Page 99 of Little Fury

Caden is quiet. “Let’s go for a walk?”I ask Caden.

“Sure.”

We head towards the ocean, walking in the water once we reach it.“Caden, you don’t have to come back to work. I see how happy you are here. So, stay. Open the gym and keep working with the kids. I would rather come home to you happy here between jobs than have you out there when you don’t want to be. I know you took the job because I was 19, and your protective instincts kicked in.”He looks down at me beside him. I put my hand in his, wrapping my other hand around his forearm.“Caden?”

“What if something happens to you or the kid, and I’m not there? What If Matt tries to take on a guy and finds he’s too much for him?”

“Oh my god, please tell him you worry you’ll need to save him because he may have to fight a guy bigger than him. But let me be there when you do.”

“Ava.”

“Why do all the men in my life say my name like that?”I ask, looking at him.

“Like what?”he asks with a grin.

“Like I'm the most vexing person ever.”

“Vexing, maddening, frustrating,”he deadpans. I look at him and crack up.

“Fuck, part of me thinks there may be truth to that.”I laugh.

“I’m retiring,”Caden tells me quietly.

“Thank God!”I laugh. Caden picks me up and runs with me, screaming into the ocean. He crashes us into a wave, taking us both under. I come up sputtering and laughing. I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his neck.“Thank you for taking such good care of me all these years. You were always too good for this life.”

We splash around a bit more before heading back to the house. My dress is heavy with water. Caden removes his shirt, wringing it out as we walk. There is a quiet between us. Caden has always been a big brother to me. His retirement makes me happy. I should never have hired him; he was never meant to be part of this life. He met me, saw a young girl, and decided that I was his next mission. As time passed, we found a rhythm, and I’m selfish; he, like Matt, has always made me feel safe and looked after–things I was lacking in my life.

When we get back to the house, Caden heads to his place. Ben and Matt look at me; I shake my head. They get up and follow Caden home. The three have a bond, and this will hurt them as well.

I stand looking at the brothers sitting on the couch. They stop talking as I walk up.“Guys?”

“Yes, Little Villain?” Liam says.

“You’ve landed on that as my nickname, then?”I ask.

“Yeah, the others are more for behind closed doors… don't want to make anyone blush.”

“Liam, is there a reason you're flirting with my woman?”Declan asks.

“Does‘I had her first’count as a reason?”

“You had me first? Did you really just say that?”I ask in disbelief.

“I did, and I did. Both statements are true.”Liam responds with confidence.

Declan looks at his brother. Liam looks back at him.

Well fuck, this isn’t going to go well.

“Liam, be nice. Or I will ask you to leave and won’t ask nicely.”

“Well, that’s just foreplay for me, Little Villain.”

“Liam, she isn’t one of the others for fuck’s sake,”Declan tells his brother.

“And if I wanted to have that discussion about her?”Declan and Liam are staring each other down, and it isn’t them just dicking around. The tension between them is palpable.

“Liam, be nice,”I yell, and the big Irishman sighs and nods.

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