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And then they turn the corner andIcan’t hear them anymore.

Kane closes the door firmly and comes back to me andCookie, who’s been standing there, watching the whole altercation with wide eyes.

“Thank you for handling that,” he says to my brother. “Theywere right—we don’t have any police around her for miles.Itmight have gotten ugly.”

“I wouldn’t have minded.”Kanestill looks like a simmering pot just about to boil over.Hisjaw is tense as he looks down at me. “Youall right, baby?Areyou sure you don’t want me to go fuck them up.BecauseI’lldo it.I’llbehappyto do it.”

The intensity in his pale eyes scares me a little.ButI’mnot afraid of him—Iknow my brother would never hurt me.I’mafraid for the three men he just kicked out of the diner.AndI’mafraid of what might happen toKaneif he takes revenge for me.Idon’t want him getting sent back to prison.

“It’s all right—I’mfine,”Isay quickly. “Theywere just jerks, that’s all.”

“Fucking assholes is what they were,”Kanegrowls.Heputs an arm around my shoulders. “Nobodyfucks with my baby sister.”

I feel a rush of raw emotion so intenseIcan hardly say what it is.Ihaven’t felt so protected and safe since myDaddydied.Ican tell thatKanewould be willing to fight or die for me and it’s a powerful feeling.

“Thank you, big brother.”Isay and press myself against him for a hug.Whichunfortunately, gets the front of my uniform wet.

“Uh, sorry.Gotyou wet,”Kaneremarks whenIpull away. “Iwas washing the dishes—the spray back there is fierce.”

“It’s okay—it’ll dry,”Iassure him. “Oh, while you’re out here,Ihave someoneIwant you to meet.”

I take his arm and pull him over to table two, whereCharlesis still sitting, looking kind of sheepish.

“Who’s this?”Kaneasks, looking down at him.

“Kane, this isCharles, my boyfriend,”Itell him. “AndCharles, this isKane—my big brother.”

Kane frowns andIcan almost hear his thoughts.He’swondering why my boyfriend sat by and let me get harassed without saying or doing anything.Howeverhe doesn’t say anything about it.Hejust holds out a hand toCharles.

“Good to meet you.I’veheard a lot about you fromSunny’sletters,” he rumbles.

Charles shakes reluctantly,Ithink.Heclears his throat.

“Likewise.Shetold me she was writing to you in prison.Ijust had no idea you were about to be released.”

“Yeah well—hereIam.”Kanespreads his arms. “Butright now,I’dbetter get back to the kitchen,” he says.Helooks at me. “You’resure you’re all right, baby?”

“I’m okay,”Iassure him, though to be honest,Istill feel kind of shaken up.IfKanehadn’t stepped in, we might have had a really nasty altercation on our hands and it wasn’t likeCharleswas going to do anything about it.

Though to be fair to my boyfriend, he’s only about 5’9 and those three road crew workers would have eaten him for lunch if he’d tried anything.Still, he could have at least spoken up for me,Ithink, feeling resentful.

“Okay well—good to meet you, man,”Kanesays toCharles.Heheads back to the kitchen and the other customers go back to eating.Show’sover, folks—we can all relax.

“Well!”Itake a deep breath and straighten my shoulders. “Iguess nowIshould finally put in your order,”Isay toCharles.

But my boyfriend scowls at me as though he’s angry for some reason.

“Forget it,” he says shortly. “Ilost my appetite.”

“What?Why?”Iask, but he doesn’t bother to answer.Herises abruptly from his table and pushes past me towards the door. “Charles?”Icall after him, but he’s already gone, slamming the door behind him and making the little bell tinkle wildly, as though to announce his departure.

“Well, it looks likesomebody’sgot a bug up his butt,”Annabellemurmurs, coming up to stand beside me.I’mnot sure where she was during the altercation with the workers—in the corner, maybe, keeping out of the action.NotthatIblame her.

“Yeah,Idon’t know what his problem is,”Iremark, frowning.

“He’s probably mad that your big brother had the guts to come rescue you whenhewas too scared to do it,” she remarks, giving a disdainful sniff. “Ialways said you were too good for him.”

“NowAnnie, don’t be mean!”Isay, frowning at her.Butinside,Ican’t help secretly agreeing with her.Evenif he thought he might get his ass handed to him,Charlesshould have saidsomethingto defend me!