Free Breaking: Fall or Break, Book 2 by Barbara Elsborg Page B

There was a website called Archer Hart Business Solutions but no images of Archer, and little detail on the man, though plenty on the type of work he did. No LinkedIn account, no Facebook presence. Conrad frowned. He’d expected more personal stuff. He pulled out his mobile, put in a code to withhold his number and hoped Sev would answer.
    “Deefor?” Conrad called. “Here, boy.”
    The dog came straight to him and Conrad turned over the tag attached to his collar.
    “Hello?” Sev said.
    “It’s me.”
    “Ah. You do know withholding your number won’t stop me finding out where you are.”
    Conrad thought not but at least it signaled his wishes. “I’m after peace and quiet not a horde of well-wishers.”
    “A horde? And wishing you well? That’s optimistic.”
    Conrad laughed.
    “I already know you’re in a cottage at Shennan Sands,” Sev said.
    “Of course you do.”
    “Not surprised?”
    “I’m just relieved you’re good at your job. I need you to check a number.” He read it out.
    “Shouldn’t take me long.”
    Conrad had just cleared away the breakfast things when Sev called back.
    “The number belongs to an Archer Hart. No criminal record. Clean driving license. No debts. Business Degree from Lancaster University. Previously employed by Centricat who appear to have gone out of business. Set up his own company two years ago. Address is 17 Monroe Park, Matlock, Derbyshire. Hmm.”
    “What’s the hmm for?”
    “Squeaky clean but looks a little thin. Want me to keep looking?”
    “No, it’s okay, thanks.”
    Conrad ended the call. He didn’t want Sev to come up with something negative, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to be careful.
    Archer headed toward the main road rerunning the entire encounter with Conrad. When he’d glanced through the bedroom window and spotted the good-looking guy trying to fend off Deefor and laughing, Archer had seen an opportunity. That Conrad was physically attractive was a bonus. But when Archer had opened his eyes and looked at Conrad lying next to him on the floor, he had the uncomfortable feeling he’d just made a terrible mistake. Not the sort that would get him killed, though maybe the jury was still out on that, but the sort that might lead him down a path he’d never imagined himself traveling.
    His first impression was of intense unblinking bruised blue eyes, long thick lashes, a straight nose, freaky silver-tinged hair, pale skin and perfect lips he wanted wrapped around his cock. Archer had stared. So had Conrad until Archer had come to his senses and risen to his feet.
    When he’d seen Conrad struggling to get up and then to walk, he’d been amazed the guy had managed to rescue him. Even the effort of dragging him over the threshold had made him breathe heavily. If he’d known how difficult Conrad would find shifting him, he’d have just knocked on the door instead of pretending to be unconscious in order to engage his sympathy. He could see the guy was in pain from the measured way he moved and held himself.
    Archer hadn’t needed to ask if he could stay, Conrad had offered, which was far better. Though that comment about someone trying to kill him had temporarily made him reconsider his scheme. But the guy was probably wrong. If you wanted someone dead, hitting them with a car wasn’t the best way to do it. But then not everyone could afford his services.
    He indicated left and took the Alnwick road. He was partial to good-looking guys but he didn’t usually bother with them when there were easier pickings. Conrad was older than the type he went for too. Far more intelligent. Dominant. Archer usually restricted his sexual encounters to quick fucks in club or pub toilets, and on the odd occasion a couple of hours in some guy’s apartment or in a cheap hotel. All willing younger guys who wanted to be fucked hard. Some of them also wanted to see him again but that was never going to happen.
    While he’d been working, he couldn’t