Updated Feb 18, 2026 • ~5 min read
WILLA
I wake up in Archer’s arms.
Safe house. Second day.
His chest is warm against my back.
His arm is wrapped around my waist.
Like he’s protecting me even in sleep.
I should feel weird about this.
We barely know each other.
Technically, we’ve had maybe ten actual conversations.
But I don’t feel weird.
I feel… safe.
For the first time in three years.
His phone buzzes.
He wakes instantly.
Alert. Ready.
Former military training, I guess.
He checks the screen.
His expression darkens.
“What?”
“Marco Rizzuto and Vincent Testa.”
The men who tried to kidnap me three years ago.
“What about them?”
“They were killed last night. Prison style execution.”
My blood runs cold.
“Malcolm.”
“Probably. Tying up loose ends. Or sending a message.”
“What kind of message?”
“That he’s serious. That anyone connected to you is a target.”
I sit up.
“This is because of me.”
“No. This is because of Malcolm. And his vendetta against me.”
“Same thing.”
“It’s not.”
But it feels like it.
Archer gets out of bed.
Starts making calls.
I hear fragments.
“Protective custody… enhanced security… Malcolm Domenico… active threat…”
I check my phone.
Seventeen messages from Lennox.
“WHERE ARE YOU”
“WILLA ANSWER YOUR PHONE”
“I’M CALLING THE POLICE”
“YOUR SCHOOL SAID YOU CALLED IN SICK ARE YOU OKAY”
I call her.
“WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?”
“I’m fine. I’m safe. I just… something came up.”
“What came up? And don’t lie to me.”
I look at Archer.
He’s listening.
Nods permission.
“Remember the men who tried to kidnap me three years ago?”
“Yes…”
“They got out of prison. And now their boss is coming after me. So the FBI has me in protective custody.”
Silence.
“Lennox?”
“I’m buying a plane ticket.”
“Don’t. You can’t come here.”
“Where’s here?”
“I don’t know. They won’t tell me.”
“Willa—”
“I’m safe. I promise. There’s an FBI agent protecting me.”
“THE FBI agent? Your mystery savior?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re with him right now.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you… with him with him?”
I look at Archer again.
He’s pretending not to listen.
Failing.
“Yes.”
“WILLA.”
“I know.”
“You’re sleeping with your bodyguard during active protective custody.”
“When you say it like that, it sounds irresponsible.”
“BECAUSE IT IS.”
She’s right.
I know she’s right.
“But I’m happy.”
Silence.
Then, quieter: “You are?”
“Yeah. For the first time in three years. I’m happy.”
Long pause.
“Okay. But if he hurts you, I will find him. FBI or not.”
“Noted.”
I hang up.
Archer is watching me.
“Your friend sounds protective.”
“She is. You’d like her.”
“I’m sure I would.”
He sits beside me.
Takes my hand.
“How are you doing? Really?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. Two days ago, I was a high school teacher with a boring life. Now I’m in a safe house with my secret FBI agent savior while a mob boss tries to kill me.”
“It’s a lot.”
“It’s insane.”
“Do you want to leave? I can arrange for another agent—”
“No.”
“Willa—”
“I want to stay. With you.”
He kisses my forehead.
Gentle.
Sweet.
“Okay.”
Tobias arrives an hour later.
Grim expression.
“We have a problem.”
“What kind?”
“Malcolm posted a bounty. Half a million for Willa Crane. Dead or alive.”
My stomach drops.
“He’s escalating,” Archer says.
“Yes. Which means we need to relocate. This safe house is compromised.”
“How?”
“Malcolm has resources. Money. Connections. If he’s offering half a million, every criminal in the region is looking for her.”
I find my voice.
“So what do we do?”
Tobias looks at me.
“We move you. Somewhere more secure. Federal facility.”
“Like a prison?”
“Like a protected facility. Until we can neutralize Malcolm.”
“For how long?”
“Weeks. Maybe months.”
Months.
In a federal facility.
Away from my job. My friends. My life.
“No.”
Both men look at me.
“No?”
“I’m not going to hide for months. I have a job. A life. I can’t just disappear.”
“Ms. Crane—”
“Call me Willa. And I’m serious. I’ve been scared for three years. Constantly looking over my shoulder. Never feeling safe. I’m not doing that anymore.”
Archer stands.
“Willa, this is serious. Malcolm is serious.”
“I know. But I’m not running. There has to be another way.”
“Like what?”
“Like catching Malcolm. Like ending this.”
Tobias and Archer exchange looks.
“That’s not your job,” Tobias says.
“Then whose job is it?”
“Ours.”
“Then do it. Stop playing defense. Go on offense.”
Silence.
Archer speaks first.
“She’s right.”
“Archer—”
“We’ve been reactive this whole time. Hiding her. Moving her. Protecting her. But Malcolm’s not going to stop. He wants revenge. And he wants me. So let’s give him what he wants.”
“You want to use yourself as bait.”
“Yes.”
“And put Willa at risk.”
“She’s already at risk. At least this way we control the situation.”
I step forward.
“I’ll do it. Whatever it takes. I want this over.”
Tobias looks between us.
Shakes his head.
“You’re both insane.”
“Probably,” Archer says. “But it’ll work.”
Silence.
“Fine. But we do this my way. Controlled. Professional. No cowboy shit.”
“Agreed.”
Tobias leaves.
Archer turns to me.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do. I’m tired of being afraid. Tired of being protected. I want my life back.”
“This could get you killed.”
“So could doing nothing.”
He pulls me close.
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know.”
Because I trust him.
Completely.
Even though maybe I shouldn’t.
Even though we barely know each other.
I trust him.
And I’m going to help end this.
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