Page 130 of Archer

Webb’s jaw tightened. “You’ve had her long enough. Now, get out of my way.”

“I’m warning you. This won’t have the outcome you think it will.”

His wild eyes narrowed, and he stalked forward.

“Last chance,” I said.

He lunged, swinging the knife wide wildly and bringing it within an inch of my chest.

“Hey!” I dodged and he swung again, faster than I’d given him credit for. This time, I caught his arm at the wrist and twisted, forcing my weight into the joint. “Release it!”

He spun away, freeing himself, then slammed his elbow against my jaw in a short, vicious arc.

Fuck! My vision grayed at the edges.

I spat blood and ran my tongue along the inside of my cheek. “You’re going to pay for that one.”

He came at me again, knife raised, satisfaction on his sneering face. He’d surprised me, and he liked it. It wouldn’t happen again.

“She loves me,” he said. “I’m here to bring her home.”

I stepped into his path.

“You’re not taking her anywhere,” I seethed. “She doesn’t even know who you are.”

Shock and fury distorted his features as he dove.

I braced for the hit as he plowed into me, throwing me off balance and backing us into the coffee table. The little furniture piece flattened under our weight.

Webb was back on his feet in an instant, but I was right behind him. I landed a punch against his temple and his arms flew wide, searching for balance.

His blade sliced my bicep as he swung.

I hit him twice more in quick succession, delivering a black eye on the way and an uppercut I’d hoped would knock him the hell out.

He stumbled, shoes slipping on the wet floorboards, but he didn’t go down as I expected. Instead, he thrust his knife forward in the moment I’d expected him to hit the floor, cutting my shirt and tearing flesh beneath.

“Fuck!” I roared, belatedly, feeling the significant depth of the penetration. Warm blood poured over my icy skin, frozen by the beating winds and storm.

Webb crouched, eye swelling. “Did you know I’m a hunter?”

Blood dripped from my arm, mouth, and chest. “You don’t say.”

“Yeah.” He nodded, gaze still flickering toward the stairs. “I know where to cut you. How to incapacitate you. Where to put this knife so that you’d have to lay there and watch me take her.” He grinned. “Bet you didn’t know that.”

“Neat.” I pressed a hand to the wound on my chest. Damn. That hurt like a bitch. I thought of the freezer chest in his storage unit and declarations of being a hunter, and my skin heated despite the frigid rain. “I’m going to kill you.”

The wind howled, as if to underscore my statement. Maybe to cheer me on.

“You won’t,” he said, holding his ground as I advanced. “I have the knife.”

I spit out another mouthful of blood and smiled, hoping it coated my teeth for an especially gruesome show. “Not for long.”

“Harper,” Webb called. “Come down here now, and I won’t kill him.” He slid his eyes back to me. “You’re not going to believe the things I’m going to do to welcome her home.”

“You sonofa—” I pounced, flattening him to the wall with my arms folded between us. Then I raised my knee into his groin, hard enough to send him into the atmosphere.

He doubled over, and I hit again.