Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

TAKESHI

I stared down at my hand as I leaned against the wall outside of Archie’s bedroom. It took everything I had to leave the space, though I hadn’t made it far once I did.

The gold band on my ring finger glinted. Light came in from the windows, making it shine even more brightly than before.

It was a beacon.

A guiding light.

I felt grounded wearing it. More grounded than I’d been since the shooting.

Archie began moving around the room, likely unpacking his things to fill the space. I wanted to buy him even more things. Seeing his suitcase and feeling how light it was made me irrationally angry.

He should have closets filled to the brim. Any outfit he wants, and all the accessories to go with it. I’d buy out every store in the area if he’d let me.

I wasn’t made of money, but I had more than enough. Before Tank found me, I worked under contract for a few very wealthy people. They paid well for my discreet services. I’ve not wanted for money since.

Hence the big fucking house that’s sat empty for so long.

It already felt much warmer with Archie here.

My husband.

I had a million things I should be doing — getting his name on the accounts, ordering his debit card, making his personal security code, planning what to do about food later. And still, I couldn’t seem to move. It was like I didn’t want to get too far from him in case he needed me.

It was all so ironic.

The only thing he needed me for was to ensure he could stay in the country. I needed him far more than he did me. Archie could have married anyone. I was the one who needed his particular skill set.

Despite the guys bringing up my learning ASL since I woke up in the hospital, not once had I truly wanted to until Tank brought in Archie. Seeing him had me ready to agree in seconds.

Eventually, I manage to extract myself from the wall. If he found me waiting there like a creep, then he might not be so easygoing over this new relationship.

Then again… I’d felt his reaction to the kiss. I felt the way he went soft in my arms. Heard the way he inhaled deeply, as if my touch stole his breath.

Nothing indicated he didn’t like my touch.

There was also the moment he came to find me. When I kissed his forehead, he seemed to melt. It’s been playing on a loop in my head since then, creating a blissful background to my chaotic thoughts.

I went straight to the kitchen, since it’s where I did some of my best thinking. Mostly because there was plenty of room to pace, and the countertop gave me room to spread things out.

First things first, I pulled out my phone and texted my finance guy Doe. He would be the one to help me get things squared away financially.

Takeshi

I need to add someone to all the accounts. He needs free access to everything.

Doe replied immediately.

Doe

Everything? You want to give someone access to millions of dollars? Are you dying?

Takeshi

Not dying. And yes, I think my husband should have access.

Doe

WHAT THE FUCK, T?! I didn’t even get an invite or notice. Nothing, man? I’m feeling pretty pissed about this.

Takeshi

Don’t be pissed. You can meet him next time you’re in town.

Doe

I’ve never been allowed to meet anyone else in your life. What makes him different? How long have you two been dating?

I knew what he would do if I gave him any indication this wasn’t real. Doe wasn’t really looking for a reason to not do what I asked. It was more like he felt the need to protect me. Or rather, protect my finances.

He’d been with me since the early days. I’d found him fresh out of college, becoming one of his first clients to help him build a portfolio of work. Since then, he’s basically built a business that rivals Tank's, only Doe very much works behind the scenes, if you get my drift.

Not one of his clients would be called an upstanding citizen. Most were outright criminals.

Takeshi

It doesn’t matter. We’re married now and there will be no reversing it. Can you add him to the accounts, or should I find someone else?

Doe

*GIF of woman flipping hair*

As if you’d ever find anyone as good as me! I’ll get him set up. Send me his info.

Takeshi

I’ll upload it to the server in a bit. I’ll need new debit cards and credit cards for him too.

Doe

This isn’t my first rodeo. I know what ‘everything’ means.

Takeshi

Thanks. Let me know when you want to meet him. I’ll set it up.

Doe

Right now too soon? We could video chat?

Takeshi

Not right now. He’s unpacking. I don’t want to interrupt him getting settled.

Doe

Unpacking? That means this is new. Unless he was the "wait until marriage" type.

I closed the chat, then turned my phone face down on the countertop. There was no reason to keep up the conversation when he was like this. All his theories would do nothing to help with the rest of the tasks I had in mind.

Next up was to figure out dinner. We’d eaten at the reception, though it wasn’t nearly enough. Besides, Archie needed more meat on his bones.

Opening the fridge, I inspected what I had that might work for him. I realized pretty quickly I’d forgotten one crucial element to us moving in today.

There was no food.

Nothing at all.

I’d been staying at the NightShade offices for so long, I hadn’t thought to prepare for our arrival. Picking my phone back up, I swiped away Doe’s texts to open my shopping app. I loaded the cart with some staple items, then requested the fastest delivery possible.

