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His words were almost exactly what Doug had said on the boat, and she grimaced.

“Something like that. Look, I just...I didn’t want y’all putting us under a microscope and waiting for us to.

..I don’t know. For us to screw up or have a fight.

” She glared at the men. “Or for you to do something insane like threaten to fire him or kill him.”

“I’m not saying any of us were thrilled to find out you and he are.

..are dating.” Ian ran a hand down his face.

“As far as I’m concerned, dating is the only word we’ll use to describe whatever you two are doing.

I don’t want to know any details, and I’ll die on a hill thinking you're still a virgin. And don’t give me shit about that because it’s the same hill I’ll die on when Peyton grows up. ”

“Seriously, Ian?” Angie retorted. “Were you still a virgin at twenty-three?” She didn’t give him a chance to say a single syllable.

“I know for a fact you weren’t unless you lied to me.

Even if you were, it wouldn’t be anybody’s business but yours once you hit eighteen.

And you’re one to talk about not keeping secrets, especially after everything that happened with Jace. ”

He winced—his wife would never let him live that down—but it had nothing to do with the current situation, so he didn’t respond to Angie’s accusation. Instead, he studied the five women standing behind Jenn, his eyes narrowing. “Why are you all here?”

Jenn jumped in before any of them could answer the question. “Because I asked them to be here. They’re my tribe.”

Marco cocked his head. “Tribe?”

“Yes, Uncle Marco, my tribe. The women who will support me no matter what, even if that means going up against their big, bad Doms. And if I hear that any of them were punished for being here today, there will be more hell to pay with me.”

If she wasn’t mistaken, she saw surprise and respect in her uncles’ gazes as they stared at her—she hadn’t expected the latter but liked how it made her feel.

Maybe they were finally getting it through their thick skulls that she was no longer a kid.

Regardless, she got to her feet. “Now, this conversation is over. You will leave Doug alone. You won’t fire or harass him.

You won’t punish your wives either. You will stay out of my love life unless I come to you for advice, which I probably won’t do because—ick.

” At least that brought a smile to the men’s faces and a chuckle from a few.

She pointed at them. “I’m still pissed at all of you, and it’s going to take some time for me to forgive you for what you did.

But I do know that you did it because you love me.

And in some weird way, I love that you cared enough to try to intervene, but that doesn’t mean I’m happy about it.

” She paused when a thought occurred to her.

“By the way, how did you find out about Doug and me?”

“Nope,” Boomer immediately blurted. “I’m invoking the man-code and not throwing anyone under the bus.”

Brody shook his head. “Same.”

She studied the rest of them, and only Jake wouldn’t look her in the eye. “Uncle Jake?”

“It wasn’t me, Jenn.” He still wouldn’t meet her gaze.

Her eyes narrowed. “It was Nick, wasn’t it?

” When no one answered, she knew she had her culprit.

Technically, Nick wasn’t a snitch. If she figured out he knew before he told anyone and asked him not to say anything, he would’ve kept quiet, but the man could spill the tea more than the women behind her combined.

It looked like his current punishment wouldn’t be enough.

She’d have to think of another way to get back at him. “How did he find out?”

Jake sighed. “He was at the marina the other day on a case and saw you and Doug get off his boat and kiss.”

“And of course, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut or come to me first. Even though I love him like a brother, he’s the worst gossip I know.” She shrugged. “Making him babysit all the kids in the she-shed right now isn’t enough punishment for him.”

Marco’s, Brody’s, and Devon’s eyes widened before they jumped up, cursing, and ran from the room. With confusion on his face, Boomer looked at Jake and Ian. “What’s wrong with that?”

“He’s probably teaching them to give the middle finger and feeding them all something with lots of sugar,” Ian responded, getting to his feet. “So they’ll be bouncing off the walls soon.”

Boomer barked out a laugh while Jake grinned and rolled his eyes.

Turning to the women she considered both aunts and friends, Jenn gestured toward the door with her cast. “Ladies, it’s time for our spa appointments. I need a massage, a facial, and a strong mimosa, and not necessarily in that order.”

She strode toward the door where Ian stood.

The sadness at the loss of his “Baby-girl” was written all over his face, making her stomach drop.

But she had to be firm and stand her ground.

“I’m sorry that I don’t want the nickname anymore, Uncle Ian, but it’s time for me to be the woman you and my parents raised me to be. ”

His stormy blue eyes brightened, and he nodded. “I know. And I couldn’t be prouder.”