Page 18 of Sins of the Fathers

“In a minute,” Jasper murmured, tightening his arms around him. “Just let me have this for a minute.” Or forever, he hoped.

Archie pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “Take all the time you need.”

Chapter Six

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ARCHIE ALWAYS STOPPED for coffee in the morning. It would’ve been less expensive to make it at his apartment before leaving for work, but he didn’t like homemade coffee. He liked coffee shop coffee. Give him all the caramel, sugar, and syrup available, and he’d be happy. Homemade coffee, on the other hand? Even with creamer, it just wasn’t the same. So, he paid for an overpriced coffee at the coffee shop, and he didn’t even mind. He knew the people who worked there by name now. He was a regular, and they all had a smile for him. They knew what he wanted without him asking, but they still checked every time just in case he’d decided to try something new. Sometimes he did, especially when he came around with Jasper.

But he wasn’t with Jasper today, and he didn’t decide to try anything new. He got his caramel latte with enough sugar to keep him going for the next two hours, smiled at Jessica as he tipped her, and left.

Only to instantly regret leaving the place and wishing he could go back in.

He stared at his car. It was in the small parking lot next to the coffee shop, and people were giving the entire place a wide berth. That made sense considering that Kester was leaning against it, looking completely casual as if he hadn’t tried killing Archie’s boyfriend recently.

Was he here for his son? He’d been after Cullen before, and he’d left without getting what he’d wanted. He’d said that in the end, Cullen didn’t matter, but maybe he did now. Maybe Kester was going to ask Archie where Cullen was. Archie wouldn’t be able to answer him because he would never do that to Cullen. Was Archie about to die? Probably, if Kester decided to kill him, but he wouldn’t go down without a fight, and he wouldn’t give up Cullen.

He looked around. No one there would help. He didn’t think they could, even if they tried. He was tempted to call Jasper to tell him he loved him, but that would alarm him, and he might come, which would be a bad idea. Kester might want to kill Jasper, but he was also intrigued by him, especially after finding out he wasn’t fully human. He’d been the one to reveal that to Jasper, and maybe that was why he was here instead of his son. Maybe he wanted to gloat or remind Jasper what he owed him. Archie didn’t like that any more than he liked the other options. He didn’t like anything when it came to Kester, if he was honest.

“What do you want?” he asked as he neared his car. He wasn’t really afraid, even though he knew that Kester could kill him quite easily. Kester wouldn’t do it without a reason. His reasons might not make sense to most people, but they did to him, and so far, Archie hadn’t done anything to him. A lot of people thought that Kester killed because he was cruel and because he enjoyed it, and no doubt that was part of it, but Archie had always thought there was more to it, too. Maybe he’d never find out, or maybe he was wrong. It didn’t matter.

Kester smiled, and Archie wished he hadn’t. The monster had way too many teeth for anyone to be comfortable with. Sometimes, in moments like these, Archie wondered how Cullen had come out as well as he had, considering who his father was. It also made Archie wonder about Cullen’s mother, but he wasn’t sure even Cullen knew what happened to her. It wasn’t something Archie would ask him, though. If Cullen ever wanted to talk about his past and his mother, he knew he’d be welcome to. Any of them would listen to him and comfort him if that was what he needed.

Especially Braith. That was definitely not something Archie was willing to think about right now.

“Hello to you, too, Archibald,” Kester drawled.

“Cut the shit. We both know you’re here because you want something, and I want to know what that something is.” It was business, something only Archie could give him because otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.

Kester didn’t look offended. If anything, he looked delighted. “I like you. It would be a pity if I were to have to kill you.”

“You don’t have to kill me. Just walk away and leave me alone.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t do that. I need your help.”

Archie blinked. That wasn’t what he’d expected. Was Kester asking for his help? It didn’t make sense. “You couldn’t ask anyone else?”

“I suppose I could ask your boyfriend.”

Archie had to resist the urge to growl. “Leave Jasper out of this. You’ve already done enough damage.”

“Was it damage or did I free him from expectations?”

“Just get to the point. I have better things to do than stand in this parking lot and listen to you.”

Kester raised his hands as he chuckled. “All right. I need access to the sanctuary ruins.”

Archie blinked. He never would’ve expected Kester to ask about the sanctuary. The monster obviously knew what the sanctuary was, but then, most monsters in the area did. Of course, Kester wasn’t from here, but he’d spent some time in town. He would’ve heard about the sanctuary.

Was that why he wanted to see the place? Was he maybe fascinated by the thought of humans and monsters living together?

Or repulsed, maybe.

“I’m not sure why you’re asking me,” Archie said. “It’s not like I can tell you not to go or stop you from going.”

“Can’t you?”

“I don’t even know if it’s protected at all.”