I’ve stayed at Hunter’s the past few days, for safety reasons. Tensions are high at work. Archard can tell I’m not my usual self, though I do my best to act nonchalant. The demands on me are high, and he’s had me stay well into the evenings to finish work, which has left Hunter more than paranoid.

Today is no exception. I’m working around the clock. Hunter pulls me aside as I head to the copy room. He carefully pans the area around us and runs his hand into the neckline of my blouse. My body stiffens and I clasp his wrist to stop him. His eyes meet mine. “I’m not trying to make a move on you.”

He lifts his other hand and holds up a small pin shaped like a daisy. I look down as he lifts the material and tacks it on my right side. “It has a camera and microphone. I have one too.” He points to his silver tie bar with a circular shape at the end of it. “I have an earpiece and can hear what’s going on and communicate with my partner, Boyd. He’s running surveillance.” “Well, then. I’d better watch what I say.” He doesn’t smile at my attempted joke.

“Don’t bait him, Liv. Not until we find something more on him. Please.” He’s worried about me, and my heart melts. As much as I want to deny him, he’s done this for a reason. I can’t fault him for that. I cup his cheek and give him a tender kiss, surprising him.

“Fine. Now let me get back to my job.” I kiss him again, then once more.

A small groan exits his lips. “God, I miss you. Try to get out early. I’ll meet you at the deli across the street for some dinner?”

“I’ll see you at seven.” I give him a hesitant smile. Little by little, I’m opening to the idea of giving him another shot. I’ve connected to him on a level I never knew existed. But avenging Norah takes precedence and I’ll do what’s necessary.

I get back to work until, hours later, Archard’s slimy voice breaks through the phone’s intercom. “Olivia, I need you.”

I press the button and reply. “Yes, sir. Be right there.”

I finish up the notes on a file and shut the folder. I glance at the view outside and see the sky has turned dark. The office is empty, and all I hear is the buzz from the lights above. I knock and await my instruction to enter. Branton Archard sits behind his large desk, instructing me to shut the door. His hands steeple as his green snakelike eyes follow my moves.

“Take a seat, please.”

I nervously await his instruction with a pad and pen resting in my lap. His salt-and-pepper hair is slicked back. Not a great look for his receding hairline. Many have called him handsome, charming—it’s what drew Norah to him—but virtuous? He’s far from that. I wait for him as he glares, a typical thing he does to intimidate others. However, that look was never directed at me until now.

“You’ve been acting off the past few days, Olivia. How are things?”

Surprise hits me at his concern. “I’m fine,” I say without emotion.

“Yeah?” He stands from his chair and ambles around the desk, resting himself in front of it. He crosses his arms and is an arm’s length away from me. “How’s your love life?”

Another attempt at coming on to me. I’m almost used to it by now, but I try to keep myself in control of baiting him the way I want. “I usually keep those things private and out of the workplace.”

“Really?” He nods. “This would suggest otherwise.”

He turns the screen of his computer around and a black-and-white video of Hunter and me is playing. We’re in his office and at each other like rabbits. “Or how about this one?” He presses a button on his keyboard and the scene switches to the stairwell. There’s no sound on the videos, and they aren’t clear quality. I give a breath of gratitude that I’m covered by Hunter’s body, but my cheeks redden in embarrassment. “Interesting, isn’t it?”

“We—uh, I don’t know…”

His head tilts, giving me a look of pity. “I understand office affairs better than anyone, my little Olive. In fact, I find you and Cannon intriguing to watch. I’ve had those videos for a while now, but I let you have your fun. However, this video from a few days ago? Well, it’s my favorite.” He presses the keyboard again and it shows me skirting around his office, checking his computer, and Hunter attempting to stop me.

My heart is racing, and though my plan was to broach the subject of Norah eventually, this is an unexpected turn. Hunter had said the office wasn’t secure. I wish now I had believed him. Archard turns the screen back and smirks. His eyes land on me again and they’re dangerous. “What were you looking for, Olivia?”

I straighten my shoulders, steeling myself, ready for the fight. “I was looking for evidence.”

He huffs, his smirk still painted on his face. “Evidence of?”

Months of holding in my pain starts to spill. “I know about your affair with Norah.”

“And I know about your affair with Cannon.”

My face heats. “She was pregnant. I know she didn’t commit suicide. You had her killed.”

“That’s a serious accusation.”

His voice remains calm, his eyes cold. It sends chills down my spine and my heartbeat spikes. I need his confession. “I worked with her. I lived with her. We were best friends. She told me everything. I know everything about you, and I have proof.”

I’m giving him the bait. It wasn’t the plan, but I hope it’s all caught on video. Archard rises, moves to his desk, and opens a drawer. He holds a black handgun and points it my way. “Olivia, I didn’t want to have to do this.” I rise instantly, blood rushing to my head. “Don’t run. Sit down.”

