Jagger didn’t finish that when there was a loud banging atthe door.
He doubted it was one of the tenants, only two of which he’dmet in passing in the hall, but they were even more chill than Archie.
“I’ll handle it,” he said.
“No, you won’t,I’llhandle it,” Archie declared,stalking his way.
“How aboutIhandle it,” Joany said, and shesounded more ticked than Archie and Arch sounded pretty ticked.
“How about you girls stand down and I’ll chat with Eli,”Lafayette suggested.
Everyone was moving to the door but only Jagger got out ofthe way after receiving the look Archie was sending.
The pounding came back right before she opened it.
And when she opened it, Jagger didn’t have time to blinkbefore Elijah was in.
For him to be this, Archie went flying, because he bargedin, shoving open the door and making her do so.
Annnnnnnnd…
Hell no.
Jag started to move and then everyone was moving.
Lafayette and Joany rushed toward Archie.
Keely got close to Jagger.
And Hound had Jag with an arm around the chest from behindand his voice in his ear.
“Cool it, son.”
“What’d I tell you about this, Arch?”Jag growled, his eyeslocked to Elijah, his body locked so he didn’t move to punch that fuck in thethroat.
Elijah was looking around and not missing fresh flowers,candles, Ray LaMontagne or the set dining room table.
“What’s going on?”he asked.
“What’s going on?”Archie repeated.
And Jagger didn’t have to keep his body locked anymore ather tone.
It wasn’t incredulous.
It wasn’t wounded.
It wasn’t shocked.
It was a profound mix of all three.
Elijah didn’t miss that either and he went still.
“What’s going on?”She said it again.
“Baby,” Jagger called softly.
Hound let him go.
