“Really?” he challenged his friend. “There’s nothing more to this unilateral decision to pull a changing of the guards?” Archer’s hesitation was all the answer Lucky needed. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Just admit it, brother,” he challenged hisfriend. “If you don’t trust me to protect Ellie, then just say the fucking words.”
Silence filled the phone’s speakers for so long that Lucky started to think he’d been hung up on. But just as he parted his lips to check, the other man’s deep voice filled his ear once more.
“You know damn good and well that I have full and complete trust in your ability to keep El or anyone else safe.” Archer’s voice was tight. “That’sneverbeen in question.”
“Well something sure as hell is.”
And he wasn’t buying the whole behind-the-keyboard excuse because he could—andhad—worked from anywhere with a reliable power source and decent internet service.
“Okay, fine.” Archer sighed. “I just thought…” Another long pause. “Look, man. Don’t get all bent out of shape over this, okay? I just know how you are with women, and Ellie’s…she’s different, Luck.”
How I am with…
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, come on, Lucky. It’s not like you hide the fact that you’re a total player. And that’s fine. Really. I mean, what you do on your own time is your business—”
“You’re damn right it’s my business.”
“—but this is El we’re talking about,” Archer didn’t miss a beat. “You flirt with troves of women at those dance clubs you like to frequent, and they practically fall all over themselves for a chance to go home with you.”
“Bullshit.”
“Dude, I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes.” The other man paused. “I’ve also seen Ellie’s reaction to your attempts at making a move on her, and it’s clear she’s not interested in you.”
Lucky blinked. Arch never had been the type to pull punches, but damn.
“While I appreciate the recap, I’m fully aware of Ellie’s aversion toward me.” A problem he intended to rectify ASAP. “Now, I didn’t think it needed to be said, but clearly I was wrong, so here it is…” Lucky swallowed his anger and forced his voice to remain steady and calm. “I’m here to make sure El doesn’t get hurt. That’s it. Nothing more. And since I’mnottrying to use the situation to get into her pants, and since I can work from virtually anywhere, there’s absolutely no reason to hand this one over to Boyer or anyone else. Not unless El says that’s whatshewants.”
Maybe not even then.
“You saying you can keep things professional? That you won’t try anything while she’s under your watch?”
“You mean like the things you tried…correction, the things youdidwith Cassie when you assigned yourself as her personal bodyguard?” Lucky raked a frustrated hand through his hair. “Have you forgotten you took Cass on as a client without even consulting the team first? Or that you started sleeping with her while she wasstilla client? But you’re right. Feel free to lecturemeabout keeping shit professional.”
Apparently, what’s good for Yee is not for thee.
“That was different.”
“I’m sure that’s what you tell yourself.”
“It wasn’t just sex for sex’s sake,” Archer kept on. “Cassie and I…we fell in love.”
“And I’m the asshole player incapable of love, is that it?”
“That’s not what I’m saying, and you know it.” The bite in Archer’s voice vanished as quickly as it had appeared. “Listen, Lucky. You know I love you like a brother. And Cass…she feels the same way about you, too. And Ellie…she’s Cass’s best friend. So I’m just trying to keep the peace, here. That’s all.”
“You know, you and Cass had no problems with me staying over tonight. In fact, you two were practically begging Ellie to let me.”
“That was different. It was one night, and she’d been injured, and—”
“You need to hear the words, fine. Here they are.” Lucky’s throat worked a hard swallow. “I promise to keep my hands to myself. Happy?”
“No. I’m not fucking happy.’ Archer’s slow, deep sigh was audible through the phone. “But I will be, once the shooter’s either behind bars or lying six feet under.”
On that, he and Arch agreed. George Ray Harvey or some other prick, it didn’t matter. Lucky and his team would find the son of a bitch who’d pulled that trigger, and when they did…
You’ll never get the chance to hurt Ellie again.