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"Step-sister-to-be and my girlfriend." I ignored the looks of surprise. It was good to see they didn't know everything.
"You believe someone is trying to get to you through her?" Daze asked.
I nodded. "I think someone assumed she was an easy target." When I found them, I'd use them for target practice. The guys and I had a place we liked to take people once in a while. We'd release them and hunt them down. If they got away, they'd be free.
They never got away.
"I met Kennedy at that party the other day." Daze frowned. "Put the word out that she's under my protection. Anyone who touches her can deal with us." She nodded to include me in that group. It was just as well she did, because I had no intention of handing them over if I got to them first. Whoever it was, they were mine to fuck with and tear into shreds. If there was anything left when the guys and I were done, then they could have them.
"I appreciate that," I said. "She doesn't deserve to have anything bad happen to her." I was sorely tempted to insist she stay at home, focus on her degree and on me and the other guys. It would be a lot easier to keep her safe if she didn't leave.
Being the beautiful bird she was, she needed to spread her wings and fly, even if it was only short distances. The three of us guys were now taking turns keeping an eye on her at all times. I'd spent hours this morning sitting in my car outside the gym, watching who was coming and going and making sure she was all right. She had no idea I was there, and that was okay.
Right now, Ares was reluctantly watching her while reading up on shit for his masters degree. Personally, I didn't know why he bothered to continue studying, but if he enjoyed it and it didn't get in the way, then he could do whatever the fuck he wanted. Apparently he was determined to get his PhD someday.
I supposed Doctor Ares Turner had a ring to it. Ice was taking a break, but he wanted that title too. Doctor Isaac Miller sounded fancy as fuck. Me, I was okay just being Mannix Cassani. I didn't need any fancy titles.
Although, now I thought about it, I wondered if Kennedy would do a PhD too. Fuck, I'd be surrounded by doctors. Good thing none of them would be the medical kind, not really. The medical kind were a pain in the ass. Sometimes literally.
"Are you the right person for her to be hanging out with then?" Gunnar asked. "No offence, little brother, but trouble follows you around wherever you go. If she's so nice, she might be better off nowhere near you."
I didn't bother to try to hide my irritation. It was just like him to judge my life choices.
"That's up to her," I said coldly. "If she wants to walk away, she can." It wasn't that simple. I wouldn't let her go without a fight. If she decided to leave, I'd have to convince her to stay. Or force her. Whatever it took. She was mine, no matter what.
Gunnar gave me a look like he was reading my mind, but since that was impossible and I didn't care what he thought, I ignored him.
"I can keep her safe," I said firmly, "don't worry about that. But knowing she has extra protection can't hurt." Unless it made her an even bigger target than she already is. In which case, we'd get her out of town. Out of the country if we had to.
"Of course it can't," Daze said. "Most people know not to fuck with what's mine. That includes anyone under my protection."
In the corner of my eye, I caught Ric staring at her. The front of his pants tented. Clearly I wasn't the only one who appreciated a woman who had power and knew how to use it.
If it wasn't for Kennedy, my cock would have twitched too. Neither my cock nor I would cheat, especially not on someone as gorgeous as my Princess. I'd be a fucking idiot to do that to her. I couldn't wait to fuck her. I knew she was a thousand percent worth waiting for. Sure, I was a bit pissed off Ice screwed her first, but my cock would feel her wet heat around me soon enough. Maybe tonight.
"We'll take a look at this list of yours." Hilton took it from Gunnar and skimmed his eyes down the page. "If anyone on it is up to something, we'll know soon enough." He didn't look like he believed they'd find anything.
It was an effort to keep from bristling, I reminded myself who his bosses were and forced myself to keep my face expressionless while I nodded.
"I'm sure it will be useful. When it is, I hope you'll bring us in to deal with them. Ice Miller, in particular, has a useful skill set for dealing with people who step out of line."
"I've heard that." Daze twirled a section of hair around her finger. "I'm a big fan of breaking fingers myself, but it sounds like he takes it all to a whole new level. I'll have to sit in on his work someday."
I smiled. "I think you'll like what you see." She might be just the person to introduce Kennedy to our ways. The darker, bloodier aspects of it, anyway. Women bonding over torture and murder, what could be better?
"I'm sure I will," Daze assured me. "You boys didn't spend all that time at Brutham Academy without learning skills that will be useful to me. To all of us."
That was the point of Brutham Academy. All of the degrees were tailored not just to gain employment, but to help all the student's families in their criminal activities. Not every student came from a mobster family, but those who didn't tended to end up in the life anyway, persuaded there by their friends, and the lure of money and power. Those who refused tended not to last there very long. They either left, or they died. Either way, they got weeded out quickly.
Even those who came from mobster families got weeded out quickly if they weren't up to scratch. The level of hazing at Brutham was brutal, to say the least. It sucked when you were in first year, but by the time you got to your third or fourth and got to haze the newbies, it was worth it.
I got particular pleasure out of seeing Ice trying out some new pain inflicting techniques on the Brantley twins, Hunter and Parker. Those two were a pair of smartasses if I ever saw them. They'd do well at Brutham. Their kind always did. It didn't hurt that they were Reuben Brantley's youngest brothers. Even hazing had its limits when there was the potential of dealing with someone as powerful as him. Fuck that. Fun only went so far.
"I hope to show that my skills are, as you say, useful," I said. Useful enough that they might sidestep my father in future dealings and come straight to me.
Chapter Eighteen
Kennedy
