Page 39 of Protecting Lanie

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, standing in one fluid motion. He didn’t even seem to care that he was wearing only a pair of loose sweatpants that hung dangerously low on his hips. He stalked toward her, unhurried but with an unmistakable air of authority.

"Before you decide to throw a tantrum, you should know that I also installed full security measures. The house is locked down. Cerberus is stationed outside. The cameras have been upgraded. Your movements will be monitored. And you, Lanie...” he reached out, sliding a finger beneath her chin, tilting her face up to meet his gaze, "…are not leaving this house without me."

Lanie’s pulse spiked. Not from fear, not from anger, but from the sheer power of him. Archer Vaughn was a force of nature she had no chance of withstanding, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t fight him, anyway.

"You had no right," she snapped.

"I have every right," he corrected, his voice dropping to that dark, dangerous tone that made her belly flip and arousal surge through her system. She had enjoyed his waking her up to make love to her throughout the night. "You’re mine to protect, and I will protect you—whether or not you like it."

Frustration clawed at her chest. "I’m not some prisoner, Archer. You can’t just lock me up like I’m...”

"Like you’re a target?" he cut in smoothly. "Because that’s exactly what you are."

Lanie gritted her teeth. "You don’t get to make that decision for me."

Archer’s eyes darkened. "I do when your life is at risk."

The silence between them hummed with electricity, the energy in the room shifting, intensifying. She should be angry. Hell, she was angry. But there was something about the way Archer took control—so effortlessly, so absolutely—that madeher body betray her. She felt the pull of it deep in her core, the primal instinct to challenge him just to see how he’d push back.

She inhaled sharply, forcing herself to focus. "You can’t do this alone."

Archer’s jaw tensed. "Lanie...”

"No, listen to me," she interrupted. "Vinnie trusts me. He still sees me as his. That means he’ll let me close. If I play the part—if I make him believe that I’m scared, that I’m running back to him—he’ll let me in. And once I’m inside, I can get you the information you need."

The moment the words left her mouth, she knew she’d pushed too far.

Archer went completely still. Not just physically—but in that lethal, dangerous way that sent a shiver of awareness down her spine.

His voice, when he finally spoke, was almost too calm. "You think I’m letting you anywhere near that bastard?"

Lanie swallowed hard. "If it means taking him down, then yes."

Archer exhaled slowly, like a man desperately trying to keep his temper in check. "You do not get to decide that."

"It’s my life!"

"And it’s mine to protect." His voice snapped like a whip. "You don’t get to play bait, Lanie. You don’t get to walk into a den of predators and expect to come out unscathed."

She refused to back down. "But I can help! If I...”

"No." Archer was in her space before she could blink, backing her up against the wall, his hands gripping her hips, pinning her against the wall. His body caged hers in, all heat and raw dominance. "You are not going near Vinnie Molina again, do you understand me?"

Lanie trembled. Not from fear—but from something far more dangerous. "You don’t own me."

Archer let out a low, dark chuckle. "The hell I don’t."

Her breath hitched as his fingers slid down her arms, gripping her wrists, pressing them against the wall on either side of her head. His mouth was so close—so damn close she could feel the heat of his breath against her lips.

"You’re going to be the death of me," he murmured, his voice laced with something rough and possessive. "You challenge me. And God help me, I love it, little one." He dipped his head, his lips just barely grazing the corner of her jaw. "But don’t mistake my patience for permission."

Lanie’s pulse thundered.

"You will not put yourself in danger," he continued, his grip tightening ever so slightly. "You will not throw yourself at Molina like some sacrificial lamb. You will listen to me. You will obey me, because I will not lose you. Are we clear?"

Her breath stuttered, her resolve fracturing under the sheer force of him. She wanted to fight him on this—wanted to push back just to see how far he’d go—but deep down, she knew.

Archer Vaughn was immovable.

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