Page 24 of Protecting What Is Mine

“Easy now, I’m leaving. Apparently, you girls need a little more time to get used to my being around again.”

There’s that cockiness I’ve come to expect.

Clint glares at Sam. “But, you better get used to it.”

Still shoulder to shoulder, Sam and I move, opening a path between Clint and the door. He pauses in front of me as he walks by. “Hey. I heard a rumor the guy you were with at The Saddle that night was a Wilde. That true?”

“Yeah?” I respond, unsure what that has to do with anything, or why he’s bringing it up now.

Clint’s eyes lock on mine as if they’re trying to drill into my brain. “You know better than to get involved with folks like that. We’re not their kind of people. They’ll never understand the world we come from. Besides, I hear one of the brothers just got shot or something…” Clint shakes his head but doesn’t break eye contact. “I’m warning you Mol, drop him. You can do better, and I couldn’t stand to see something like that happen to you.” He smiles and steps past me.

Is that a threat? Or is he just being an ass?

I don’t much care for the thought of being told who I can spend my time with by anyone, but especially from someone I loathe as much as Clint. And apparently, his words are enough to channel my own inner Hank, because before I can think twice about it, I’m following him into the driveway where I defiantly blurt, “I’ll get involved with anyone I see fit! And for what it’s worth, he knows more about what it takes to be a man than you ever will!”

Clint, reaching for his car door, stops and looks back. “Those are big words, little girl. You stay clear of the Wildes. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He opens the door and climbs in, throwing a cold, emotionless glance at Vanessa as he backs out and pulls away.

I wipe the tears from my cheeks and try to compose myself as Sam rushes to her daughter.

Vanessa climbs out of the car with her Frozen backpack in hand. “Who was that man, Mommy? He scares me.”

Sam sighs. “Yeah baby, he scares me a little sometimes too. But don’t you worry. He’s family. He won’t hurt us.” She rubs Vanessa’s shoulders as she guides her into the house. Sam looks back from the doorway. “You coming?”

I nod.

So much for a fun family night.

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