After I finished that, I went to the restaurant delivery app and started adding things from several different places. I had no clue what he liked, so I went with a variety. I had nearly checked out when my brain reminded me there was a possibility he might be allergic to some of the options I chose.

I turned to go ask him, only to find him staring at me from the bottom of the stairs. Blinking, I waited for him to approach me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked carefully.

It astounded me that he’s already managed to figure me out in such a small amount of time. My own team, men I’d worked with for years, couldn’t read me as well as he had.

Was that a sign of our compatibility?

I sure hoped so.

Because I felt like I could read him just as well. I’d been watching him enough to noticed every tiny flicker of emotion that cascaded over his features. He was really quite expressive.

Turning the phone his way, I motioned to the screen. A glance down had him widening his eyes.

“Who are you trying to feed? An entire football team?”

I chuffed a half sort of laugh. There was no sound, but with how my shoulders shook, it made it obvious I found his questions amusing.

I tapped the counter to get his attention. When he looked my way, I finger spelled the word allergy on the countertop. His brow furrowed, so I repeated the movements slower.

My whiteboard was somewhere nearby, but I didn’t want to leave this space. He’d stepped up close to me when he walked in the kitchen, and moving meant we might not be this way again for a while. I wanted to enjoy it for as long as I could.

“Allergies?” he said aloud. “Oh! No, I don’t have any. Though if I eat too much cheese, I’m not the nicest person in the world. Upsets my stomach.”

I watched him pat his stomach gently before pushing the phone back my way. Taking that as agreement, I ordered everything, then showed him the estimated time of arrival.

He ran his hands over the countertop, then turned to look over the living room. I would have killed to know what he was thinking. Did he like the space? Did he want to change things?

“I can’t say I’ve ever lived in a house this nice. While I know it'll take some getting used to, I still want to thank you for what you’re doing for me. It’s more than most people would be willing to do.”

With a frown, I opened up my notes app on my phone. I didn’t see his phone on him, and I didn’t want to risk sending him off.

It’s no inconvenience. I wanted to help. Besides, you’re helping me too. It’s not one sided. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you. So long as my language barriers don’t bother you, then we’re good.

The words felt a bit trite given the scenario. It wasn’t like he was just a roommate or anything, though sexually, that was the current standpoint.

This man was my husband. He deserved to know thanking me wasn’t necessary at every turn.

With all the spoiling I planned to do for him, it would become far too exhausting anyway. Doe was going to have a conniption when he saw the amounts.

That idea, along with the pleased look I hoped my husband would have over his gifts, brought a smile to my face. When Archie looked up from the message, his own smile froze.

I watched as his eyes heated. They were focused firmly on my mouth, leaving no doubt as to what he was thinking.

He swayed towards me, only to catch himself before I could close the distance. There was a shake of his head, then he put a bit of space between us.

I immediately frowned. How could I convince him to come back closer? I needed to feel his lips against mine again. I needed to wrap him in my arms and remind myself how good it felt to hold him.

But his next words halted that train of thought immediately. It doused any desire I felt before throwing me back in time to the moment I realized life would never be the same.

“Can you tell me what happened to make you lose your voice? I… I didn’t want to ask, but I feel like I should know your limits, so I don’t aggravate anything.”

His voice was soft, his tone both curious and hesitant. I could tell he wasn’t trying to upset me. If anything, his explanation proved that much.

Still, it felt like the universe was trying to play a dirty trick on me.

I motioned to the living room, not wanting to have the conversation standing. Plus, I knew this type of thing would be coming. There was zero chance of me marrying sweet, kind, inquisitive Archie without him asking about my injuries.

No one learns as many languages as he has and then neglects to wonder why their husband can’t speak when he used to be able to.

Once I had him seated on the couch, I went to the built-in bookshelf tucked under the stairs. It held the binder with the information I knew he would need. I’d had Tank help me prepare it in the days since I agreed to marrying Archie.

I set it in front of him, then leaned back on the couch beside him. We were just as close here as we were in the kitchen. It gave me the ability to read his emotions as he looked through it all.

The first page was a letter from me, detailing to him that this would contain graphic images he might not want to see. I also explained there would be recounts of the events from Sinclair and the team, since they were involved, along with the official medical and police reports.

Once he finished that, he looked my way. I saw the pained expression as a plea. He didn’t want to continue since he knew it meant I’d been hurt. It made me equal parts happy to know he cared and terrified this would change things for us in a bad way.

Hopefully my husband wouldn’t be put off my past too much to stick around and be part of my future.