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The county road was just off in the distance, and they were starting to make real progress. A little further, and they would no longer be on DuCane property. They would be entering State land and then Kevin's property. Thankfully, the cougars were nowhere in sight, but then Dallas would have put the run on them. They wouldn't hang around here with murder in the air and vampires patrolling the area.
They started down the county road that would connect to Kevin's property, everyone keeping pace and keeping hidden and following Kevin. Suddenly, a vehicle could be heard someone was coming in their direction. Kevin slowed, as did everyone waiting to see who could possibly be on this narrow and rarely used dirt road. The vehicle was a dark red SUV, and they weren’t aware of it, but Dallas had them surrounded. He’d probably had men watching them since the moment they turned off the main road.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Archer moved closer to Kevin, stopping approximately three feet behind him and to his left. Whoever was in the SUV would see him, and that was his point. Kevin glanced back at him and then at the SUV that had come to a stop. It took several minutes before both doors opened, and the driver and the passenger stepped out. Archer recognized them from the reports on Kevin, and he noticed Kevin was not pleased to see them. He took a step back, getting closer to Archer as they began to advance on him.
"Why are you here?" Kevin spoke with a flat firmness that was impressive. He may have been shattered and unsure, but he knew when he had to pull himself together, and he could do it on a dime.
"We wanted to talk with you, Kevin. It pains us that things were left so awkward, and we afforded you no closure." Ted began with a tone that was forced and sickly sweet.
"I got plenty of closure from that door that hit me in the ass on the way out. Don't fake concern, Ted. You're not good at it. Tell me why you're here, or get lost." Archer was so proud of his beloved in that moment.
"Don't be like that, honey." Emily stepped up beside Ted and ran her hand suggestively down his arm. "I fell in love with your brother, and we had to be together. It had nothing to do with you and me. Please try to accept that I'm with Ted now, and let's get back to being a family." To Kevin's credit, he started to laugh so hard he bent at the waist before straightening up and letting her have it.
"We aren't family; we were never family, and as far as me being heartbroken over our breakup that lasted less than an hour. The freedom of having you finally out of my life was euphoric, and besides, you've been replaced." Kevin raised his hand and motioned Archer forward with a sweet look of contriteness that Archer was eating up. The fact Kevin claimed him in front of these people meant the world to him.
Archer took his place at Kevin's side, took his hand, and kissed it for effect and for his own pleasure before draping his arm across Kevin's shoulders. He wanted to put forth his possession so there was no mistake as to who Kevin belonged to.
"Well, that makes this so much easier, actually," Ted said and looked down at Emily as if seeking agreement, but she was still stuck in the shock of Kevin replacing her so soon and not paying Ted any attention. Archer kept his eyes on Ted. The man was giving off vibes of scattered intent; the man was dangerous.
Archer felt his phone vibrate and carefully took a quick look at what was sent. It was a text from Easton. “The contract was taken out by Ted Paulson.” Archer had less than a second to swing Kevin around and shield him from the shot as Ted pulled out a handgun that he’d tucked in his belt and took a direct shot at Kevin. Fortunately, he only got off one shot before Dallas brought him down with a bullet between his eyes.
The scene was chaotic, with Dallas and his men descending up them and Emily screaming and running for the woods. Archer held Kevin tight, so tight he was probably cutting off the man's breathing, but he just couldn't let go. He buried his face in Kevin's neck, thanking the powers that be for his life. "I can't lose you baby." He told him, his voice rough and rusty with emotion.
"I can't lose you either; I'm sorry, Archer, I never should have run off. I need you so badly. Don't ever let me go." Kevin was saying everything Archer needed to hear until he heard him start to scream.
“What . . . what’s wrong!” He pulled back to look down at his beloved and saw that the poor man was covered in Archer’s blood and was freaking out.
"Oh, my God, he shot you!" Kevin was going into hysterics, pulling at Archer's shirt, baring his chest, and screaming.
"I'm fine; bullets don't affect me. It's a perk of being a vampire." He brought Kevin's attention to the hole in his chest that was rapidly healing itself.
"How is that possible?" He touched the now smooth, flawless flesh and was in awe and also relief.
"I'm a vampire. Very few things can kill me. Once we bond, you will be able to heal, too. You will get many of my perks, such as no illness, longer life, and hard to kill." Archer tipped Kevin's face up to his and took his lips in a kiss that was so intense it sent a sexy tremor through Kevin's body.
"All of that was true," Kevin mumbled to himself and wrapped Archer in his arms. Dallas walked up to them and cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Why don't you two head back to the cottage, and we will take care of things here. You could both use a bath, and I think it's high time you claim this young man and bring him into the fold, my friend." Dallas, not usually one to banter, was having a good time at their expense, but Archer was too happy to make an issue of it and just agreed.
“Where’s Emily?” Kevin asked as he looked around.
"She grabbed the gun and ran off into the woods. She's being followed, but I don't think we will have to worry about her." Dallas informed.
“Why?”
“She has a gun, she’s covered in Ted’s blood, and she just ran off into cougar territory.” Archer clarified.
“They’re real cougars?” Kevin questioned.
"They can be," Dallas answered and turned away and then added. "They're shifters. You need to go home and explain this stuff to him, Archer, and take that cat with you."
"I'm on it." Archer shot back and picked up Johnny from where he hovered at Kevin's feet. He then grabbed Kevin, and they started back to the cottage.
Kevin was shocked that Ted had turned out to be the one who hired the hit men, but it also made sense once Archer shared with him the entire text that Easton had sent him. At the time, he simply responded to the first sentence, but the body of the text explained Ted's motives.
"Ted refused to admit he was not capable of doing your job, and he was prepared to go to any lengths in order to not fail. After everything he managed to steal from you, he was going to lose it all because of his own incompetence. He needed money, and in his mind, he believed the money would fix all his problems, so he arranged for the disappearance of your parents, but that didn't free up the money in their estate as he had hoped." Archer opened the cottage door for his beloved and ushered him inside. Kevin loved the way he took care of him; he was always so attentive.
