When fear gripped me, my natural response was to unleash my rage. Anger had always been my shield against vulnerability. Adele was the only family I had left, and I would set the world ablaze to keep her safe. I had gone to great lengths to ensure she remained untangled in my dangerous affairs. The fact that I now stood in the basement, witnessing her blood-stained form, left me searching my mind for where I had gone wrong. How had these people infiltrated my home, intent on harming my sister?
"We need to bring the boss to the house. He's badly wounded," Chad's voice broke through my thoughts, concern evident in his tone. I nodded, locking eyes with Adele.
"Are you hurt?" I asked, my voice trembling. She shook her head. Closing the distance between us, I gathered her in my arms. She trembled, and I clenched my teeth, lifting her up as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Chad, look around and see if you can find any more of them. I'll check on Archer. We can't take him back to the house like this, and he can't go to the hospital either," I said, not waiting for a response. I carried Adele out of the basement and up the stairs.
"I can walk, I'm just a little shaken," she hoarsely insisted.
"I'm sorry... I should have been here," I said, consumed by guilt.
"I'm not a child anymore, Mark. You can't watch me every minute," she retorted.
"You are my responsibility," I replied firmly. I felt immeasurable gratitude that Archer arrived in time to protect her, but I couldn't help but wonder if she knew who he truly was. I had to call for his help, knowing he was closer to the house than I was. However, the last thing I wanted was to have Donovan near Adele. He possessed a dark and irredeemable soul, a chameleon in his own right. Despite the bond we had formed over the years, I still wouldn't trust him an inch away from Adele.
Reaching Adele's room, I gently placed her on the floor and held her for a moment before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Did you hear anything? Can you tell why they were here?" I inquired, needing to know the full extent of the situation.
"I heard one of them mention something about asking questions. But another one laughed, so I assumed it was just a ploy to lure me out," she hesitantly responded, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story.
"Did they hurt you, Adele? You can tell me anything," I reassured her.
"No, um... Arc... that guy..." she started.
"Archer?"
"Yes, he stopped them."
"Good."
"How do you know him?"
"We met a long time ago at a bar. He got into a fight, and I helped," I lied, not wanting to reveal the full truth of our encounter.
"Hmm," she nodded in understanding.
"His name is Archer Donovan," I divulged.
"So that's why you know so much about his family?"
"You could say that. We're friends, but not in the typical sense. He's still an outsider," I said, using the term I reserved for almost everyone we met, signaling that they shouldn't be blindly trusted. She nodded, understanding my caution.
"Clean up here. We can't stay, so we need to find a safe place for you tonight. Tomorrow, I'll have Dave come and assess the damages and repair the house," I declared.
She nodded, aware that Dave, the owner of a construction company, was the one I contracted for the repairs. However, I had made an agreement with him to proceed slowly since fixing the house required a significant amount of money I shouldn't possess. Adele remained oblivious to my true occupation, and I intended to keep it that way.
"Where will we go?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
"Don't worry about that. Leave it to me. Just clean up... and maybe we should stop by the clinic to have you checked out?" I suggested.
"I'm fine, I promise. I just need a bath and some aspirin."
"If you're sure..."
"I am," she asserted, offering me a reassuring smile. Yet, there was something in her demeanor that hinted at her hiding something, but this was Adele – always trying to shield me from worry.
"I'll be back for you. Don't come downstairs," I said before leaving.
Chad had already helped Archer to the living room, where he sat in front of the fireplace, holding a bottle of scotch. As soon as he saw me, he asked, "How is she?"
"Shaken, but okay," I replied, and he regarded me with a penetrating look. It was as if he was trying to pry into my thoughts. "How about you? You look like death."
"I'll live. I'm in excruciating pain, though," he grimaced. I chuckled.
"We need to find you some clean clothes and get you home."
"What about your sister?"
"What about her?" I snapped defensively.
"You know we can't leave her here. We should call Ajax's team to clean up this mess," he said, gesturing toward the scattered bodies. "She needs to be taken somewhere safe."
"Safe?" I repeated, my frown deepening.
"We found one of the attackers who was still alive," Archer added.
"He's dead now, in the basement," Archer interjected. "Chad counted ten other dead bodies..."
"Ten?!" I echoed, stunned by the number. Archer nodded, and his gaze unsettled me. I had known him long enough to know he knew more than he was letting on. "What did he tell you? Why were they here?"
"They followed her home," Archer replied, still locking eyes with me.
"Followed her for what?! Who sent them?"
"They're Kuklinski men. It's unclear why they followed her, but it's either because of your connection with her or me," he revealed before taking a large gulp of scotch.
"I'm going to fucking kill him," I growled, consumed by rage.
"That's a long-term plan. Right now, we need to hide your sister... and do it in plain sight," Archer suggested. Dread tightened its grip on me.
"And where do you propose we do that?"
"My house..."
I burst into laughter, devoid of mirth. "You want me to let my sister live in a lion's den? No offense, but with your father, Jessica, and your stepmother lurking around?"
"I can protect her... we can protect her," he reassured, his unwavering gaze meeting mine. We locked eyes for what felt like an eternity. Archer's behavior seemed out of character, and I wasn't naive enough to believe it was due to any personal affection he had for me. I knew I had been useful to him, but he didn't even know Adele.
"She doesn't know about my work, Archer," I growled, my voice dropping dangerously.
"I gathered as much, and she doesn't need to find out," he replied. I couldn't decipher his true motives, and it was making me edgy.
I didn't know what he saw on my face, but he continued, "I'm only trying to help. If you don't want my help..." His voice trailed off, and he shrugged nonchalantly. "I need to get home and have Paul examine my wounds."
Paul, the Donovans' doctor, also resided on their property.
"How would we explain her presence?" I asked, apprehension gnawing at me. "Your father and stepmother won't simply accept you bringing in a guest..."
"She won't be a guest, though," Archer revealed.
"What would she be?"
"My nurse."
"What?!" I exclaimed, taken aback by the audacity of the plan.
"Nobody pays attention to hired help in my house. It will be the perfect decoy," he explained, his gaze unwavering.
He was right. Nobody paid attention to the hired help in the Donovans' house. I had witnessed Jessica asking a maid for her name twice within an hour. Besides, their estate was like a fortress. Kuklinski would never get to Adele in the Donovans' house. It would also give me an opportunity to devise a plan to confront the bastard who involved my sister. However, now I needed to figure out how to convincingly play the role of just being a friend to Archer Donovan, all while ensuring Adele's safety.
"Archer, you know we are friends, and I would take a bullet for you?" I began, holding his gaze.
He interrupted me, his voice filled with sincerity. "I promise you, Mark, no harm will come to her under my watch. I swear it."
He misinterpreted the intent behind my words. I hadn't meant to ask for his oath; instead, I wanted to convey a clear message. If he or any of his family members were to harm my sister, the oath I had taken to protect him would be shattered. I would cease to hesitate and unleash the full force of my wrath, stopping at nothing to obliterate him and his entire family.