I slowly descend back onto my chair. My breathing speeds as he strolls over. “You wouldn’t kill me.” I stay calm, try to gather the will to fight, to do anything that will keep this man at bay. “A dead body in your office? You wouldn’t risk it.”

“But you’re distraught. Your best friend committed suicide. You’ve turned to me for affection and I’ve denied you. You can’t take it anymore. The heartache, the pain.” He points the gun to my head and signals to the legal pad and pen on the floor. “Write it down.”

I don’t move. If I buy time, Hunter will come, so I just glare, refusing to give in. “What?”

“Your suicide note.”

“Fuck you. Never.” I gasp as the cold barrel of the gun hits my temple. What if my camera isn’t working? What if Hunter and his partner are too late? I’ll do what I can to get what they need. “Do you know how much shit I have on you? I guarantee if I’m not alive, it will make it to the FBI.”

“You mean Cannon? You think I don’t know he’s an undercover agent? I’ve got a plant, darling. His partner, Warren Boyd, came to me a few days ago. He works for me now. You don’t think I have people on my side? Money always talks.”

Dread prickles over me as he presses the barrel deeper into my temple. I whimper, my heart aching over the deception. If his partner’s working for Archard, there is no way I have a chance out of this. Archard gives a fake laugh, then runs a fingertip over my jaw. “Funny. Norah refused to write a suicide note as well. You’re not crying the way she did though. You’re more of a fighter. Luckily I disposed of that file she gathered on me…just like I disposed of her. I kept you close to make sure she hadn’t told you anything. You had me fooled for a good while too. Great work, Olivia.”

My breathing catches in my throat. He’s confessed. But it doesn’t matter because Hunter’s partner is working surveillance. “The fraud, the extortion, I have it all. You don’t think she was stupid enough to keep it to herself?”

Archard’s clammy hand reaches out and grasps my jaw. He squeezes tightly as I wrap my hand around his wrist. The barrel presses in farther. “You’re lying. Write the fucking letter, Olivia.”

“No!”

“Fine.” He overpowers me, making my hand grasp the grip of the gun. His fingers wrap over mine. His other hand digs into my hair and he yanks my head back. His weight is on me. I’m too small for him, too weak. He forces the muzzle to my head as I attempt to push it away. “Stop fighting. There’s no way you’re getting out of this. Accept it.”

I feel my finger close to the trigger. I’m hoping with all hope that somehow, someway, someone will catch this asshole. Even if I’m gone. I close my eyes as I continue to fight, the pain in my head growing as he pulls my hair.

The door bursts open, and the weight of Archard, the pressure of his hand over mine releases. He raises the gun and shoots, the sound blasting near my ears. I see a body collapse and cry out as I realize it’s Hunter. “No!”

Archard points the gun to me and two more shots ring out. Archard stumbles back and falls against the desk. A man in a black shirt and jeans rushes to Archard and kicks the weapon away from his reach. Words are exchanged into a two-way radio as I fumble to the ground and crawl to where Hunter props himself up against a wall. He’s bleeding profusely below his shoulder. His blue button-down shirt is soaking with crimson. He hisses as I place pressure on the wound. “You’re here.” I’m breathless as he nods slightly. “I was scared I’d never see you again.”

Hunter grunts as I press harder. “You stood me up.”

“I didn’t intend to, Reed.” I turn to look at the man who has cuffed Archard, despite his bullet wounds. “Is that your partner? Boyd?” Hunter nods. “I thought he was working with the senator.”

“Pretending.” The pain creeps through his voice. “We decided to give the bastard incentive. See if he’d take Boyd as bait instead of you.”

I look back at Hunter and shrug. “Smart.” He closes his eyes and shifts. His breathing is getting heavier, and when he opens his eyes, they begin to gloss over. I cup his jaw with my free hand. “Don’t you give out on me, Hunter.”

He gives a tired huff. “He might’ve hit an artery.”

My eyes sting and my ability to stay strong wanes. “You’ll be fine. It’s okay. Everything’s going to be all right.”

“He’s losing a lot of blood.” Boyd had called for backup and an ambulance. “Keep the pressure on him. Keep him talking.”

“Hey, you can’t leave me, all right? It’s not allowed.”

He gives a half smile. “Does that mean if I’m okay you’ll marry me?”

“Well, let’s start dating first, and we’ll go from there.” His eyes close and panic wells within me. “Hunter? Oh God, no. Don’t. Please!” Tears sting my cheeks. “Hunter, don’t leave me! I’ll marry you. I’ll be with you.”

His eyes open and he grins. “You don’t have to beg, Liv. I’ll say yes.”

I huff out and want to smack him, but only lean forward and give him a kiss. “Don’t do that, jerk!”

“You love me,” he whispers. The paramedics arrive and instantly push me aside. They get Hunter on a stretcher and work on him. I know then and there that I do.