I keep expecting to see Archer standing there.
Watching me.
A knife in his hand.
But there is no Archer.
Archer decided his own fate, right?
No, Jaci, you decided Archer’s fate…
Chapter 69
Isit on the edge of my bed, strumming one of the guitars.
Cullen stands near the door, looking mesmerized by me.
“Will you sing for me, love?”
“Are you crazy?” I ask. “No.”
“What if I get naked?” Cullen asks.
“What’s that going to do?”
“I’ll be vulnerable.”
“You’re too hot to be vulnerable, Cullen,” I blurt out.
“Is that so?” Cullen asks with a cocky grin.
“Stop,” I say. “You get naked and I’ll be distracted.”
“Then keep playing,” Cullen says.
“I’m thinking aboutPawn Charm.”
“What about them?” Cullen asks.
“You think I could actually play with them again someday? Or write with them or something?”
Cullen nods. “Anytime you want, love.”
“You really own the record company…” I shake my head. “Sorry. That sounded mean. I’m not saying you’re a liar.”
“You’re learning a lot about this life, Jaci,” Cullen says. “It’s a shock. To me, it’s just life. It’s all I’ve known. I was told to find a legit way to make money. So I did. I acquired a record company.”
The way Cullen says the wordacquiredmakes me nervous.
He then opens the bedroom door. “Come here, I want to show you something.”
I put the guitar back on the wall and follow Cullen to another room.
He opens the door - it’s a quiet and sleek looking room.
Everything is black.
It smells like Cullen’s cologne.