Page 35 of Heart Stopping
"I'm not going to die so we can test the theory," Archer said. "If you're offering…"
"No one is going to die here today," I said, raising my hands, palms facing them. "Let's focus on Fairfield. He's the enemy, not anyone in this room. Okay?"
"You're right," Boner said. "Sorry, bro." He leaned forward and offered Archer his hand.
"Yeah," Archer said with a sigh, but he leaned forward and shook Boner's hand. "Can I have a few minutes alone with Harlow?"
Boner's gaze slid to me, his expression skeptical.
"It's okay, I trust him," I said.
Archer could have called the cops on me a long time ago. I could have done the same to him. Of course, neither of us coulddo that without incriminating ourselves. No, if he wanted to, they would have shown up on my doorstep a long time ago.
Mischief in his eyes, Boner slid his gaze back over to Archer.
I sat forward and poked Boner in the side with my fingernail. "He trusts me too." He really would do almost anything for a laugh.
"Yes, I do," Archer said. The look he gave Boner clearly said if there was anyone in the room he didn't trust, it was the Englishman. Fair enough. They'd known each other for barely an hour. That was a short amount of time for anyone, much less people like us.
Trusting the wrong person could get us thrown in solitary confinement the rest of our lives.
Or worse. No, I don't mean death. I mean being buried alive, up to my neck and left there to die slowly. Or locked in a sensory deprivation tank. I know those are specific, but I have particular nightmares.
"Right then." Boner placed his hands on his thighs and hopped off the top of the desk. "I'll leave you crazy kids to it for a few minutes. Don't make my floor sticky." He looked meaningfully at Archer, but he was smiling at the same time, right before he strode out the door, closing it behind him.
Archer rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger. "Where did you find that guy?"
"Ironically, about the same place I found you," I said. "We both had the same target." I decided not to mention the night we spent together before that. Archer probably figured out by now that Boner and I had fucked at some point. I didn't need to give him the details.
"You really trust him then?" He glanced at the door as if he suspected Boner was on the other side, listening. Considering how thick the door was, I doubt he'd be able to hear a word. No, if he was listening, it wasn't through the door.
"Yeah, I do," I said. "He's a lot, but he's one of us. If he wasn't, the cops would be breaking down the door."
I'd taken note of the amount of cameras in the gallery. Just because I couldn't see evidence of a listening device in the office didn't mean there wasn't one. If he'd called them the moment he stepped out of the office, they'd be here by now.
"I guess so." Archer didn't look convinced.
"You two will learn to get along," I assured him. "I don't want to have to pick a side. You know what will happen then."
"You'll pick homicide?" A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
I grinned. "Exactly."
He chuckled softly. "Can I take you out some time? Make up for our coffee being interrupted." He seemed surprised at himself for asking, but made no attempt to take the words back. If anything, he seemed relieved they were out there, in the world.
"Sounds like I need to takeyouout," I said. Itwasmy friend who interrupted us after all. I owed him a raincheck. "After we hack Fairfield's computer?"
"It's a date," he said. "But let me pick the place. I know a guy. I'm almost ready to go after him. We could do it together." His dark eyes shone with a fierce light, like he came alive when he was planning a kill. Like everything else was monotonous right up until the moment he sliced skin open.
"That's so romantic," I said, teasing lightly. I wouldn't say no. If we were going to go after a big, difficult target together, then some practice wouldn't hurt.
Well, it wouldn't hurtus.
"I should go and talk to Cass," I said. I surprised myself by how much I was looking forward to seeing him. It wasn't all about asking him to hack Fairfield's computer for me. I genuinely liked the guy.
Which, frankly, was terrifying.
CHAPTER 14
