Page 15 of Protecting Lanie

"Thought I might find you holed up here," Mason drawled, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

“Mind telling me what you’re doing coming to my back door?”

“I had some news and thought you’d want to hear it firsthand.”

“How’d you get in?”

“Your security system wasn’t on. You locked the front gate but left the backyard gate unlocked. I let myself in. Like I said, I thought you’d want to know.”

Archer suppressed the desire to groan. Mason was a sleazy pain in the ass, but he often had good intel and, sleazy or not, there was something likable about the guy. “Go ahead.”

“You missed out on a hell of a scene tonight. New sub tried to brat her way out of a scene with Dane. Didn’t end well for her ass—literally."

Archer didn’t bother looking up. "Not interested."

Mason let out a low chuckle, moving toward the fridge and grabbing a beer. "Figured. You’ve been watching her, haven’t you?"

Archer finally met his gaze.

Mason smirked. "Lanie."

Archer went still.

Mason grinned around the lip of his bottle. "I’ve seen you with subs before, but this is different. She gets under your skin, doesn’t she?"

"She’s a potential target," Archer said flatly. "Molina’s name has come up too many times, and now submissives are going missing."

Mason arched a brow. "Right. And that’s the only reason you’re fixated on her?"

Archer didn’t answer.

Because the truth was… he didn’t know anymore.

The first time he met Lanie, she’d been flustered, covered in sugar, and looking at him like she wanted to melt into the floor. Something about that had gotten to him. The fragility mixed with fire. The way she had run, but fought to rebuild herself.

She wasn’t just some submissive. She was his, and that realization was dangerous.

Mason whistled low. "Damn. You’re in deep, aren’t you?"

Archer exhaled, shoving a hand through his hair. "She needs protection, Mason. She doesn’t know what she’s up against."

"And what happens when she does?" Mason leaned back against the counter. "You think she’s gonna just let you take over her life? She’s a survivor, Vaughn. Not some helpless girl playing at being submissive or waiting to be saved."

Archer’s fingers curled into fists. He knew that… he knew that better than anyone.

But the second Molina’s name had entered the picture, Archer had stopped thinking logically. He’d stopped strategizing and started reacting.

That wasn’t who he was. That wasn’t how he operated.

Mason’s gaze sharpened. "What’s the play here, Archer? You gonna tell her?"

Archer exhaled slowly, jaw set. "She’s not ready for that. Not yet."

Mason shook his head. "Then you better figure out how much longer you can keep her in the dark. Because if Molina really is looking for her, she won’t stay safe for long."

Archer didn’t respond. Mason wasn’t wrong, and Archer knew it. It was only a matter of time before the choice was taken from him.

Lanie’s laughter drifted through the club’s lounge, light and unguarded. Archer stood just inside the entrance, watching from a distance as she leaned against the counter, talking to Tessa.

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