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Diesel grunted.

“It’s obvious that you respect members of your brotherhood⁠—”

Another grunt.

“And the military, both active duty like Scarlet and vets like your former team.”

Grunt.

“I’m both and I’m also loyal as fuck. I promise you that I will always step up to protect your daughter, even though she’s more than capable of doing it herself.”

No grunt this time? Was Reaper actually making some headway?

“My girl ain’t fuckin’ stupid.”

“She certainly isn’t.”

“She don’t need a fuckin’ man.”

“You’re right, she doesn’t. Any man she decides to be with would be a choice. She was raised by a strong man, so of course⁠—”

“Stop blowin’ bullshit up my goddamn ass,” Diesel growled.

“Just wanted to make it clear that I’ve got her six.”

His head twitched.

But somehow his statement gave Diesel pause. However, the longer the silence grew, the tighter his asshole became.

“Would you take a fuckin’ bullet for her?”

Reaper knew the only answer the man would accept. Luckily, it was the same answer he’d give. “Sure fucking would. Of course I’d rather shoot bullets for her. And I do. As you know I put my life on the line whenever I do a job for her. She trusts me to do my job just as I trust her to not purposely put me in a bad situation.”

“Like the one where the fuckin’ Terradyne got shot up?”

Reaper wondered how many details he knew about what happened out in Ohio. Did he know two of his daughters were being shot at during that scenario? All because he had let his guard down and was captured like a fucking rookie?

“Must like you enough to come save your fuckin’ ass and put her own at risk.”

“I would hope she’d do that for any team member. But I’d do the same,” Reaper assured him.

“Ain’t happy ‘bout my girls bein’ in that fucked up situation but know it comes with the territory.”

Wait a fucking minute. Was the guy actually being reasonable?

Or had Reaper actually been punched and was living in la-la land and imagining this exchange?

Though when he thought about it, what Diesel said made sense. Vi had stepped into her father’s boots by managing the Shadows. Her father was well aware of the dangers involved since he ran the team for decades. If he was scared for his daughters and didn’t think they were capable of handling it, he would’ve insisted on wrapping them in bubble wrap, and never would’ve handed over the business to Vi. He also would’ve discouraged Indie and Scarlet from joining the military before becoming Shadows themselves.

The man was proud of his daughters and what they’ve accomplished.

As he should be.

“I understand a good father protects his daughters. I respect that. A good man protects his woman, whether she wants that protection or not. You have to respect that.”

“Gonna claim her at the table?”

“Is that what you want?”