Page 70 of In the Dark

Archer said, “She risked a lot staying here. She wanted to make sure her sister would be able to get out of a bad situation, and Jameson wanted the only teacher Franny trusted. He made it lucrative enough that Mia couldn’t say no … for her sister, mostly.”

“Is her sister okay?”

“Marian?” Archer stiffened at how the topic was suddenly on her, and I saw immediately that he was uncomfortable. “I think she’s … well, she’s … She doesn’t say much, but, I mean, she’s a beautiful girl, and it’s fine she doesn’t say much. Not that she’s my type or anything.”

“So, I’m going to stop you. Put you out of your misery and cut you off so that you stop making a fool of yourself.”

We both starting chuckling at that and were full-out laughing until I heard a woman’s laugh outside my door.

And I knew exactly who it was coming from.

He wouldn’t have. I mean, sure, I’d let Archer in here, but Callahan had to know Archer and I would never progress to relations.

With Demi, it was a given.

He’d called my bluff and raised it.

I stood immediately, ready for freaking war.

And, I admit, it wasn’t warranted. I’d told Callahan we could have an open marriage, but this was freaking disrespectful while I was home, in the house he told me would be mine also.

He wanted a viper, and he would get one. I strode toward the door, ready to rain hell down on him.

Archer stepped in front of my path, though. “Can I put you out of your misery and tell you not to go out there so you don’t make a fool of yourself?”

“Touché.” I walked over to yank my knife off the target. “Have I earned enough of your respect tonight that you’ll let me go to his room?”

“I don’t think you want to do that.” Archer shook his head at me, his eyes full of pity. That only fueled me more.

“Oh, I definitely do. You can either fight me and tell Callahan how you hurt his future wife, or let me go hurt him instead.”

He sucked on his teeth, weighing his options.

Then he smiled for real. I saw Archer as a man who wasn’t just trusted by Cal—I saw the mischievousness and maybe a bit of the need for chaos, like he’d enjoy knowing he allowed this to happen. Then, he stepped to the side and said, “His room is the last one at the end of the hall. Do your worst, Ms. Ruiz.”

I padded down to the end of the hallway only to give myself a moment to listen to them. Maybe I was a masochist, or maybe I needed a reminder that Callahan would always be a man I should hate rather than fall for.

And hearing Demi say “I was nervous you wouldn’t call because of her, Cally baby” was all the reminder I needed. “Are you sure it’s fine we’re here?”

Still, I leaned in to hear what he would say back.

“Why wouldn’t it be fine?”

“Well, isn’t your fiancée living here with you?”

“Yes, she’s down the hall.”

“How can you stand living with a Ruiz? They’re all trash.”

He better say something—defend my name, tell her it wasn’t true.

Yet, he didn’t.

“Her last name doesn’t matter.”

“She’ll only be a contract wife though, right? Nothing more? This is a business transaction.”

He’d told her all that? That asshole.