The Viper

They call me America’s sweetheart.
Under the lights, I’m untouchable.
Off-camera, I’m a target.
The messages. The shadows. The fear that someone’s always watching.
Then he shows up.
Lucas Dane.
My new protection detail—or maybe my newest mistake.
He doesn’t talk much, but when he does, the world goes quiet.
Cold eyes. Hard jaw. Tattoos that tell stories I’m not sure I want to hear.
They say he’s lethal. Calculated. Unbreakable.
They call him The Viper for a reason.
One look, and I know he’s poison.
One touch, and I don’t care.
He says he’ll keep me safe.
But the way he watches me, the way his voice drags across my skin—
it doesn’t feel like safety.
It feels like a warning.
Because men like Lucas don’t just protect.
They claim.
And once he’s wrapped around me,
I don’t want to escape.