Page 28 of Rough Daddy
The familiar sound of rapid-fire photography has my vision tunneling.
Click, click.
“What you doing in Wildfire—?" The man's words are cut off in a gurgle as Beau's hand clamps around his throat.
"You take one more fucking picture," Beau growls, "and I'll break every fucking bone in your body."
A second later, he rips the camera away with his free hand, throws it on the ground and stomps on it with a very expensive-sounding crunch.
The sudden violence should scare me. It should remind me of my father's rage, of every man who ever used his strength to intimidate and control.
Instead, all I feel is relief.
Beau isn't hurting me. He's protecting me. And for the first time in my adult life, someone is fightingforme instead of trying to profitfromme.
The guy's mouth falls open as he stares at his wrecked camera. "Hey. What the fuck—"
He turtles up as Beau steps forward with a growl. “Cameras don’t bleed, but you sure as fuck will.”
"You heard him." I lean out from behind Beau. "Get. Lost."
I tuck myself next to his massive body, which feels like it’s turned to concrete. His arms come around me, locking me against him.
"Problem here?" Colt appears out of nowhere, stepping forward with his thumbs hooked into his gun belt. Jack and Cade flank him, a wall of Boone brothers that would intimidate a grizzly bear.
"Yeah, there's a problem. This psycho just broke my fucking camera. You have any idea how much that shit is worth?"
Colt turns to Beau. "That right, brother?"
Beau shrugs. "It was an accident."
Colt nods, turns back to the guy. "Accidents happen. That's why God invented insurance."
"Especially around here," Jack adds, conversationally. "Lot of accidents happen here in Wildfire, isn’t that right, Sheriff?" Jack shrugs as Colt nods. “We don’t take kindly to outsiders messing with our family.”
Family.
Jack winks my way.
They all stare him down. A united front of muscle and menace that makes the photographer back away, his hands raised.
"I get it," he says quickly. "Just a misunderstanding. Won't happen again."
“Probably need to find your fucking way out of Wildfire.Mate.” Beau steps forward and the guy spins and takes off, cursing but moving at a smart pace.
“I’ll follow him out of town,” Colt says. “Welcome to the family, Tina.”
I should be shaking. Should be traumatized by the reminder of how vulnerable I am to men like this. I should explain my overreaction, right now, tell him everything and let the dice fall.This man—these men—just stood up for me without question, and I owe Beau honesty.
But this, right here? That's what I always dreamed of. People who'll stand up for me without wanting anything in return. People who see me for who I am, not what I'm worth.
"Beau," I start, trying to find the words. But I don't want to ruin everything, not when I've finally found a place where I belong. "Let’s go home."
The wordhomehangs between us, loaded with meaning neither of us is ready to examine. But when Beau's pale-blue eyes darken and his hands tighten on my waist, I know he heard it too.
He reads through the words, his hand still locked around me.
“Home’s too far. Garage. My second home."
