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Callen
We were ten, and you pushed him off the roof of the garage. You’re lucky that’s all he broke.
Maddox
He was gonna jump anyway.
Callen
Fine. You can be my best man. Now I’ve got to go jump off a roof.
—Text from Maddox to Callen.
Iwait for Jude to drive Caitlin over to Adelaide’s house for book club before I head over to Sam and Amelia’s house with Cait’s engagement ring burning a hole in my pocket. With only six weeks left before her due date, I’ve put off talking to Sam as long as I can. Time to man the fuck up and get this shit over with.
Hopefully, he doesn’t shoot me.
When Lucky answers the door with a smart-ass look plastered on his face, I fucking cringe. “Hey Ma—” he calls out. “Better put away the crystal. Callen’s here.”
“Always gotta be a little dick,” I grumble, and this crazy fucker grins bigger.
“Big dick, Sinclair. I’m a big dick with a big dick.”
Amelia moves behind him and slaps the back of his head. “If a man has to brag, he’s overcompensating, dear. Try to keep that in mind when you decide to remember how to behave one day. Now get out of here.”
“Ma—”
“Luciano, I said go.” And the look she gives me when I laugh says it all.
It also saysshut the fuck up, so I do.
“Callen... is my daughter with you?” I know she wants me to help her bring Caitlin and Sam back together, but Cait hasn’t been willing to even discuss it. I’ve tried.
I can’t imagine going four months without speaking to my father, but I understand where she’s coming from. Pain is a bitch. It’s hard to fight and harder to forget. And in my girl’s eyes, the pain started with him.
“No. She’s with Adelaide and Bellamy for book club. I wanted to see if I could speak with Sam.” I tell her as she opens the door wider and invites me in.
Amelia’s eyes narrow, and she bites down on her lips. “You can. But be warned, Cade and Becket are here. They’re in the back playing poker.”
Fuck me.
“Want to change your mind, Callen?” she challenges with a smile.
“No, ma’am.” I mean, I could have hoped for better timing, but why would anything about us be easy. I shouldn’t have expected it to start now.
She tugs me in for a quick hug and wipes her eye. “Be good to my baby, Callen.”
Guess I know where Caitlin gets her awareness from. Amelia Beneventi can read a room.
When she walks me into the den, Sam, Killian’s father, Cade, and Kenzi’s surrogate dad, Becket, all look up. It’s like the start of a bad joke.
A mafia boss, an MMA champ, and a US Senator walk into a bar...
“Callen would like a minute, Sam.” I look at Amelia, who’s practically giddy, and I wonder if it’s because she knows I’m asking Caitlin to marry me or if it’s because she’s having fun throwing me to the fucking wolves.
“Don’t kill him, Sam. Scarlet has a lot of money invested in next year’s team,” Cade tells him. Seriously? The Kings’ GM’s husband doesn’t want me dead because I make his wife a lot of money. Good to know.
“I can make him disappear if you do it,” Becket smiles, and I take it. I’ve known these men my whole fucking life. I know how close they are, and I know what they’re like. I also know I’ve protected each and every one of their daughters at one time or another, and whether they want to admit it or not, they respect me. So bring it on.
