Page 181 of Damaged Protector

“I don’t think he’s the one that needs the luck,” Shiloh said, giving me the wide-eyes before pulling me into a hug.

“Yeah, Uncle Brian was pissed,” Cam said.

Uncle Sean took his turn hugging me next. “All you have to do is call me, Mal. If there’s something you don’t want to share with your dad, I’m here for you. I know your Uncle Nolan would be too. As the only niece in the family, we all feel extremely protective of you.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“Oh shit! I forgot about Uncle Nolan,” Cam chimed in. “When he finds out about this, they may find Karen in a shallow grave in the Pennsylvania countryside.”

“Don’t be silly,” Uncle Sean chastised. “Our older brother isn’t that dumb.” Then with a sneaky smile, he added, “He’d tie her body down with cinder blocks and dump her in a very deep body of water.”

Everyone laughed, but to be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure he was joking. “Maybe we should refrain from mentioning this to him,” I suggested. “Just to be sure.”

“Let’s get these dishes cleaned up,” Shiloh said, stacking a handful of plates on her arm like a professional waitress. Cam and Uncle Sean also loaded up their arms, but when I reached for a stack, I was stopped by a hand on my lower back.

As soon as we were alone in the dining room, Hawk wrapped his fingers around mine and whispered, “I’m so sorry, Bee. I didn’t mean to blurt that out. She just pissed me the fuck off.”

Running my hand through his beard, I smiled. “It’s okay. I was ready to kick your ass at first, but…” I shrugged. “I actually feel better now that it’s out in the open.”

“You have an awesome family, baby. Well, except for your mother.” His face scrunched in distaste.

“And I have you,” I told him, standing on my tiptoes to kiss his lips. He dropped his hands to my bottom and hauled me closer.

“You sure do, and when I get you home—”

“What the fuck is going on?”

Oh. Shit.

Chapter 55

We turned to find Cam standing in the arched entryway leading to the kitchen, his fists clenched at his sides. And he was pissed.

“Cam…” I said, stepping in front of Mallori.

“Mind telling me why you had your hands all over my cousin’s ass?”

Okay, fuck. Just tell him. “Because Mallori and I are together now,” I stated firmly.

“Together?” he asked incredulously. “You mean you’re fucking her.”

I didn’t say anything because it was true. I fucked my girl every single day, sometimes multiple times. But that word didn’t even come close to describing our relationship.

My friend took a step closer, and I was on high alert. I was a good fighter, great even, but Cam was a skilled martial artist and fucking lethal.

“After everything she’s been through, you took advantage of her.”

“Cam, shut up,” Mallori said. “It’s not like that.”

She tried to step around me, and I put my arm out to stop her, leaving me open for the right hook that connected with my jaw. Fuck, this guy can throw a punch.

Working my chin back and forth, I held up my hands, palms out. “Cam, just listen to me. It’s not what you—”

His left leg snapped up, but this time I blocked it. “Stop it! I’m not fighting with you.”

“Oh, she’s not worth fighting for? You asshole. I fucking trusted you with her.”

“What the hell is going on in here?” Cam’s dad bellowed, running into the room.

---