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“It was necessary for our safety, dove. We had to get you out of Reno without causing a scene.”
We?
Archer. Oh no, Archer! What had he done with him?
She gulped through her dry throat and croaked out, “Archer?”
“I’m here.” Archer ambled into her line of sight and braced his leg on a nearby cream-colored armchair, folding his hands across his washed, ripped jeans.
Genevieve gaped at him. “Are you okay?”
“More than fine. We both are now.” The corner of Archer’s mouth slowly lifted, and he crossed his fingers. “Besties for life, just like you promised.”
Oh no! Please don’t tell me my best friend is a backstabbing creep. “Did Jed do something to you?” Please, please, please, let there be an explanation.
A harsh laugh boomed out of Jed. “No, dove, there was no need for me to do anything like that. Unlike you, your bestie decided to reap the benefits of being on my side. An important lesson I will firmly instill in you if it takes the rest of our lives.”
“Archer,” she breathed out in disbelief. “What is Jed talking… Did you betray me?”
“Betray you?” Archer scoffed, arching a perturbed brow. “You betrayed me. You were my support network, then you left without a word and never even called? Marshal came in the week after you left wanting exactly what I wanted—to bring you back home to us. We thought you’d contact me. Almost three years and not a word. Friends don’t do that.”
“I was right about you. Until I met…” Better not mention Brendan…yet. Genevieve swallowed deeply. “Until I met people outside of Reno, I never trusted a soul other than my mother, and I was right—you aren’t trustworthy. Friends don’t backstab or lie, no matter what the reason.” She pointed up at Jed while holding Archer’s narrowed gaze. “You told me you’d never even met him.”
“Of course I did.” Archer clicked his tongue. “I told you what you needed to hear. Both Marshal and I knew you’d attempt to run off again, and who better to bring you back than me.” He bore the cool crystal blue depths of his eyes into hers, their shimmering glint sending a rippling chill down her spine. “You belong in Reno with us. It’s your home. You’ll forgive me over time, just as you will Marshal. We love you, and we’ll never let you go.”
He's gone batshit crazy! What the hell? Genevieve licked her lips. “Arch, Jed’s brainwashed you. You’re not?—”
“Oh, come on, Gen. How does it benefit either of us if you leave again? Contrary to what you might think, I do care about you.”
Then you’d help me escape, even if it meant I’d never see you again.
“We’ll remain friends for life,” Archer continued, “and Marshal’s giving me more money than I know what to do with, just as he promised he would if I became one of his men.”
Her mouth drifted open. “One of his men?”
“Yes, my new role is your personal assistant and, dare I might say, private security tracker.” Genevieve squeezed her eyes shut, moisture pooling as Archer droned on, “You’ll forgive me eventually, especially after you realize how good you have it. You’ll be Marshal’s wife with the freedom to spend all the money you’d like, shopping around Reno with me by your side.” He fanned out his arms. “You’ll get to raise your kids in this private paradise with multiple pools, a playground—heck, it even has a game room. We’ll have a personal chef, a driver, and a nanny once your kids come along. All I have to do is keep you in line, and we can spend hours together. No more grueling work in the salon. Surely, you care enough about me to want a better life for me too.”
Genevieve shook her head in disbelief, trying to process how her supposed best friend for the past seven years of her life had been a snake in the grass. Perhaps it was his head she needed to cut off.
Jed bent down to her ear. “You think you can outsmart me, dove, but you will never outsmart me. I have a play for every one of yours, and I always win. You are mine. Brendan King will die for attempting to take you from me, and your friend Archer will become one of my right-hand men for bringing you back.”
No, not Brendan. I’ll do anything to keep him safe. Anything!
A warm tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. At least Brendan was safe in The Golden Star. Would he see the video footage of her with Archer and think she ran off and betrayed him? Perhaps it was for the best. Brendan would be safe. If he lived, she could bear any kind of imprisonment. Him and… She froze before gasping in a tense breath.
“Jed, my mom?”
A biting chuckle escaped his throat, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. “Mighty groggy there, aren’t you, my dove? I was waiting for you to ask that.”
“Please,” she breathed out, “I’ll do anything.”
Jed brought his face within inches of hers and held her chin, eyeing her lips. “I know you will, and it’s about time I acted on that. You will never spend another night out of my arms. I’m done playing games.”
More tears spilled out to her utter, uncontrollable embarrassment. “Is she safe?”
Flashing her a calculated smile, Jed whispered, “Of course she is, dove. I made you a promise, and unlike you, I keep my promises. I told you I’d never harm her.”
Genevieve pierced her lip with her teeth. “But?”
