Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle #1)(77)

“Once I bring you this cut, you swear not to hurt Willow or me?”

“You have my word.”

“I’m not sure it’s worth anything.”

“In this case, it is. Rest assured that I’m not a double-crosser, Miss Evans. When I say something, I mean it. I’m sure your father could attest to that. I told him I would kill him if he didn’t back off, and look what happened.”

“Get out!” I shrieked, as rage shook through me.

A cruel laugh escaped from Sigel. “You’re so very unhospitable. But I will honor your request for now.” He strode over to the door before turning back to me. “You can expect to hear from me within the next few days. When I call, I will expect a prompt delivery. No stalling and no excuses. You can also get any ideas out of your pretty little head about enlisting help from the Raiders.”

“I wouldn’t dream of doing anything that would risk not ridding you completely from my life.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I’ll be in touch.”

And then he disappeared just as quickly as he had appeared. As the emotional weight of Sigel’s admission crashed over me, I began to hyperventilate. Gripping the edge of my desk, I wheezed in and out. Breathe, Alex. Just breathe.

I repeated the phrase over and over in my mind like a mantra. Then I realized I wasn’t the only one saying it. Jerking my head up, I gazed into Archer’s concerned face. With a weak smile, he once again repeated, “Just breathe.”

Launching myself out of the chair, I wrapped my arms around him. I needed comfort as desperately as I did air.

“I’m sorry. I’m so f*cking sorry I wasn’t here. His men cornered me in the bathroom and held me at gunpoint until he was finished.” I whimpered in protest when he pulled away. Scanning my face, he asked, “Did he hurt you? Did he touch you? Fuck, Alex, did he hurt you in any way?”

“No. He didn’t hurt or touch me.”

When I didn’t volunteer any other information, Archer sighed. “Thank God you’re all right.”

“Take me home.”

His brows lined. “To your house?”

I shook my head. “No, to the compound.”

“You sure you’re able to ride? I can call someone to pick us up.”

“Just get me home now. Please.”

“Anything for you, Alex,” Archer replied. Sliding his arm around my hip, he pulled me to him. With my head against his chest, I leaned on his strength as we walked outside.

When we got to the door leading outside, I hesitated slightly. “It’s all right. I’m right here,” Archer reassured me. As I gazed up into his face, I couldn’t help noticing the way his eyes cautiously scanned the surroundings as well as the way he clenched and unclenched his jaw. He looked like a man on edge, and I couldn’t blame him. Not only had two of his club members been taken out, but he had just been jumped.

At the sight of his motorcycle, I faltered. I couldn’t help the paranoia that something had been done to his bike.

“You all right?” he questioned.

“Do you think your bike was tampered with?”

Archer’s brows shot up in surprise. “I wouldn’t think so. If they wanted to harm us, they had the chance.”

My mind automatically went to my parents and how when they left for school that morning, they felt they were safe in their SUV. “Just twitchy, I guess.”

“Just a sec,” Archer said. He then made a wide circle around his bike. “No boot prints.”

“Would they even show?”

“If they’d been riding, they would have left some mark, especially considering there’s patches of sediment and dirt all around the parking lot.” He nodded. “It would show.”

“If you say so,” I replied, feeling unconvinced.

Scratching the back of his neck, Archer said, “Listen, Alex, it ain’t my business, but I would imagine if Sigel came all the way out here to meet with you, there’s something he wants. Something that you, and you alone, will give him.” When I refused to answer, Archer said, “That fact alone would mean nothing was going to happen to you. At least not now.”

With a quick nod of my head, I replied, “Okay. But I’ve changed my mind. I’m not ready to go back to the compound just yet.”

He gave me a questioning look. “So you wanna go somewhere else?”

“No. I just need to ride for a little while.”

“Okay, I can do that.”

I’m sure he thought I had absolutely lost my mind since in one minute I was worried about the motorcycle blowing up and then in the next I wanted to be on it for a long time.

Without another word to him, I took the helmet and got on the motorcycle. We took off out of the parking lot. Archer drove us out of town and down one of the off-the-beaten-path roads into the more rural areas. As I rode, things became clearer and clearer in my mind. I had come to a crossroads I’d never imagined possible.

“Pull over!” I shouted over the roar of the engine.

Archer didn’t glance back at me. Instead, he found a turnaround in a thicket of trees. When he stopped, I didn’t immediately get off. “You need the bathroom?”

“Turn off the engine.” When he obeyed me, I drew in a deep breath. “Archer, if I were to ask you for your help, would you give it without question?”