Chapter 186

I stand in my closet, shuffling through my clothing, trying to decide what to wear to the meeting. After a quick back and forth with the brothers, we unanimously decided that sooner was better. So we set at time for the next evening, which is also tonight.

I don’t actually intend to fight Wyatt, but I should look like I mean to, to keep up the ruse. But the form fitting outfit I wore last time would show my bandages now. To keep up the ploy, I couldn’t let Wyatt know how much I am actually injured.

He could suspect. Maybe he could think it would give him the upper hand. But if he sees how truly frail I am at the moment, he’ll suspect foul play.

I settle on a pair of tight spandex shorts and a loose-fitting tank-top. My legs and arms would show, but they are mostly unscathed.

As I start to take off my top, I hear someone enter my room. I lower my shirt back down again.

“Here,” Archer says from the doorway to my massive walk-in closet.

I turn to look at him, and see him holding body armor. Specifically, it looks like a bullet-proof vest.

“Wear this,” he says, holding it out.

“I don’t think he’s going to try to shoot me,” I say. Although, Gods know at this point. Maybe Wyatt’s thirst for my blood is bad enough to want to just pull a trigger rather than face me in fair combat again.

I reach for the vest. It’s bulky. “Unless I wear a sweater, he’s going to know I’m wearing this.”

“Let him know,” Archer says. “He knows you are injured. He knows we are protective. He would suspect if we let you face him without some sort of protection.”

“Are you serious?” I ask.

His steady gaze and deepening frown let me know that he 100% is.

“Okay,” I say. He hands me the bulky armor.

I’m not shy in front of Archer, so I pull of my shirt and tug on the tank top I’m planning on wearing. Then I put the armor on top. Archer comes closer and helps me fasten it.

“Tell me the plan again,” he says. Even his voice is tight with tension. I was nervous before, but hearing him like this certainly isn’t helping things.

I close my eyes, take a deep breath. Think of the plan. Focus on that.

Follow the plan and nothing bad will happen.

“I will go to the park and wait. When Wyatt sees just me standing there, he will approach, probably to attack, because he’s a dick,” I say.

“He is,” Archer says. He tightens the fasteners on the armor. “Continue.”

“The minute he makes a move, you and Beau will move to intercept.”

“I’m fastest,” Archer says. “I will get there first.”

“Okay,” I say. “I know you’re fast.”

Archer finishes whatever he’s doing with the armor and steps back. He had to go behind me to connect the armor, so I turn to face him again.

Gods, he’s so tense, he looks like he’s going to take off into outer space at any minute.

“I’m going to be okay,” I say.

He growls, low and deep. “I don’t need your reassurances or your comfort. I just need you to fucking live.”

My heart pounds in my chest. He says it all so gruffly, but the last line is an admittance of his concern, as well as his need of me. I sigh. I’m used to his gruff exterior by now. The man is allergic to feelings. It’s hard for him to even express his worry without being a massive jerk about it.

“I promise you that I will be careful,” I say.

He grunts, but I can tell the words soothe him, marginally at least. His shoulders aren’t quite up to his ears anymore. Now they are down to his jawline instead. Small improvement.

Someone has to stay with Mia. The obvious choice is Neil, as he is also injured. So I head over to his room to say goodbye before I leave. Archer is going to meet me in the garage.

I knock on Neil’s door before I enter this time.

“Come in, Chloe,” he calls, and I wonder how he knows it’s me. Can he smell me through the door? Or does he just suspect it’s me, given the circumstance?

He’s right regardless, so I open the door and step into the room.

I expect to see him in the bed, resting. What I don’t expect is for him to be pulling on a leather jacket. He’s also wearing boots, laced all the way up.

This is not a man who is about to lie down for a rest.

This is a man who is about to get into a street fight.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“What does it look like,” he says in reply. It sounds less like a question and more like a statement.

“It looks like you are getting ready to come with us,” I say.

“Well, there you go.”

“But, Neil –”

“Don’t waste your breath, Chloe. If you are well enough to put yourself in danger, than I am more than well enough to help protect you. Besides, we all know Steven doesn’t like to fight. And I can’t actually hold Mia if something is wrong with her.”

Oh. Right. The silver. Still, “Archer and Beau will be enough.”

“No.” He stares at me hard. It’s that CEO stare of his, the one used to giving orders, not receiving them. At least, not from me. “I missed your challenge and you nearly died. I am not going to miss this.”

“Neil –”

“Save your breath, Chloe. You’re going to need it.”

His tone left no room for argument.

“I guess I should say goodbye to Steven,” I say.

“He’s in the garage with the others,” Neil says. “Let’s go there now.”

He leads the way, walking past me and out the door. His stride is long, his shoulders straight. Looking at him like this, you might never guess he’s fighting off majorly debilitating silver poisoning. His confidence is back too. He doesn’t even glance behind him to see if I follow him.

I half want to stop, just to be difficult. But… well, with everything going on, that would be very childish. So I quietly follow behind.

Down in the garage, the first thing I do is walk to Steven and pull him into a tight embrace. He’s stiff at first, seemingly confused, but then he returns my hug, keeping his hands respectfully at my waist.

“I expect to see you back here afterwards,” Steven says, his voice soft in my ear. “With no new injuries.”

“I’ll do my best,” I tell him. I pull back to smile up at him. He doesn’t return my brightness. Instead he looks at his brothers.

Looks pass between all four of the brothers like they are having some kind of secret, wordless conversation.

It’s over my head. I’m studying but not yet fluent in Hayes. But whatever they are saying, their faces are grim. It spreads a bit of fear out into my gut.

I’m no coward. I’ll do what needs done regardless of what they think, of what possible outcome awaits me.

But that worry is still taking hold.

The way they are looking at each other…

Do they not expect this plan to actually work?