Page 45 of Protecting Lanie

Archer’s laugh was sharp, humorless. "Or she could be walking straight into a fucking execution." He stormed toward the weapons locker, grabbing an extra gun, shoving it into his holster. "We adjust. We move now."

"Archer, wait!" Reyna stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Think for a second. If she’s in there, we need to be smart about this."

Archer’s hands flexed at his sides, barely containing his fury. "We stick to the plan. But when we go in, Lanie is mine to handle."

He didn’t give a damn if she thought she was protecting him, if she thought she was finally putting an end to Molina’s hold on her—she belonged to him now. And that meant no one got to touch her. Not Molina. Not his men.

And if she got hurt in the process?

Archer swore he’d burn the whole fucking world down.

LANIE

Lanie took a slow breath, forcing her heartbeat to settle as she stepped out of the cab and walked toward the estate gates. Two guards stood at the entrance, watching her with cold, assessing eyes. She forced herself to keep walking, her posture relaxed, herchin lifted—not defiant, but not afraid. Vinnie would sense it if she was lying.

One guard pulled a radio from his belt. "She’s here."

A crackling response she couldn’t hear. Then, a moment later, the iron gates creaked open. Lanie stepped inside. She was on her own now… at least until Archer and Cerberus got here.

Inside the mansion, smoke and laughter hung in the air. The scent of expensive cigars, cologne, and something darker—something vile—clung to the walls. Lanie kept her hands at her sides, her nails digging into her palms to keep them from trembling as she was led into a lavish sitting room.

And then—there he was. Vinnie sat at the head of a leather couch, a glass of whiskey in one hand, his dark eyes sharp as he took her in.

"Lanie," he drawled, his lips curling upward. "You’re a sight for sore eyes."

She forced a nervous swallow, letting her gaze drop just slightly—submissive, but not too much.

"I… I didn’t know where else to go," she whispered.

Vinnie studied her for a long moment, then leaned back, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.

"I’ll admit, sweetheart," he said. "I didn’t think I’d see you again. Thought you were too good for this life."

She let out a shaky breath. "I tried to be. But… it’s not who I am."

Vinnie’s eyes gleamed. "No, baby. It’s not."

She had him. He believed her. He wanted to believe her, but then he laughed—low and amused.

Lanie’s blood ran cold.

"Sweetheart," Vinnie said, setting his glass down and standing, his smile widening. "You wouldn’t be stupid enough to lie to me, would you?"

The thing that had been sitting in her belly clawed at her.

He knew. He knew something.

Lanie forced herself to stay calm. But inside? Inside, she knew she was running out of time and prayed that Archer would get here in time. If he wasn’t already coming for her, he would be soon.

ARCHER

Archer was livid. No, he was past livid. He was the kind of livid that came from rage that burned cold, controlled, dangerous.

Lanie had defied him. Again.

His grip on the steering wheel was a vise as he drove through the dark back roads leading to the estate. The information Reyna had gathered flashed in his mind—Molina was running an auction tonight, selling off the women his men had kidnapped. Lanie was walking straight into hell, thinking she could play her part without getting burned.

She thought she was in control. She didn’t have a clue.

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