Page 94 of Penalty Kiss
She stares at me for a moment, then breaks into the first real smile I've seen since breakfast.
"You know what? You're right." She reaches for her phone. "Let's call Max and Laurent first, then Chief Alvarez. If we're doing this, we're doing it right."
"What about your father?"
"One thing at a time." She pauses with her finger hovering over her phone screen. "But Cam? When this is over, when Lucien is handled and my family drama isn't threatening everyone I care about?"
"Yeah?"
"Remind me to properly thank you for not running when things got complicated."
Heat flares in her eyes, and despite everything—the threats, the danger, the psychopath cousin—I feel my body respond.
"How properly are we talking?"
Her smile turns wicked. "Let's just say the thank you I have in mind is going to be very... thorough. And might involve some garters."
I'm still laughing as she sets up the zoom call to her brothers, and for the first time since this morning, I'm not thinking about what could go wrong. I'm thinking about what we're going to make right.
Chapter 16
Reinforcements
Tara
“You're right, Lyn, Laurent needs to be the one presenting this to Father, not you.” Max’s voice is steady through the zoom call.
Cam's arm tightens around me where we're curled together on his couch, his thumb tracing lazy circles on my shoulder. Even through a screen, I’m sure my brothers can see exactly how he's holding me—protective, possessive, completely unashamed.
"No problem," Laurent leans in, his sharp suit immaculate even on a weekend call. "Once you send us those financial records you traced, I’ll put them in front of Father, and Lucien loses any claim to legitimacy.”
I lean into Cam's warmth, drawing strength from his steady heartbeat against my back.
‘Let your brothers dismantle him. We’ll hold the line out here.” Cam speaks for the first time since the zoom call started thirty minutes ago.
“Ah! Finally, the elep… I mean muscle on the call speaks!” Max’s face crinkles into a grin.
Cam’s gaze doesn’t waver. “Muscle, sure. But don’t mistake me for decoration—I’m here to protect what’s mine.”
“Preach it!’ Max’s sudden outburst of ghetto swaggeris so over the top I lose it, laughing until Cam’s hand slides over my hip to settle me.
“Lyn, you didn’t mention your… live-in bodyguard is a legend.” Max exclaims.
Laurent blinks. “I’m not much of a sports person.. so this is really Cameron‘Seoul-Crusher’Wilder? And he’s giving us tactical advice?”
Heat rushes up my neck. “He’s not just my—”
“Bodyguard, protector, and lover,” Cam cuts in smoothly, flexing his bicep like a total menace. “And these days?Dane-gerous.Seems a better fit for taking on Lucien.”
Max bursts out laughing. Even Laurent nearly smiles. “He’s right,” Laurent admits.
“Careful,” Max teases. “You’ll start liking him.”
Cam deadpans, “Too late. Everyone does.”
I elbow him, but my chest eases at how effortlessly he claims me—even in front of my high-profile brothers.
Then Max’s grin fades. “If you want Cedar Falls safe, they need to know the truth. Before Lucien twists it. You have to tell them who you really are and what’s coming. The stakes only get higher if they’re all in the dark.”
