. With my ribs hurt though, I’m moving so slowly that this pace is likely a cooldown for him.

“This isn’t necessary,” I say, because really, it isn’t. I’m perfectly capable of taking a short walk all on my own.

Archer doesn’t react, even to grunt in acknowledgement of my words. Maybe he’s ignoring me.

I roll my eyes. Well, whatever. If he’s going to be quiet like that, it’s as good as if I’m walking alone.

We make it about twenty feet before the silence gets to me. Angela’s warning words kick around in my head, and Archer’s steady and protective presence makes me wonder if they hold merit.

It’s very possible that Archer is staying beside me because he’s worried about me too.

Maybe it is dangerous for me to be outside of the Pyramid alone.

“Archer,” I say.

He grunts this time. At least he’s paying attention now.

“When my contract is over and I leave the Pyramid, am I going to be in danger?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says instantly, with no hesitation.

Gods, that was fast.

“Really?” I ask, tilting my head to look at him. Archer can be a real jerk sometimes but he’s not usually a liar. Still, maybe he should take a minute to think about it –

“You are already in danger,” Archer says. “But our name protects you. The minute you are released from that connection to us, you’ll be free game for all of these vultures.”

“Vultures?”

“Everyone from people who are jealous of the position you received with us, to those who believe harming you after the fact will give them some kind of leverage over us,” Archer explains.

Oh. It had been so long since any of those people had even spoken to me, that I’d nearly forgotten all about them. I mean, sure, sometimes I’d get a dirty look here and there. Maybe Archer’s right, and the Hayes name is what kept those people at bay.

“That’s not even mentioning my father and his plans. Or Wyatt.” Archer sighed. “We’ve been compiling lists of ideas on how to keep you safe. We’ve been calling favors, as well as trying to feel out who is loyal to us, versus who is loyal to our father.”

They said before that they were looking into ways to keep me safe. Archer is still being fuzzy with the details, but this reveals more of what they’ve been up to than what they’ve previous said.

Though of all of the things they’ve seemed to consider, he isn’t mentioning something that seems pretty obvious to me.

I take a breath, then say, “Have you ever considered asking me to stay?”

“No,” Archer says, as quickly as he’d early answered yes.

It’s blunt and sudden, and it takes a few seconds from me to recover from the initial sting.

I don’t know what kind of face I’m making. I’m try to school my face but Archer’s always been quick at seeing straight through me.

“You’ve previously told us that you have no desire to be a nanny forever. Has that changed?” he asks.

No, that hasn’t changed. I still want to be a warrior, above all else.

But maybe I wouldn’t have minded staying with them just a little longer. Though that’s just wishful thinking, I realize now. The longer I stay, the harder it would be to leave.

This has to be the right move, for my future. I suppose it is a kindness of the Hayes brothers to push me out the door, making sure I stay on track.

It still hurts though. It would be nice to be wanted.

Eventually, our slow-paced walk leads us into Carrie’s neighborhood. Without Mia, I suspect she’d give us a wide berth.

Which is why I’m so surprised to see her waiting in line at a food stall.

Her back is to us. She hasn’t seen us yet.

Now might be my chance to finally talk to her before she can get away.