Page 190 of Damaged Protector

“Ohh, that’s much better,” Jenn crooned sarcastically, leaning forward to kiss my cheek. “Why aren’t you taking care of your wife, bro?”

“I’m just over here trying to keep up,” I said, rubbing Mal’s protruding belly. “How is Hawk Junior today?”

“Stop it,” my wife complained, swatting my shoulder. “We’re not naming her Hawk Junior.”

“What are you naming this little nugget?” Jenn asked, patting Mal’s stomach. “Still sticking with the bird names?”

Our two-year-old daughter was Daya, which is of Hebrew origin and means “bird.”

“Yes, but we’re waiting to see what she looks like when she’s born. If she has dark hair, we’re going with Raven, and if she has light hair like me, we’ll name her Lark.”

“They’re both cute, but can we get this show on the road? It’s hot as balls out here.”

“It is really hot for May,” Mallori noted as I opened the front door for her and the back door for Jenn.

“I’ve already got the AC cranked up to igloo level,” I told them before closing their doors and rounding the vehicle. “We just have to drop by Mallori’s dad’s house and pick up Daya.”

“How is Brian doing since he moved here this year?”

“Better. Who knew he was going to get caught in the shitstorm surrounding Moreau’s case?”

“The media was hounding him all the time,” I told my sister. “When they found out he had been married to the woman who is currently married to that pervert, they were calling all the time, requesting interviews.”

“Just imagine if the names of the victims ever came out and they found out one of the victims’ mothers is now married to the accused… Jesus, that would be a hot mess.”

The thought of it made me shiver, and I was so thankful Kassie Ramirez-Bouvier was such an awesome advocate for her clients.

“Especially since she’s publicly defending him,” Mallori spat. “She’s such a bitch.”

“It’s handy that Brian’s house is only five minutes from ours,” I said, changing the subject to something more tasteful. “Oh, and he’s got a lady friend now. Met her at church when they were kneeling beside each other for Holy Communion.”

“Oooh, look at Brian picking up chicks in the house of the Lord. That’s true player status right there,” Jenn commented.

“Less talk about my dad being a player, please.”

“You’re one to talk, little miss anal kink.”

Mal giggled as I turned onto Brian’s street. “It’s only when I’m pregnant. Otherwise I’m not a huge fan of it.”

“I’ll have her pregnant again by the end of the year,” I announced, smiling at my sister in the rearview mirror. “Be right back.” I barely got the car in park before I hopped out and jogged up the pathway to the front door.

It opened, and there she was. My precious angel with her dark hair and crystal-blue eyes.

“Daddyyyyy!” she screamed, and I caught my little cannonball as she jumped into my arms with Brian smiling on.

“Hey, puddin’ pop. Did you have fun with Grampy?”

Her tiny, pearl-white teeth shone in the sunlight when she smiled, and she nodded. “We had ice creams.”

Her grandfather shrugged without an ounce of shame. “She wore the majority of it,” he informed me, “but I got her cleaned up and dressed in the clothes Mal sent.”

“You look so pretty,” I told my baby girl, kissing her cheek and making her giggle.

“More tickly kisses, Daddy.” I kissed all over her face, letting my beard tickle her, and she laughed like it was the best thing in the world. And in my eyes, it was.

Daya was dressed in a sunny-yellow gingham dress with purple flowers, white sandals, and a cute yellow bow in her dark hair. She was absolutely the most beautiful child ever born. I know everyone says that about their kid, but they’re wrong.

“Thanks, Brian,” I told him when he handed over the diaper bag. “You have plans for tonight?”

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