Page 108 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
His matter-of-fact tone was clear. He wasn’t kidding.
“This was all a setup, wasn’t it?” I asked.
Pocketing his knife, he shot an irritated glance at Julian. “What did you tell her?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Does it matter? I still don’t get why we’re out here. Lakes might not even find us.”
Archer took a few slow steps. Something about his relaxed and unhurried body language was unnerving. I didn’t like his confidence.
“That was your real mistake,” he said. “You underestimated him. And we’re here because it suits my purposes.”
“You’re out here alone. How is that not underestimating him? You should have snipers out there to take him out before he even gets close.”
The smirk that crossed Archer’s face sent another chill down my spine. “Oh no. Lakes deserves much better than that. I respect him too much not to see to it personally.”
“Suit yourself.” Julian tucked the gun in the waistband of his pants. “While we’re waiting, we need to renegotiate.”
The fury that crossed Archer’s face made my blood run cold. Julian seemed oblivious. Maybe he wasn’t worried because he was armed, but I had the distinct feeling Julian had not only underestimated Jensen but he was underestimating Archer, too.
“I don’t renegotiate,” Archer said. “The terms are set.”
“What about her?”
“What about her?”
“I want her when we’re done.” Julian took a step toward him. “She owes me.”
Archer didn’t answer. Just watched Julian through slightly narrowed eyes.
“You get Lakes,” Julian continued. “Once you have him, you don’t need her. Besides, what’s she to you? She’s just a lying bitch.”
My stomach roiled with dread. There was no question what Julian meant or what he planned to do to me. It was unspeakable.
Archer hesitated and cast a glance at me before replying. “Let’s talk outside.”
Julian nodded and followed him to the door. His eyes lingered on me as he passed, undisguised anger—and lust—plain on his face.
The wind howled and snow blew inside when the two men walked out the door. Julian shut it, and the world seemed to fall quiet again.
My heart beat furiously, and I stood, wondering if I could use anything in the cabin as a weapon. Panic rose, sucking the air from my lungs.
A gunshot rang out, and I froze with terror.
I watched, wide-eyed, as the door opened again, ushering in a fresh blast of snow and frigid air. Archer calmly came in and closed it behind him.
“I should probably thank you,” he said, his voice smooth and even. “For giving me an excuse to get rid of him. He had promise, but his ego was always going to get him killed.”
With no idea how to reply, I gaped at him.
He checked his watch. “You might as well have a seat. I don’t know how long we’ll be here.”
I sank into the chair, my body trembling with fear and cold.
Would Jensen come? And if he did, how would he avoid falling into Archer’s trap?
How were we going to get out of this?
CHAPTER 28
