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I cut off his bragging, speaking in a low tone that does nothing to hide the darkness in my words. “I haven’t spent twenty years in the military without knowing how to take down threats,” I tell him, holding his stare, my lips curving up in a smirk that’s far from friendly. “Though, I can’t even call you a real threat at all, Daniel. You’re no better than a fucking rat, a pest that’s made the mistake of bothering what’s mine. So scurry off to whatever darkfucking hole you crawled out of and know that if there’s ever a nexttime, you won’t be able to walk anywhere after I’m through with you.”

I really want to make good on my promises to break his teeth and cut his tongue off, but I don’t want to scare Talia. She’s been through enough today already. Plus, we’re in a fucking soup kitchen. This isn’t the place for blood and gore, no matter how much imagining it makes me smile.

Daniel’s gaze flicks past me to Talia, pupils widening slightly. “Talia, come on. Tell him to back off,” he pleads with her, voice sharp now.

“You don’t talk to her,” I growl, getting closer to him to block his view. “You don’t even fucking look at her.”

I’m standing between them, blocking him from getting near her again. When he tries to take a step forward, I plant a hand on his chest and hold him still, not moving an inch when he tries to shove me away. He might be strong, but brawn isn’t enough without the brains and training to back it up. My feet are planted on the floor, my balance secure, and I’m hardly straining to keep him in place.

“Fuck this,” Daniel mutters, shaking his head at me. “You’re a fucking psycho.”

I push him away, watching him shoot another glare my way before turning around and storming off. I wait until he’s gone straight out the front door and it’s slammed behind him before I turn to face Talia again.

She hasn’t moved an inch, still leaning against the wall, her forest green eyes wide and locked on me. A shaky breath leavesher lips, and I take a cautious step towards her, not wanting to scare her even more.

I wish I had come to check on her sooner, and I vow to never make that mistake again. Talia is as sweet as the cakes she makes, and that sweetness deserves to be protected at all costs. I’ll be her damn guard dog all she needs, fighting off assholes so she doesn’t have to.

“You…um…” she tries to say, swallowing thickly. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips and I track the movement, blood heating. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” I tell her honestly. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to check on you sooner. He never should’ve gotten that close to you. Did he hurt you, cupcake?”

There’s that nickname again. I don’t give people nicknames, especially not cute ones like that. But fuck, everything’s different with her. And it makes her smile, light returning to her eyes, so I’ll call her every cutesy name under the sun if she wants me to.

“No,” she says, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “He just wouldn’t listen to me. I thought … I thought he was my friend, but I guess not.” Her shoulders drop a little, and the sadness that pulls on her pretty face makes my heart sink.

I pull her closer to me, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. She sinks into my touch, and it feels so right, holding her, comforting her like this.

“Did you mean it?” she asks softly.

For a second, I think I misheard her.

“Mean what?” I ask, not wanting to misinterpret this. This moment feels vital, something unspoken hanging in the air around us.

“When you said … when you told him … I’m yours,” she whispers.

I don’t hesitate. “Yes. I meant every word.”

She doesn’t answer, but I swear she shivers a little in my hold. I want to keep talking, to finish the conversation, but I need to get her somewhere she feels safe first. I keep her close and take a step, ensuring she comes with me.

“Come on, cupcake. I’m taking you home.”

6

TALIA

Trey doesn’t put even an inch of distance between us as we walk home, his arm a steady, warm constant around my shoulders. It’s as if he’s unwilling to let me go even for a second.

And after what just happened with Daniel, I’m grateful for the calming touch. The memory of what went down back in the kitchen makes a fresh spike of fear-tinged anger tear through me. I can’t believe Daniel did that. Sure, he’s flirted with me before, but I’ve turned him down each time. I thought the message was abundantly clear—I’m not interested in him.

I never expected him to get so pushy.

And the way Trey had thrown him off me, the things he threatened to do to protect me? I shiver despite the heat collecting low in my stomach. That, combined with the gentle, caring side of him he’s showing as he holds the front door open for me and ushers me into safety … Yeah, my stepbrother is better than any man I’ve ever met, any man I could ever have dreamed of.

I’m yanked out of my thoughts as my feet leave the ground. Trey lifts me like I weigh nothing more than a feather, and sits me on the edge of the kitchen counter.

“What—” I try to ask, but he interrupts me.

“Sit there and let me take care of you,” he tells me in a tone that brooks no argument.

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