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“We’re back,” Beth says, appearing through the garage door and despite me knowing she was home, startles me.

Jake strides in behind her and eyes the food. “Is that for me?” he asks, grabbing it from the plate and frowning at the giant bite taken out of it.

My face heats. “Sorry, I got hungry.”

He shrugs and eats it anyway. He walks outside, joining Nick, who conveniently disappeared behind the trees.

My stomach tingles. What the fuck just happened? Something’s shifted in my head, leaving me desperate to put all the pieces together. Alive or dead, the message is loud and clear. The Archer is not done ruining me.

Chapter 28

Half an hour later, I’m still chopping vegetables, waiting for the roast to cook, sweating over the meal, helping my mother to get ready to host our dinner party. She’s beside me as I stare out at Nick in utter amazement as he navigates our backyard. He's close to my dad, but they don't really interact, which leaves me here, pinching myself and wondering if I can trust my own mind right now.

My head spins thinking about all the ways he defiled me during those months he held me captive. The way he defiled me last night, and again just ten minutes ago. Watching him now interacting with Jake, eating the sandwich, touching me, kissing me. The hot sticky heat is still on my back.

“So how long has Nick been working for us?” I ask Beth.

She glances up as she furiously chops carrots. “Who?”

“The guy helping Dad.”

She frowns and gazes out the window. “Oh, I don’t know. A couple months, maybe.”

“When exactly?”

“What’s with the twenty questions about the hired help, Layla?”

“I’m just curious…” Was it before or after he abducted me?

As if he can hear us, his eyes meet mine, and they flicker in the muted light. A promise of what’s to come.

The oven beeps, and Beth curses under her breath, not answering my question as she pulls out the roast, places it on the stove, and frowns. “Crap. I overcooked it.”

The doorbell rings, and I dip my gaze just as my knife slips, nipping my finger.

Beth’s head snaps up. “Layla…watch what you are doing. Seriously, do I need to hide the knives again?” I grab a paper towel and put some pressure on it.

Beth hisses through her teeth, then pulls her apron off and primps her hair. “Pull yourself together for once in your life. Gabe is here. I’m hoping after tonight he will agree to still represent you.” I roll my eyes, then wonder if Nick is the jealous type. Though I already know he is. And I don’t care in the slightest if Gabe represents me.

Two seconds later, there’s a flurry of activity at the front door. Gabe and Regina arrive at the same time. Gabe walks in, and my attention immediately diverts outside to where Nick and my dad are still working. Nick spares a brief glance before returning to his task, acting as if he isn’t a complete psychopath. His eyes linger on Gabe for a long moment.

“It’s nice to see you again, Layla,” Gabe says, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

My skin prickles at the compliment. Even more so as his hands curl around my waist, mirroring Nick’s embrace an hour ago.

Beth’s scrutinizing stare bites into me. She wants me with Gabe, and that makes it worse. Especially since I don’t seem to have any identity of my own anymore. Something Nick and I have in common, apparently.

I turn and fake a smile, and his hands linger on my waist. His hair is slicked back, and he’s wearing a leather jacket. He stares down at my lips, making my skin itchy. “Beth told me you came down with the flu. How are you feeling?”

Is that what she told him?

I arch a brow at Beth, whose gaze remains lowered, and she begins chatting with Regina, pointedly ignoring me.

I’ll play along.

I bat my eyelashes at him. “I’m feeling much, much better. Thank you.”

Beth bristles next to me, and I shoot her a look.