Page 147 of Grumpy Billionaire Bad Boy

"What now?" I go with him because what other choice do I have? "And why don't you have one of these vests on?"

"Because I only have the one." Archer doesn't stop until he's at his computer, lowering himself onto the seat and pulling me into his lap. He manages to reach past me to type on thekeyboard while still holding me close, countless screens popping up and closing, all of it not making much sense.

"What are you doing?"

Finally, a set of camera feeds pops up on the screen.

"Surveillance." He points to one of them. "This is out front." And then another. "Side of the building." And another. "Back. And this one is the other side. You see this?" He zooms in on a black car, and then a black SUV. "I think Vito was telling the truth about having the place covered."

"Can't you, like, call your brothers or something?" I wrap my arm around his neck and watch the screen as he flits in and out of tabs.

"I'm not talking to Leo, and August has his own issues to deal with." Archer exhales. "And Seven's insane. He'd probably cause more trouble than he's worth. I don't trust Vito, but men like him, they're big on their word."

"So, you're going to talk to him?"

"I don't have another option, London. I knew he was coming but I didn't know he was cominghere. I'm unprepared and unequipped for this. I'm not going to let him take you, though, if that's what you're worried about. I'll die before I let that happen."

I skim my fingers through the hair on the back of his head. "That's what I'm worried about, Archer. Not what he'll do to me, but what he'll do to you."

His gaze meets mine, something so intense in the way he's looking at me that it rattles my core. "Don't worry about me, little tornado." Archer's attention splits from me to the computer, the computer taking his full focus as he clicks on one of the tabs. "There he is."

Joe Vito steps out of a black car, matching the ones that Archer had pointed out. He takes a long glance around before climbing the stairs alone.

"He won't try anything if he's by himself," Archer tells me, a sense of comfort coming from his words.

The buzzer to Archer's apartment rings and I jump in his lap, startled by the loud sound even though I should have expected it.

"Remember what I told you, London. Stay behind me." Archer nudges me off him and steps around me to walk toward the door to grant Joe Vito access to the building.

I want to tell him not to, to tell him that we could stay here forever, living off the remains of whatever is in his fridge and never leave here ever again, but I know that isn't realistic, and that it would never last. Joe would find some way into the building and once he did, he'd finish us both just for making him wait. But Joe won't be the only untouchable man in this room, and I have to remember that when being forced to confront him.

It takes Joe almost two minutes to get into the building and up to the second floor, whether he took the stairs or the elevator is lost on me. His knuckles pound against the door and I hold my breath as Archer opens it slightly and puts his foot in front of it.

"Archer," Joe says, his voice raspy but not in a sexy way, in a disgusting way like he has too much phlegm built up and he needs to cough any second.

"Are you alone?" Archer asks him.

"You, me, and the breeze, baby." Joe pauses. "You going to let me in or leave me in the hallway like the trash?"

Archer hesitates before stepping out of the way and letting Joe enter, my heart skipping a beat once he's in here. I thought I was ready to face him, but now that he's this close, I can't help but feel like my father's ghost came in with him, too. There are parts of my past that I miss, but this isn't one of them.

"Ah, there she is." Joe looks directly at me but makes no attempt to bridge the space between us.

Archer closes the door and quickly moves to position himself better, acting as a barrier.

"So hasty," Joe teases him. "Are you in love with my bride, Archer Sin?"

"How much do you want?" Archer cuts straight to the point, not answering the question Joe asked him.

Joe runs his grimy finger along the edge of the table near the door, walking farther into Archer's apartment. I eye him cautiously, the weight of the vest providing the tiniest comfort, lingering in Archer's shadow giving me more. "Funny thing," Joe says. "How we buy and sell things, people, as if it's normal practice." He points to the couch. "May I?"

"Sure." Archer continues to position himself between us.

Joe unbuttons his suit jacket, the bulge of his stomach nearly making it come undone prematurely. He groans as he sits down and pats the spot next to him. "Have a seat. Both of you."

Archer glances back at me and nods to the chair beside the couch.

I slip onto it and Archer rests against the arm of it, staying as close to me as possible.

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