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

in her eyes that her son even has the knowledge of bad guys and that he has to worry about them.
    “I guess we are pretty lucky then, to have so many good guys helping to keep us safe, huh?”
    “Yep, it’s ‘cause Slyde promised, and they are his friends so they want to help. Right, Slyde?”
    “That’s right buddy,” Kash states. “We are gonna keep you and your mom safe from the bad guys.”
    “OK. Momma, I am hungry. Can we have pancakes again?”
    “Um, I don’t know if we have stuff to make pancakes sweetie.”
    “Actually, little man, I was thinking I would take you and Momma to a place where you can have any kind of pancakes you want.”
    “Any kind?”
    “Yeah, they have some with banana, or chocolate chips, or blueberries, or peanut butter.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah really, how does that sound? Then after we have breakfast, we can go play at that park I showed you.”
    “Cool! I’ll go get dressed!” He jumps off of Hartley’s lap and starts to run down the hall when he stops then comes running back to me and slams into me, giving me a big hug. My heart swells and melts all at once. I kiss the top of his head, and I hear sniffles. Looking up, I see Hart crying with a soft smile on her lips.
    “C’mon, baby boy, let’s go get ready. You need a bath; go pick out your clothes.”
    “OK.” Ethan takes off again.
    “Can I…?
    “Of course, Tesoro, there are towels in the hall closet, use either bathroom.”
    Hartley stands, and I with her. She nods, gives me a quick hug, and then follows her son down the hallway. When I turn around, three pairs of eyes are on me. I motion for them to follow me out front.
    “Fuck, man. I can’t believe you found her and that little guy. What the hell, is he yours?” Kash fires out seconds after the front door closes.
    “Don’t know for sure, but I think he is. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her about that yet.”
    “Well, either he’s yours or you have a fuckin’ twin. I’m in, man. Whatever you need, that little guy is talkin’ about bad guys chasin’ them and his mom cryin’ and not sleepin’. Little man shouldn’t be worried about shit like that. She’s your girl, he’s your kid. I got your back no matter what. We’ll keep them safe, and I don’t give a flying shit what the higher-ups have to say about it. Mack, we’re doing this. Slyde ain’t here, one of us will be here, don’t really care if it’s just me and Beamer doin’ it. It’s happening.”
    Mack gives a slight nod.
    “Thanks, brother, I appreciate that. I won’t be staying at the house long anymore. I’ve been putting some distance for a while now, nothing suspicious about me not staying there all the time.”
    “You’re due back in what two days?” Mack asks.
    “Yeah, we got Tommy G, Ice, and Rex comin’ in to meet. We’ll also be setting up another meet with Yang and a potential new buyer outta Texas. You’ll have all that info in a few days.
    “OK, then we will have someone here at all times when you’re not. They won’t leave the house unless one of the team is with them. Does she have a job, he in daycare?”
    “Yeah, she does, but I’m going to talk to her about that. She said she needs to work. Honestly she doesn’t, but if she wants to I want her doing it here, not back in Atlanta. As far as I know, whoever was watching her there doesn’t know she’s here, and I’d like to keep it that way. I also don’t want her to feel like a prisoner like she was with JD. She won’t become one here unless it becomes absolutely fuckin’ necessary.”
    “I’ll set it all up and let you know. The guys are right, we protect our own. They’re your family, we got them.”
    “Thanks, Mack.”
    “All right, bro, enjoy pancakes and the park. We’re out!” Beamer states. We slap hands before we give each other a bro hug—same with Kash—while Mack and I just shake. He tries to keep a line of professionalism drawn, but he’s still one of the guys, and I