Page 130 of Save Me

Kennedy’s mother gasps. “That’s right. I can’t believe you have a file on him, Aaron,” her mother says.

“Dad,” Kennedy says through clenched teeth.

“I do,” he says without shame. “A man shows up all over town with my daughter on his arm, claiming he’s her man,” he spits the last word out like it’s garbage on his tongue, “and you think I’m not going to have the fuc—”

“Aaron,” Kennedy’s mother interrupts.

He glances sideways at his wife before looking back at me. “And you think I won’t have him checked out? Congratulations on the Global Group deal,” he tells me dryly.

“Thank you,” I reply, ignoring his obvious sarcasm. Honestly, I assumed since that day I met her family’s head of security, he’d have done some research on me. I’m not surprised in the least.

Kennedy clears her throat. “I’m just going to assume that you and Uncle Brutus were being cautious because you care about my safety,” she says, looking her father in the eye. “But I’m sure you didn’t find anything except that Dae is a business owner. Now, you can drop the espionage acts,” she finishes, smiling.

He snorts. “Don’t count on it.”

“Count on what?” A man with dark hair and green eyes moves to Kennedy’s father’s side. With him is a beautiful Black woman with red hair.

I know them instantly.

Kennedy’s uncle, Joshua, and his wife, Kayla Townsend.

“Uncle Joshua, I didn’t know you would be here tonight,” Kennedy says, hugging her uncle and then her aunt.

“You look so beautiful,” her aunt says, kissing her cheek.

“Good thing, aside from the freckles you take after your mother,” her uncle teases.

I don’t miss the glare her father slides at his younger brother. “We have bigger problems right now,” he says.

Both her uncle’s and aunt’s eyebrows raise. “Problems?”

“My daughter is dating someone.” Her father pins me with a look. “And he hasn’t stopped touching her since we arrived.” His gaze falls to where my arm wraps around Kennedy’s waist, hugging her to me.

He’s right.

Even when she hugged and greeted her family, I kept my arm around her waist or hand.

Her uncle’s green eyes sharpen on me. “Is that so?”

“Uncle Joshua, please?” Kennedy groans.

“It’s fine,” I assure her, squeezing her waist. “Your family’s protective because they love you.”

“Now he’s silencing her,” her father gripes and steps in my direction.

“Aaron, don’t,” Kennedy’s mother says, her voice turning serious.

He stops.

“Don’t you think of it, either,” Kennedy’s aunt says to her husband.

“We just want to get to know him,” her uncle says. “Right, Aaron?”

Her father grunts.

“Let’s talk,” he adds.

“Daddy, no.” Kennedy’s voice softens.