Page 61 of Ruthless Protector

He just lifted his hands in mock surrender. “This is me shutting up.”

I cut him a look. Thatneverstops him.

“Still, she looks like a nice girl,” he tried. “Even if she iswayout of your league.”

“At least I have a league,” I countered.

“Seriously though, I’m glad you found someone you like.” He said it as though he was actually fucking happy.

We’d never been the average father and son. We didn’t toss the fucking ball or have those deep conversations. Our relationship was based on loyalty and hard fucking lessons, and the need to survive. The only way a Stidda did. Through violence.

But right then, I felt the words bubbling up inside me. I wanted to tell him about her, about the way she made me feel and the things I’d heard. I wanted to ask his—I don’t know—his goddamn advice. I wanted to ask him about that fucking Hale and tell him about Zakharov.

But as he wandered around the apartment and looked out into the night, I did none of those things. Because it wasn’t me who needed to talk.

“I don’t want you going anywhere without Freddy and Logan,” he declared, turning from the window to find me. “You understand me, son? Nowhere. Not classes, in fact, actuallyfuckclasses. Stay here with your girlfriend. Stay here and fuck and sleep and do anything but take fucking chances.”

“You’re scared. I don’t like it,” I answered.

“Someone is making a name for themselves.” Dad rubbed the back of his neck, the movement so damn familiar. “I just had to sit there and look a father in the eyes who'd just lost his damn son.”

Baldeon.

“So I want you to promise me, nowhere without Freddy or Logan.”

“I promise,” I answered as he crossed the space between us.

He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me close. Chest to chest. He thumped my back and the hollow sound filled my ears as I repeated, “I promise.”

22

Kat

Benjamin Rossi.

He wasn’t what I'd expected. I stared at the walls of the elevator as I rode down to the foyer. He wasn’t what I'd expected at all. He was…nice.His warm smile and careful grip had made me uncomfortable. I didn’t know how to process that. I licked my throbbing lips, shaken to the core.

That wasn’t supposed to happen.No, it wasn’t supposed to happen at all.

The doors opened to a bark of laughter. I stepped out to see five massive guys who looked like they belonged in a motorcycle club. They all turned, the laughter and conversation dying as I stepped closer and scanned their faces.

The big, muscled guy from before moved away from the others. Logan, Lazarus had called him. His bright eyes sparkled with amusement as he came closer. “You ready to go home?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered, scanning the others, who watched me with interest.

But every one of them was smiling as they scanned me up and down. I was used to the attention, but this felt different somehow. This didn’t feel creepy or dangerous. This felt…safe.

“See you back home,” Logan called to the others as he headed for the door.

The wind whipped my hair into a frenzy the moment I stepped out. I hurried my steps, catching up to the bodyguard. “Sorry to take you away from your friends.”

He just shrugged and gave me a smile. “Gotta make sure you’re safe, right?”

I wasn’t used to this laid-back strength and loyalty. Even Richard, my driver back home, wasn’t as…welcoming. He was paid handsomely by my father, paid not to ask questions or care outside his responsibilities.

“You care about him, don’t you?” The question slipped free before I knew it.

He glanced my way. “Lazarus, you mean?”

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