Page 66 of Hunt Me

Leaf and I stare at him, and then I gasp when I see a small furry head poke through Archie’s fingers.

‘Michael?’ I ask as Leaf’s mouth drops open.

Archie stares down at the little guy who seems far more relaxed than a wild animal should. Though I’m not sure if Michael can be considered a wild animal at this point since Thorne is building him a princess castle chicken coop. But leave it to Archie to be able to cradle him like that.

‘How did you get him? He never lets anyone pick him up?’ Leaf’s signs are large and frantic, and I roll my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing.

‘He found me in the barn. Waved. So I picked him up?’

Leaf rounds the island and stares at Michael. ‘Did you bribe him? Give him a carrot or a zucchini?’

Archie stares at Leaf. ‘No.’

‘Oh my god. Seriously. No other explanation?’

‘No.’

Leaf flaps his arms over his head, which scares Michael. He squirms, and Archie moves toward the door, setting him down and watching as he scampers off.

When Archie turns around, Leaf has a hand on his hip and a middle finger in the air, waving at him.

‘Fuck you,’ he mouths, and I bite back another laugh.

Archie cocks his head and then sets the bag down on the ground near my feet. ‘I don’t want to fuck you,’ he signs, clipped and clear. ‘But I would like a drink.’

Archie’s eyes are intense, almost terrifying. I’ve only seen him look like this once, and that was when I walked through the door after being nearly strangled to death. But right now, his gaze is fixed on Thorne, who just got in and is now sitting at the table with his hands folded.

The room is tense, but that’s not really much of a surprise. Leaf gave Thorne the quick version of events, and then Thorne tried to examine my throat, which Archie was not having. He’s positioned himself between us so the former FBI agent can’t physically touch me, and now he’s waiting for some kind of answer.

‘I need all the info you have on former stalker,’ Archie demands.

Thorne quirks a brow and looks at me. ‘You didn’t tell him?’

I feel a curl of shame in my stomach. ‘I was hoping it wasn’t him. Or that it would just go away.’

Thorne gives me a look. ‘Denver.’

‘I know, I know.’ I shoot Archie an apologetic smile. ‘It was just a lot, okay? Too much. After the hearing, I stashed away all the case files. I didn’t want to remember any of it.’

Archie turns his back on Thorne and gently cups my cheek. ‘You did nothing wrong,’ he signs between us.

That’s technically true, but I certainly didn’t help this situation either. But I’m trying now. We’re here, and if anyone can remember every detail in exact order, it’ll be the man sitting across from Archie.

‘Thank you. And you can trust Thorne, okay? He’ll tell you everything, and he’ll keep his mouth shut.’

Archie looks over at Thorne, who nods stiffly, his brows furrowed in thought. ‘I can tell you everything I remember. And I have no loyalty to anyone but my friends.’

Archie studies him for a long moment, then nods, his jaw tight. ‘Need a name. Anything to go on.’ He turns to me and brushes a touch over my jaw to get my full attention. ‘Your paperwork where? Apartment?’

‘I think so.’ I had it…somewhere. I don’t have a safe, but it was probably shoved into an old stiletto box and is rotting at the top of my closet. ‘We can go look.’

Archie shakes his head slowly. ‘You stay home. I’ll go.’

I want to argue, but I don’t really know that I want to go back to my place right now. Or to do anything besides lie in bed and wait for all the pain to ease up. Now that I’ve been able to unburden myself to a couple of my friends, I feel much better, and I think maybe I can sleep without nightmares.

Thorne reaches into his pocket and slides his phone across to Archie. ‘Put your number in, and I’ll send you what info I can get.’

Archie eyes him. ‘Don’t mention me.’