Page 157 of Protecting What's Mine

“I’m not a fan either. She sued me.”

He stiffened against her. “You’re shitting me.”

She smiled, her mouth curving against his chest. “Nope. Found a shady lawyer. Named me personally and the hospital in a lawsuit.”

“She lost,” he said confidently.

“She did,” she said. “But I still paid her. I gave her everything I had in savings. I’d been hoping to do a stint with a nonprofit that trained trauma doctors in third world countries. The pay was abysmal, but I figured I could get by on savings for a year.”

“And she took that from you.”

“Ah, but I found the National Guard. Which brought me to Aldo. Which brought me to you.”

He kissed the top of her head.

“I love you, Dr. Mackenzie O’Neil.”

“Still?”

“Always. Now tell me what the fuck happened when you went to visit your asshole mother for the very last time ever.”

She filled him in on the details, soothed him with gentle strokes across his chest when he vibrated with the need to fight for her.

“You’re sure you broke her nose?” he asked.

“Positive. It crunched. Very satisfying.”

“Good girl.”

“Thanks for listening, Linc,” she whispered.

“Thanks for sharing.”

They were both silent for a long minute.

“So here’s what we’re going to do,” he began.

She laughed. “What’s the plan, boss?”

He levered up on an elbow to gaze down at her. “You’ve paid enough. The price was never yours in the first place.”

“You can’t ever meet them,” she said earnestly. “I know how that sounds. But I can’t stand the idea of tainting you by association.”

“Tainting me?” he scoffed.

“I don’t want you to ever associate me with them. I look like my mom.” It pained her to admit it.

“Dreamy, there is nothing of them in you. You prove that every fucking day. Now, back to what’s going to happen. They don’t ever get to see you or talk to you or communicate with you in any way. Ever,” he said quietly. “You won’t send either of them a dime ever again. If they leave you alone, I’ll leave them alone.”

Mack was suspicious. “You’re literally vibrating with rage right now, and you’re willing to promise me that you won’t do anything?”

“As long as they stay away from you, I’ll stay away from them,” he promised. “Now, how about you tell me about Dunnigan offering you the job permanently.”

Her mouth opened in an O. “Oh. That.”

“Yeah. That.”

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