Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“I’ve moved almost all of your folders and files off your computer but backed them up on a hard drive. So, it’s almost like a factory setting at this point. I will give you all of that information and data back on the day you leave from here. I can’t risk you trying anything. You can use your photo editing software on your computer, but send emails on this one. You can’t right now because I have to personally log you in so I can monitor what you’re typing and who you’re corresponding with. When you are ready to send the files after the editing is complete, buzz me. All your computer is capable of doing right now is using Photoshop, and your software. You can’t get online, search the web. Nothing. So don’t try. At each failed attempt, I will be alerted regardless. Don’t piss me off and try any of your games, do you understand?”
“Yes.”
He got ready to leave.
“Archer.”
He paused briefly at the door, his back towards her. He pivoted in her direction.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for lunch… and thank you, even though you didn’t feel you had a choice, for letting me do some work today. I needed to be in my element. It helped me feel better.” She sighed, then returned her attention to the computer.
“I always have choices, Honey. I just chose the smartest option.”
“Well then, since you have choices, I’d prefer to not be escorted by Billy anymore. I hope you make that choice in the future.”
“Why’s that?” He slipped his hand in his pocket and looked at her curiously.
“Well, for starters, he’s unhinged.” Archer laughed and shook his head. “I’m serious. He hates women. He’s biased against me, specifically, and he wants revenge because apparently Tone and he were close, and he said you killed him over me.” His face tensed, and his fists clenched at his sides. “I’m afraid he’ll hurt me… I am trying to give you what you want so I can get my ass back home, but he could make that impossible if I’m badly hurt or dead.”
He walked back up to her, looking even angrier. It gave her chills the way his eyes darkened right before her.
HE
WAS
PISSED.
Ahhh… so I found the button. Let me keep pushing it…
“What did he do?” His tone was unruffled, but his bunched eyebrows told a different story.
“It’s not what he did but what he said. He seems rather attached to you… sees me as some sort of threat. I don’t know what’s going on, and I know I have no say as I’m essentially a prisoner, but please… I’m begging you…” He crossed his arms tightly across his chest and glared at her. “You are busy and I’m messing up your calendar, but I would much rather someone else come with me for these assignments. Actually, I would prefer you to accompany me from now on. This could be life or death. He wants to get rid of me and next time, he just may act on that. All he needs is to think I’m up to something, and he’ll end me. He told me that himself. I’m not lying. I know you can tell when I’m trying to get one over.”
Archer stood there. Rigid. He licked his lower lip, his eyes hooded.
“I’ll take care of it,” was what he offered in a gruff voice.
Then he slowly turned away from her and walked out, locking the door behind him…
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The train in the distance ran over the tracks, creating a predictable, rhythmic pattern to the ear. He’d heard the trains so long, he was used to their schedule of comings and goings, feeling comfort in the familiar sounds.
James had been up before dawn, driven to the warehouse with his coffee in hand, and spoke for hours to several distributors and his crew of runners about the pending deliveries and a scheduled run due the following week. There had been a recent shakeup with knock-off, fake liquors entering the arena again. He assured his customers that none of it would be traced back to him. That was one thing he’d never do: piss off the paying man. As he looked around, his thoughts wandered to the business of the day.
Due to a bridge closure in Tennessee, some rerouting was necessary, but he wasn’t especially worried about it. He decided to split up the freight and have them go in two directions. His phone buzzed in his pocket as Liam, one of his newer runners, was walking away with his set of instructions for his route. He slipped the phone out of his pocket, looked at the caller ID, and answered.
“Yeah.”
“It’s Irish.”
“I know who it is. Who else would be callin’ me from prison every week?”
“I don’t know… you’ve got a lot of felon friends. Just like you,” she poked.