Page 114 of Cut Me Down

“Her ex showed up the night we met and tried to kill her. So I killed him first. Turns out, he worked for them. So yes, they came after her. Wanting to know where he was and what had happened to him. They were going to take her, and kill her after they got what they wanted, but she wouldn’t give me up. Even to save herself. She protected me, my identity, and even killed someone for me, sir. This isn’t what you think.” His face remains solid, but I notice the softness in his eyes. He’s grateful to her, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that emotion come from him. “We’re together because we want to be.”

Zander steps forward.

“We all called and volunteered, John. He didn’t ask, and the reasoning doesn’t matter.” He says to my dad.

“No one fucks with the family.” Danielle says. “And she’s family now.” He looks at all of us, then looks directly back to me.

“Do you understand what you’re getting yourself into?”

“Yes.” I say without hesitation.

“You’re so sure.” We stare at each other intensely. Stuck in a silent fight for dominance and neither one of us backing down. “Nothing is ever as it seems.”

“I understand that. I'm not naïve enough to ignore that this is bigger than some local drug lords, but I'm also smart enough to know that the man we want, the man in charge, is here. I'll handle it.” He finally blinks, and while that might not be much of a win, it’s one of the biggest I’ll get against my father.

“What about that larger group? Sahara? Could they be beneficial?” I can see his body start to relax.

“They’re busy and we don’t need them. They’re manic. Lose control sometimes.”

“What do you call this?” He puts his hand on his laptop again.

“Necessary.” I say sharply, as if I was spitting venom with my words. It was necessary for my little wolf to be protected, and I'll stand by my decision. And her.

My dad looks down at the ground in contemplation. He knows I won’t budge. If it’s one thing I got from my father, besides my combat skills and intelligence, it’s stubbornness. He looks back to me as he twists his wedding ring.

“I may not be physically able to fight anymore. But I can help.” My body shuts down instantly. Every breath that was stored in my lungs freezes and I'm not sure my heart is beating. That response is certainly not what I expected. He swore to my mother that he would never work a life of violence again. Even if we did need his help, I could never accept it. “If you think they won’t retaliate for your attack, you've got another thing coming.”

“We don’t want your help, Dad. You've done enough. I'm sure they’ll retaliate, that’s why me and the guys are coming up with a plan to leave the family out for a while.” The room then fills with my cousins asking what the hell I'm talking about. Everyone's questions getting jumbled together until my dad holds his hand up. Silencing everyone.

“I have contacts who can give you the supplies you need and soldiers. Trained mercenaries. They’re a little rough around the edges, but they'll get the job done.”

“You've taught me enough, sir.” He did. From the time I was five, until the time I was twenty-five, my dad taught me how me to fight. How to protect myself. How to shoot a gun. He’s why I'm so dangerous.

“You need more than what I’ve taught you, and I would like to give you that. All of you. One of the best qualities of this family is our loyalty. Unfortunately, it’s also one of our worst.”

“He’s right, D. We’re not going anywhere.” Zander says as he turns to face me, but I don't look at him yet. Keeping my stare on my father.

“You've done enough, Dad. You can rest, and they’ll follow orders.” I look behind me to look at all of them. Stopping to look at Zander and little longer before I look back.

“I'll rest when I'm dead. I'm not asking.” He takes a few steps towards me. Trying to look intimidating.

“I'm not either, sir. No. I'm working on something that won’t involve the family or the government. As much as you hate it Dad, you’re still tied to the government. It’s my mess. I'll clean it up.” We stare at each other again. Resuming our fight for dominance.

“You'll feel differently one day when you wake up and she’s gone.” I feel my chest get hot with his bullshit assumption. “Not because she left, but because they took her. Your enemies will always come after your family. That’s how they hurt you. I hope you don’t have to learn the hard way like I did. Any of you.” I turn to watch as they all look at him with worry filling their eyes. “I just want you all to be alright. I want to help. Please, son…” My dad doesn’t do well with any emotion other than anger. I know he loves me, but after Emma died and he finally retired, there wasn’t much emotion left in him.

We all turn our attention to the sound of the door opening, to see my Nana walking in with her cane. A short, curly haired, wrinkly woman who looks real sweet on the outside, but can be mean as hell on the inside.

“Fifty-three years old, and I still can’t get any privacy.” My dad says to my Nana.

“Now John, you can act like the head of this family all you'd like, but until I’m dead, I still hold that spot.” I hear Danielle laugh behind me.Dip-shit.“Something to add, Danielle?” She cuts a look at her that could kill a demon.

“No ma’am, I apologize.” Danielle holds her hands together in front of her and looks to the floor. You don’t get smart with Nana. She’s a sweet old lady, but do not fuck with her. I learned that when I was nine. I forgot to say ma’am when she addressed me, and everything tasted like lavender for a week from the soap bar she shoved in my mouth. I still can’t stand the scent.

“I need to speak to Damien alone.” Everyone walks out quickly. Scurrying away as quickly as they can. Well, everyone besides my father and Nana gives him a daring look. “John?” He gives me a quick glance before walking up to me.

“Just think about what I said.” He pats my shoulder as he walks past us. Nana turns to me once Dad shuts the door, and she lays her hand on my arm.

“He giving you trouble again?” She says in her heavy southern accent.

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