Page 289 of The Defiant Curse

Well, if that’s what it took here.

“Open the tab,” she stated. “We’re paying the whole bill. Enjoy,” she stated, taking a seat.

As she did, two men dragged the other two guys out, getting them out of there. They really wanted that open tab, apparently.

Michael kissed her.

“And that’s why we love you.”

Graham reached for her hand.

“I love you, Mom. Thank you.”

She meant what she said.

“You call me if this shit continues. No one is talking about my son like that. I don’t care what you did in your past. People make mistakes, and we do things to feel. You’re mine, and I protect what is mine. That’s the bottom line in my world, and you, Graham, are a fucking Blackhawk!”

And the protective Raven was back.

Clearly.

Finn just shook his head.

“I don’t know what to say about that except, do you want to press charges?”

She laughed.

“Nah, I’m just glad nothing got broken. The last bar fight sucked. That was a lot of repairs and was expensive. We tend to wreck a place in a barroom brawl.”

That they did.

Ethan laughed.

“And we nearly got our asses kicked. Then again, it was twenty to three.”

That it was.

Finn stared at them.

“You do this a lot?”

She snorted.

“Not a lot. Just more than a normal family. I can’t take Callen and Ethan anywhere. You know how the Natives are.”

Blackhawk laughed.

“WE’RE the issue? US? I’m pretty sure I didn’t have to move from my chair.”

She shrugged.

“If there was six of them, would you have gotten up?” she asked.

He took a minute.

“Were they sober or drunk? Because six is your happy place,” he joked. “Seven, and I would have jumped in. That might be one too many for you.”

Gabby laughed at the look on her husband’s face. It was clear he’d not seen the likes of Elizabeth before. Oh, if he only knew this was her norm.