Page 44 of Electric Kiss

Nate stood up, his hands fisting. He had no idea what they would say, but he knew it wouldn’t be friendly.

Nate’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly is it you want?” he asked, his voice full of defiance.

Archer glanced at Selly and then turned back to Nate.

“We want to know what you’re doing with our sister,” he said. “We just want to make sure you understand that this is not acceptable. She deserves better than someone like you.”

Nate fury raised its head. He stepped into Archer’s space. Nate noticed Jason and Luke flank him, and the pub grewquiet. Whatever went down would be island gossip within minutes. When Jason punched his old long-time friend, Keith, it spread like wildfire within minutes.

“This is what’s going to happen. I’m going to ask you three questions about Daisy. If you get two out of three right, we can have your chat. If you can’t answer at least two of them, then we’re done talking, and you can leave me the fuck alone. Are you up for it?” Nate asked, looking at each of them in turn.

“What are the questions?” Jason said. “This should be a breeze. We’re her brothers.”

Nate ignored the arrogance.

“Question one. Daisy volunteers three nights a week and a shift at the weekend. What does she do?”

Nate was met with a trio of blank faces. Archer looked to Jason and then Luke, but they didn’t answer.

“You can confer. I don’t mind,” Nate said, his words dripping with derision.

Selly laughed into his pint behind Nate, and that drew a smirk to Nate’s face.

“No? Don’t know? All right. Let’s try an easier one. When did Daisy finish her work experience?”

Another set of furrowed brows and shaking of heads.

“Jesus fuck, what the hell have you been doing?” Nate asked.

“Now listen,” Luke said, pointing a finger.

Nate ignored the tone and ploughed on. “Last question. How many blackouts has Daisy had like the one you witnessed?”

“Two,” Archer said confidently.

“Any advances on two?” Nate asked Luke and Jason.

Both men shook their heads.

“You’re wrong. You three should be ashamed ofyourselves. Arseholes the lot of you. Now you get to leave me alone. I warn you, do not approach Daisy and warn her off me. You no longer have that right.”

Nate turned his back on the brothers, gulped down half his pint, and then stared at his friend. Selly looked over his shoulder and tracked the brothers’ movements until Nate heard the pub door slam shut. The brothers hadn’t slammed the door. It was how the hinge worked at that pub. Still, it made him jump.

“I can’t believe they couldn’t answer any of the questions. I always thought those siblings were tight.”

“I’m getting the impression nothing is what we thought it was with the Turners,” Nate said. “Another?” he asked.

“Yeah, but I’ll get this round.”

Chapter Thirteen

Daisy

Daisy quickly became accustomed to the two types of team meetings Archer called. They met in his office on the first floor if it had to do with Edward Hall. If it was strictly Turner business, then they met in the kitchen where comfort food was on tap.

The meeting that day would be in Archer’s office. Daisy didn’t know what to expect. It had been a week since she’d had her panic attack, and she hadn’t spoken to any of them. She hadn’t spoken to Nate either, choosing to work long hours with her day job at Edward Hall and taking extra shifts for the helpline in the evenings.

Daisy hesitated outside Archer’s office, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. She had avoided everyone for a week, but now it was time to face them. She knocked softly on the door and heard Archer’s voice calling her in.

---