Page 53 of Unlocked

"Vince Kelly," Tatum said suddenly.

Archer's eyes sharpened. "What about him?"

"He's the only one left. North is dead. Lebowitz is dead. If someone's cleaning house⁠—"

"Kelly's next." Archer pulled out his phone. "I already had Ryker put protection on him."

"Did he accept it?"

"He didn’t have a choice."

Tatum watched him, seeing the calculation in his eyes. The way he was already three steps ahead, planning contingencies. “He’s the only one left who can help us. He’s definitely in danger.”

"Yes." Archer's gaze locked on hers. "Just like you are."

And there it was. Back to this.

"Archer—"

"No." He moved toward her, and there was something dangerous in his eyes now. Something that made her breath catch. "You don't get to brush this off. You don't get to pretend you're invincible."

She shot to her feet. "I'm not⁠—"

"You ran after a killer tonight, Tatum." He stopped in front of her, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. "You ran toward danger without thinking, without back up, without⁠—"

"I was thinking," she interrupted, backing up so she didn't have to look up at him. It didn't help. He was still taller, still broader, no less overwhelming. "I was thinking that we had one chance to catch a killer, and I took it."

"You could have been killed."

"But I wasn't,” she pointed out yet again.

"This time." His hands clenched at his sides. "What about next time? What happens when you're alone, and they come for you?"

"Then I'll handle it."

"Like you handled it tonight?" His voice rose slightly, control slipping. "You lost them, Tatum. They got away. And if they'd turned around, if they'd decided you were a threat⁠—"

"Then I would have fought." Why couldn’t he see that this was important to her? That she would do what it took to help the people who needed it the most?”

"And you would have lost," he said bluntly.

The words hit like a slap.

"You don't know that," she said, her voice low.

"Yes, I do." He stepped closer, and she could feel the heat radiating off him. Anger. Fear. Something else she didn't want to name.

"I know what people like that are capable of. I know how fast they can move, how efficiently they kill. And I know⁠—"

His voice broke slightly.

"I know I can't lose you."

Tatum's breath caught.

They stared at each other, the air between them charged. Electric.

"Archer—"