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He nods, rubbing at his throat as he sits next to me and grabs my hand. “You can’t go into work. There are too many points of entry and it would be impossible for us to keep our eyes on you constantly.”

“I reiterate that I am perfectly capable of defending myself.”

He sighs, squeezing my hand. “Please do this for me, Tate. I would lose my mind if we lost you and I need you to work with me on this.”

“Okay,” I whisper, nodding at him and he smiles as he leans toward me. Just before his lips are about to touch mine, I put my hand up and shake my head.

“Still not together.”

He sighs, leaning back in his chair. “Stubborn ass woman.”

“Caveman,” I shoot back at him and he bares his teeth at me, making my pussy clench with need.

Oh, shit.

The doorbell rings and all three of us turn to stare at it for a second before Lincoln stands up.

“Expecting anyone?” he asks and I shake my head.

“Check the cameras,” he orders Smith and Smith digs his phone out of his pocket, flicking through a few camera angles.

“Whoever it was is already gone.”

I stand up and take a step toward the door before Lincoln grabs my arm and shakes his head.

“He just said no one is there,” I protest but he just shakes his head again.

“Go check all the windows and doors to make sure they’re locked. I did it an hour ago and they were all good. I’m keeping Tate with me,” he says over his shoulder, completely ignoring me. Smith stands up and walks into the kitchen as Lincoln pulls a gun out of his waistband. I reach under the table and grab the gun out of the holster bolted under the top. He glances over at me and rolls his eyes.

“All good,” Smith says, walking back into the living room and Lincoln nods, glancing back at me.

“Stand back.”

I roll my eyes as he unlocks the door and pulls it open. Just like Smith said, the porch is empty and something falls into the house as Lincoln pulls the door open further. He scoops it up before slamming the door shut again and locking both deadbolts.

“It’s got Tate’s name on it,” Smith says, ripping it out of Lincoln’s grip and I inspect it as he hands it to me. I suck in a breath as I peel it open. Inside is a photo of my mother and a blonde woman I don’t recognize. Frowning, I glance in the folder and spot a little piece of paper folded up at the bottom. I pull it out and unfold it.

You owe me a life.

My hands tremble and I suck in a breath as I meet Lincoln’s eyes before glancing back down at the photo in my hand. The photo is from years ago, my mother’s face bright and worry free in a way that I had never seen her and I turn to the blonde, searching my mind for a connection but I come up empty.

Lincoln steps forward, gently taking the note and photo from my hand before he glances down at them.

“Fuck,” he hisses after reading the note. As he hands them off to Smith, he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close, giving me the comfort I need right now.

“Hey,” he whispers, getting my attention and I peek up at him. “It’s going to be okay. I’m not going to let him anywhere near you.”

I nod, cuddling closer to him as I try to steady my breathing. After what Lincoln showed me and the research I did afterward, I can honestly say that my father terrifies me. There is no length he won’t go to, no boundary he won’t cross, and I understand all the things my mother made Theo and me do. I understand the drills and the training and I’m so thankful for them now but I can’t help but feel like I carry around the same evil he does – like somewhere deep down inside me is a person who’s capable of the terrible things he’s done.

“I need to call Blaze,” Lincoln says, pulling back to look at me. “I’ll put it on speakerphone so you can give your input, too.”

I nod, grateful that he’s really listening to me and we all congregate around the table as he dials Blaze’s number, puts the phone on speakerphone, and sets it in the middle of the table.

“What’s going on, Kodiak?” Blaze answers and I sink into the chair as the guys follow suit.

“Someone just dropped a folder off at Tate’s house.”

“What’s in it?” he asks, apprehension filling his voice.