Page 61 of Dichotomy

“Did you just boop him?” Alexander’s voice came from over my shoulder. He and Adrian stood in the doorway. Adrian chuckled and leaned forward to press a kiss on my forehead.

“I’m sure he deserved it,” he said, settling into the comfy armchair next to the couch.

“Marcus said I could do whatever I wanted,” I said primly.

Sebastian stared at me, brow furrowed. “So you wanted to boop my nose?”

“No, I wanted to run my fingers through your hair, but I had to get your attention.”

Sebastian turned and plopped down in front of me so fast that I jolted. “Fuck, Evie, boop my nose every day if that’s how this ends.”

I laughed but gave into the urge to run my hand through his curls. They were softer than they looked. He groaned, and I blushed but didn’t stop.

“How long have you wanted to do that?” Adrian grinned at me.

“I’ll never tell.” I winked at him.

They all laughed, and my chest warmed. “Are we watching a movie or playing a board game?” Alexander gestured towards the stack of board games on the side table.

“I don’t really want to move,” I confessed. “But we can play a board game if y’all want.”

“It’s whatever you want to do,” Marcus reminded me. “I’m fine just sitting here.”

“Me too,” Sebastian purred. “I don’t want to move either.”

“I can’t remember the last time we relaxed like this, so a movie works,” Adrian agreed.

“Movie it is.” Alexander found an action movie to put on but kept it on low so we could still chat if we wanted.

I sighed, burrowing into the couch more. The wine spread a pleasant warmth throughout my body, and Marcus’s massage on my feet and calves had me feeling boneless. I never imagined I would be here like this with them. Was this what the future could look like? Us unwinding after long days at work? Could I really have it all?

I wasn’t sure, but even as relaxation seeped into my bones, determination also filled me. I didn’t know what was waiting for us tomorrow, but I was willing to burn the city down for the chance to make nights like this our normal.

CHAPTER 26

EVELYN

“Are you sure about this?” Alexander murmured.

He was leaning beside me against the wall of one of the Archers’ safehouses, the entryway narrow enough that his shoulder brushed mine when he shifted. I’d chosen the location deliberately as it was neutral ground. Not SDS, which needed to stay clean. Not the Archers’ HQ, which stayed invisible. A safehouse was the compromise.

Liam had outfitted the place with the best security SDS had to offer and was monitoring the meeting from HQ. I hadn’t wanted any of my lieutenants here—protecting their identities was important to me—but Izzy had flat-out refused to be sidelined. She was planted in the living room with the others, daring anyone to argue with her.

“I’m sure,” I said. “We don’t have many options left.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Alexander’s voice dropped. “I meant sharing…everything else.”

I sighed, already tired of the argument even though I understood it. The guys wanted me to stick to the case, facts, files, and nothing about the Archers beyond what Dominic could already infer. But my gut said partial truths wouldn’t cut it.Dominic Hayes was smart. He’d been circling this long enough to recognize the shape of what we were doing.

Confirming the Archers’ existence and our mission was a risk. But so was continuing to dance around a man who was already investigating corruption inside the FIA. If we wanted his help, I needed to stop treating him like a liability and start treating him like a potential ally.

“I’m sure.”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Right on time. I checked the peephole, then swung open the door when I confirmed it was Dominic.

“Hey, come on in.” I stood back to let him pass.