Hunt wasn’t sure what registered on his face in the seconds that Leo’s threat sank in. He wasn’t even confident of what went through his head as he made his next move. All he knew were two things happened all at once. The bar’s front door slammed open and Archer charged into the bar, running at full speed, as Hunt spun around to Leo.
As he pulled back his arm and roared a sound he’d never heard come from his mouth, he knew there was only one thing he’d regret about tonight—breaking his promise to Lottie.
11
Lottie’s stomach growled as she raced up the staircase to Archer and Elise’s place with Nessa hot on her heels, her nails freshly painted. The day had been full of dog walks, girl talks over lunch, and a trip to the salon. Elise and Zoey had spent the whole day with her, and Nessa arrived just before dinner, and at the time, Lottie just felt loved. Now she realized her day had been filled to keep her busy and around people. Because no matter how many times she tried to understand Archer’s text, the message still hadn’t sunk in.
Hunt’s been arrested. Come to my house immediately.
Zoey had gone home to Rhys, while she, Nessa, and Elise had gone back to Elise’s house. Ever since Archer’s text arrived, pinging on Elise’s phone first, then on Lottie’s, she’d been on autopilot.
Overwrought with worry, her hands shook as she and Nessa followed Elise inside, who’d been texting on her phone the entire drive back.
The moment Lottie spotted Archer standing by the bay window, she asked, “Why did Hunt get arrested?”
“He assaulted your brother Leo,” said Archer, moving to lock the door behind them.
No. No. No.
Lottie’s knees weakened. She absentmindedly moved to the couch and dropped down next to Elise before she’d hit the ground. “That can’t be true,” she barely managed. “Hunt promised me. He swore he wouldn’t get involved with them. Why was he even with them?”
Archer moved to stand in next to Elise. “They texted him earlier and asked him to meet them at Kings.”
Lottie jerked her gaze to Elise. “That’s the reason for the girls’ day?”
“It wasn’tthereason,” Elise said gently. “It was a good reason for us to have a girls’ day.”
“Why didn’t you tell me he was meeting with them?” Lottie asked, unable to hide the snappiness in her voice.
“Hunt didn’t want you to worry.” Archer sighed. “Please don’t be upset.”
“I’m not upset at you.”Hurt, yeah, she was that, but she’d done her fair share of keeping secrets too.“It’s fine. I know you’re all just looking out for me.” She turned to Archer. “What happened when he met them?”
Elise answered, “I’ve got word on that,” she said, shaking her cell phone. “It looks like Hunt was provoked and punched Leo.”
Archer nodded, moving to sit on the couch’s armrest, crossing his arms. “I showed up to the bar right as he threw the hit. A pretty good punch, too—knocked your brother out cold.”
“Why is he still in jail? He’s a cop; can’t he pull strings to get out?”
All eyes shifted to Nessa, who remained in the foyer.
Realizing Nessa was an outsider to Archer, Lottie introduced her. “This is my best friend, Nessa.” She patted the other side of the couch, and once Nessa sat, she said, “Nessa, this is Elise’s husband, Archer.” Lottie waited for them to exchange pleasantries before she asked Archer, “She’s got a point, though—why is he still in a jail cell?”
“It’s more complicated than him pulling some strings,” Elise said. She clicked a button on her phone, offering it to Lottie. “The punch was captured on camera and uploaded to YouTube.”
Lottie’s blood chilled as she watched in horror as Hunt nailed her brother in the face. Just one hit, but that was all he needed to send Leo crashing to the ground. Whoever had taken the video had gotten a perfect shot. She saw his career dissolving before her eyes. The sheer danger he’d put himself in by going there. “He promised,” she whispered, disbelieving the situation. “He made me a promise he wouldn’t get involved.”
“Like Elise said,” Archer interjected gently. “Hunt wouldn’t have done this without being provoked.”
Lottie’s heart squeezed tight, her lungs screaming out for air. She’d known this would happen, and she blindly believed that somehow she could have changed the outcome. That somehow she and Hunt could break away from her haunting past. And now that dark-stained past touched his life, a man so good and honorable, who didn’t deserve any of this. “What’s going to happen to him now?” she asked no one in particular.
“He’s been charged,” Archer answered. “Rhys is getting him a lawyer. We expect he’ll make bond soon.”
Lottie handed back Elise’s cell phone, aware of the shaking of her hand, as Elise said, “From what I could gather about the case, he’s currently suspended until the investigation is concluded.”
Lottie had never been so grateful to have Elise and Archer on her side. Overwhelmed by it all, picturing Hunt in a jail cell, caused her stomach to churn.Fuck!She shot to her feet and began pacing in front of their fireplace. “I told him to stay out of this. I told him that this would happen. Iknewthis would happen. I knew the second I gave in to what we felt for each other, it would destroy his career and endanger him. This is all my fault.”
“The fault falls to Hunt,” Archer said firmly. “He could have handled this a dozen different ways. He chose to punch your brother. That’s on him, not you, Lottie. Don’t berate yourself.”
