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“I’ve ordered her new tires,” Kent snapped. “You don’t need to follow her, I’m coming in.”

He knew he should just leave Macca to discover what was wrong with her.

But that felt like it was his job. So maybe Abby wasn’t what he thought he wanted. Perhaps he still didn’t know if he had it in him to be her Daddy. But he also knew that the idea of her in some kind of trouble made his heart race with panic and his skin go clammy. The urge to go to her was overwhelming.

He cared about her. Wanted to protect her. And he really wanted to kiss her again.

Only you make up the rules for your relationship. It can be whatever the two of you need it to be.

He glanced at Clint. Damn, he hated when he was right. As though his brother could sense his thoughts, he smirked.

So maybe he’d been looking for the wrong thing all this time. Or he’d been searching for a type or relationship when all he needed was a person.

Abby.

“Really, chief—”

“I’m coming in,” Kent told the other man firmly. “Thanks for checking on her for me. Follow behind her, keep me updated so I know where to find you both.”

“You want her?” Macca asked, surprising Kent.

He didn’t reply.

“Because if you don’t, you should know I like her. She’s cute, funny, and pretty damn adorable. And she sure as shit needs help. So, if you don’t really want her, then leave her to me.”

“I want her,” Kent ground out.

Well, he was all in now.

“You want any pointers, let me know,” Clint said, a shit-eating grin on his face.

Perfect.

10

“Where the fuck is your cunt of a brother?”

Abby jumped, her heart racing. She turned away from where she’d been unlocking her car to see the big bruiser from the diner parking lot the other night standing in the shade of a huge tree. He took a puff of a cigarette as he glared at her.

At least she’d put down the bag of groceries. Going back a third time to the store definitely wasn’t in her budget.

“Well? You said you was gonna find out an address for me. Where is the bastard?”

“I-I don’t know,” she stuttered out. What if he’d come to her house? What if he’d seen Max?

Then maybe Max wouldn’t be your problem anymore.

She pushed aside the traitorous thought. Max was her brother. She was meant to protect him.

Like he’s always protected you? Her wrist still throbbed. He’d terrified her. She was having to dig into the money she’d earmarked to pay off Mr. Markovich to buy more groceries. Did he really deserve her protection?

She didn’t know. She only knew that wouldn’t be right to give him up to this terrifying man.

“You don’t know?” he asked in a low, scary voice.

She shook her head. “N-no. But I’m s-sure he’ll call soon. I’ll find out w-where he is.”

“You better not be messing with me, girlie,” he growled. “Or you’re gonna pay. I will be back and you better have answers for me or I start to get nasty. And you don’t want that.”