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His lips find my cheek and then he whispers, “I will do anything I have to do to protect you, and my dad is a really good option. Stop pushing me away and let me take care of you.”

His words make me frown. Was I doing that? Maybe I was or maybe I just didn’t want to drag any more of his family into this mess. What if someone gets hurt because of me?

“Baby, I can hear your brain working. Just stop and please trust me.” His words melt me and I nod against his face. He releases a breath and gives me a quick peck on the lips before releasing my head.

“Wait, who is your dad?” Tucker asks.

“He’s the president of the Bayou Devils,” Nix says, his voice tight.

“Holy shit,” Trey and Tucker say at the same time.

“We’ve known Moe all our lives and we never knew that your dad was a Devil?” Tucker adds.

Nix just shrugs. I get where they are coming from but Moe never really talked about his family except to say that they had a falling out.

“You don’t have to do this,” I whisper to him one more time. His lips smash together as he shakes his head at me.

“Stop, Em.”

“This shouldn’t be your problem.”

Nix stands abruptly, holding me in his arms and turns to my brothers. “Give us a minute, guys.” He doesn’t wait for their response as he starts carting me off to the bedroom. He tosses me on the mattress and slams the door behind him. He kneels down in front of the bed and grabs my face in his hands.

“Listen to me, I don’t ever push you on anything but I’m going to push you on this. I love you and I’m not going to let this asshole anywhere near you. If that means I have to go ask my dad for help, then I will. I need you to not fight me on this. Okay?”

“I don’t think that—”

“Stop! No negotiation on this, Emma. I’m not him. I’m not trying to control your life. I’m just trying to keep you safe,” he growls.

I grab his hand, still holding my face, and squeeze. “I know you’re not him.”

His gaze softens and he presses a soft kiss to my lips. He pulls away and looks at me with pleading eyes. “Don’t fight me, Em. Just let me take care of you.”

“Okay.”

He releases a huge breath and looks down. I run my fingers through his hair and he hums in response.

“Thank you, baby,” he whispers. “I love you.”

“Me, too.” He looks up at me, smiling, and kisses me again.

* * * *

Meeting Nix’s dad, Blaze, was a lot different than I thought it would be. From everything I heard, I expected this hard, unforgiving biker. Instead, he actually reminded me a lot of Moe. Tough looking on the outside but a teddy bear on the inside. Unless, of course, you messed with someone he cared about, which apparently now includes me.

The nerves hit as soon as I heard him pull up on his motorcycle, the pipes roaring from a mile away. He was just as tall and broad as both Nix and Moe, making me realize that it must just run in the family. He had long dark hair and Nix’s blue eyes.

We all sat down and enjoyed dinner before getting into the heavy stuff. He listened as I explained as much as I could get through before breaking down. I noticed the pride in his eyes as Nix scooped me up and finished telling his dad all that he knew. Blaze’s immediate response is that he and the boys would just “take care” of Ryan. It didn’t take a genius to connect the dots.

I flinched in Nix’s lap and told him I didn’t want anyone getting in trouble because of me. He seemed irritated but agreed. Before he left, he said that he would send guys over to watch over us. Sure enough, an hour later, two guys rode up on motorcycles and started standing guard outside my apartment.

“Should I go ask them if they want some food or something?” I feel bad that they are just going to spend all night outside on guard detail because of me. Maybe we’re all blowing this out of proportion.

“Naw, babe. I just asked ‘em. They’re all good.” I purse my lips and twist my fingers together as I look back at my front door. “Emma, what’s wrong?” Nix walks up to me and pulls my hands apart so he can hold them.

“I just feel bad that they are stuck out there because of me.”

“Don’t. They are here to keep you safe and besides, if they were in here then I couldn’t do this,” he says, sealing his lips over mine. I moan and melt into him almost instantly. He pulls back and smiles. “Gotta say, I love when you do that, sweetheart.”