Page 46 of Unlocked

Her hand flashed up in an arc. "No. We've been over this. I'm not sitting on the sidelines while you do all the work. This is my case."

His jaw tightened. Every caveman instinct he had was screaming at him to lock her in this apartment to protect her. "It's not safe."

"And it's safe for you?" she demanded.

"I can handle myself."

"So can I." She crossed her arms over her chest, and he recognized the stubbornness in her stance. She wasn't backing down. "Where is he?"

Archer hesitated. This was going to make things worse. "He's at a club."

Her eyes narrowed. "What kind of club?"

He could lie. Tell her it was a regular nightclub. But she would find out the moment they walked through the door, so he might as well prepare her. Besides, he wasn't going to lie to her.

"Archer. What kind of club?"

"An underground sex club. In Brooklyn."

He watched her process that. Watched the heat creep up her neck, the way her eyes widened slightly before she got control of her expression.

"You mean the Obsidian Club," she said, her voice carefully level.

It was his turn to narrow his eyes. "Just how do you know about the Obsidian Club?"

Tatum shrugged. "I'm not as sheltered as you think."

Archer's gut rolled. He wasn't entirely sure if he was upset that she knew about the club or angry that her knowing pissed him off. Either way, the outcome was the same. He was pissed off. "You should stay here."

"I'm going, Archer. End of story." She met his eyes with determination, the refusal to be seen as weak or incapable. "I'm going."

He studied her for a long moment. She was scared. He could see it in the tension around her eyes, the way she held herself too still. But she was resolute. And part of him, the part that was starting to care far too much, wanted her there. Wanted her close where he could be there if she needed him.

Dangerous thinking.

"It's not going to be..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Just because you know of it doesn't mean you'll be comfortable there. Most people aren't."

She shrugged. "I'll manage."

He didn't believe her, but he nodded anyway. "Alright. But you stay close to me. You don't talk to anyone unless I'm right there. Understood?" God, he needed to have his head examined for agreeing to this.

"Understood."

"And if at any point you want to leave⁠—"

"I'll tell you." She grabbed her bag. "Let's go."

Archer looked her up and down. She was in jeans and a white shirt. Although she looked good to him, there was no way they were getting her into the club dressed like that. Women were held to a different standard at places like this. Not surprising but immensely frustrating, he was sure.

"You can't go dressed like that. They won't let you in."

She looked down at herself. "I have different jeans and a sweater if that helps."

"No." Archer shook his head. "I'll have some clothes sent over. I have to change as well."

Tatum frowned but shrugged. "Fine."

"We'll leave here around eleven. That gives you time to eat something and get ready."