Protecting My Hart (Protectors Series Book 1) by Danielle Wright Page A

after the attack from Griz and Tiny, I also knew something had changed but didn’t know what. I didn’t get you out, and I’m so sorry for that.” His hands, which I didn’t even realize where holding mine, rise to his lips, and I feel them softly press against my fingers. “Anyway, I got training and shit done so I could join the FBI, and like I said Mack, Beamer and Kash are the only ones who know. I’ve been undercover with them for nine years, since I was twenty-one, been an official agent three years.”
    “Oh my god.” I’m not sure if I spoke that out loud or even if I did, I doubt anyone heard me. This man who I thought I knew isn’t what I thought at all. He’s had this whole other life, still might. He could have a family somewhere, and I wouldn’t have a clue. I don’t know this man at all. I feel the panic taking over my system. I have to leave.
    “Tesoro, look at me. Take a deep breath for me, Hart.” His hand holds my chin in place, and he kneels before me so that his face is all I can see. “Hartley, listen to me. I can see you panicking, and I know your natural reaction to panic is to run, but I promise you, if you do, you won’t get far. I am the same exact man you knew five years ago. The same one. Everything you knew about me has stayed the same. I couldn’t tell you before because it was too dangerous for you to know. If JD had somehow suspected, well, he knew that we talked, and if he thought I had confided in you… makes me sick to think what he might have done to try and get information from you. I know that you trusted me then, and you can trust me now. The only difference is, now you know my secret.” His eyes never leave mine, and I can see it, hear it, and feel it. The sincerity and truth. Closing my eyes, I take a deep, calming breath and let the panic and fear fade away. My body falls forward, sagging into him, his arms wrap softly around me.
    “I do, Slyde, I trust you. I’m just scared.”
    “I know you are, Tesoro, and I’m going to do everything I can to take away the fear.” His statement is so honest, I believe him and nod against his chest.
    “Momma?” my son’s voice filled with unease and tension hits my ears. I sit up breaking free of Slyde’s embrace and see my son standing in the hallway with a tight grip on his bear, and he’s staring at the three big men.
    “Good morning, baby. Come here.” I smile and he does, watching Mack and Kash closely. He crawls into my lap, and I hug him tightly, leaving a kiss on his forehead.
    “Good morning, little man,” Slyde greets him softly.
    “Hi.” He answers Slyde, before turning to me, “Momma, who are they?”
    “Hey, buddy, you remember me?”
    “Yeah, you are Beamer, but who are they?” His eyes fall back to Mack and Kash before he asks them directly. “Are you more good guys to help Slyde catch the bad guys who are chasing us?” My eyes meet Slyde’s, and he smiles. I see Kash out of the corner of my eye—he’s crouched down and is smiling at Ethan.
    “Hi, my name is Kash. Slyde and Beamer are my friends, and yeah, I’m one of the good guys.”
    “Hi, my name is Ethan!” I can both see and hear the smile in his voice.

    This little guy is one tough kid. Yeah, he gets nervous, but he’s not afraid to ask questions to find out what he wants. I like the fact that he believes in good guys. I truly believe he can tell; he becomes comfortable around the guys almost immediately. His gaze looks back to Mack and he watches him almost as if he is studying him and maybe he is. Just another thing to convince me he’s my kid.
    “Who are you?” Ethan finally asks.
    “I’m Mack.”
    “Are you a good guy?”
    “Yes, I am.”
    “Momma, there’s lots of good guys now. We don’t have to hide no more, and you can sleep and not cry, ‘cause the good guys are going to catch the bad guys,” he smiles and explains to Hart. The innocence he still has is amazing. Hartley smiles at him, but I can see the war