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“You love me?”
“I did, and for a while, I dealt with a broken heart.” She waves a hand. “It doesn’t matter. That was then.”
Then, I… I swear, if Archer is alive, I’m going to fucking kill that man.
Maybe what I should do is get a picture of this asshole and start searching for him. Finn can help me find this fucker. If he accidentally puts a bullet in his head, I’ll help him hide his body. Piper puts on her noise-canceling headphones and pulls out her tablet. I guess the conversation is over. I’ll let it go for now, but I’m getting the girl. I don’t give a shit.
“Textme when you want me to pick you up,” I say as I drive toward Seth’s estate.
“I’ll get a ride from my family. Everyone is going to be here.”
“Piper, this isn’t a request. It’s an order.”
She scoffs. “Excuse me if I don’t take orders from you, you’re not my father, and even then, I would be questioning his motives.”
Why is she so infuriating? “Do you ever do what you’re told?”
“No. Why are you in Seattle?”
“Surveillance.” It’s not a lie, but it doesn’t cover the entire reason I’m in town and why a bunch of our men are being called to be here by Monday.
“Then why are you ordering me around? I’ve been around my uncle for almost thirty years, and I can tell you that when he’s barking orders and watching us, there’s something dangerous happening. He starts evacuating people to safe houses and…” I can feel her gaze, but since I have to pay attention to the road, I don’t turn my focus to her. “What’s happening, Derek? Is there something you’d like to share? I can ask my uncle if you need help.”
I almost snort. Her uncle might be the reason we’re here.
“Nothing, but you being close to someone who’s attracting so much attention doesn’t sit well. I read the gossip about your cousin and… what’s Teddy to him?”
She swallows. “They’re married.”
“Why was he dating that actress then?”
“It’s complicated, but you can blame Archer for this mess,” Piper snorts. “I swear when he comes back, someone is going to punch him so hard he might end up dead.”
Hopefully, I’ll be the first in line. That fucker has made the last few years of my life a living hell.
“Is there any way you can go back home?” I try a different approach.
“No, I’ll stay with my family for as long as they need me. I can only imagine how Teddy is feeling.”
“Can you imagine how I’m feeling knowing that you can be in fucking danger?”
“It’s safe, and I can deal with paparazzi. I know how to defend myself.”
“So the whole black belt deal wasn’t a joke?”
“No. I can handle myself.”
“If I get you a gun?” I have a small enough handgun she can carry in her purse.
“I prefer a knife, but I’m going to be okay without a weapon,” she insists.
I stop on the shoulder. “Piper, I won’t be able to live with myself if something happens to you.”
“If you can’t stop being some kind of spy vigilante, you have no right to stop me from being with my family.” She clears her throat. “My family! They’re not dangerous. I asked you not to put your life in danger, remember? Your answer was no. My answer is, leave me the fuck alone. You have no right.”
What if I promise that after this is over, I’ll find fucking Archer, and I'll kill him. I’ll quit this job and live a sedentary life with Piper. But I can’t promise her any of that.
When we make it to her cousin’s estate, I put on a cap and sunglasses before leaving the vehicle. I don’t want to be caught on camera.
