* * *

As soon as we got back to the island the women were rushed inside and the kids rounded up to make sure they were all in one piece.

The night was still young since we’d ended it early so the women decided to settle down in their favorite room while the kids went back to what they were doing.

The men headed up to the private room where Mancini made a call while the rest of us waited. “Nothing yet, but we have another problem; her brother.”

“Track, what about him?” I’d grown fond of the kid because of the stories she told me about him. Since I knew more about her story than she did, the fact that the kid had gone above and beyond to make her life better made my respect for him grow even more.

“He’s been digging his nose in again and he’s getting too close. I don’t think he understands the danger.”

“I’ll talk to him.” I should’ve thought of it once we realized what the kid was up to, but I figured since his sister was safe with us he’d give up his quest.

“The search for the general’s assassin is heating up. I had my people make a clean sweep after your friends left him so there should be nothing to point to anyone so that’s one less worry.”

“Lyon, your senator has been getting some interesting communications lately. He’s scheduled for a trip to the middle east next week.” Mancini gave him a telling look, which we all interpreted.

“What kind of communication?” Logan was the one to ask.

“Well, with the general out of the way the senator and anyone else involved in this mess are going to be trying to cover their ass.”

“Devon they still don’t know about the girl, but if her brother keeps pushing it might tip them off. So far I don’t think they know why he wanted in, you can thank her father for that. He did such a good job hiding her that no one even suspects.”

Yes but at what cost? Her whole life is one of secrets and shadows. How am I to know that if given a choice she would’ve chosen me?

Was I supposed to let her live now? Give her room to breathe? Fuck that no. Unfair it might be but I can’t see myself doing that shit.

I knew in my heart that what I want for her won’t be much different from what she was used to. I won’t lock her away in a room but she sure as fuck won’t have the freedom most women enjoy.

It’s the same with my sisters and these other women here. Every man in this room keeps a tight fucking leash on his woman no matter how he couches that shit.

But it’s not out of any need to be an abusive asshole, but to protect the thing they hold most dear.

Lyon, the undesignated leader of the husband brigade has been married longer than anyone else here and he still treats his woman like she’s gonna disappear if he doesn’t know where she is every step of the way.

“How do you guys do it?”

“Do what?” My question came at a lull in the conversation.

“The women Logan, how do you know when to pull back?”

“Pull back from what bro?”

“You know, when to give them space? How to not smother them or keep them from thinking you’re a possessive asshole? Because I gotta tell you, knowing what she came from, I don’t see much difference in what she’d face as mine.”

“Of course there’s a difference Dev. We keep our women sheltered to protect them from the shit we know is out there, but once this shit’s over they’re going to be free to go anywhere they want to.”

“Yeah as long as one of us is there to make sure they’re safe right Con?”

“Yeah, what Tyler said.”

“But isn’t that kinda the same thing? Shouldn’t they be able to go out on their own…?”

“Boy, are you crazy? I’ve had a tracker on Kat and my kids since day one. Not because I’m afraid my wife’s gonna cheat on me, but because if some shit goes down I know where to find her.”

“That’s the world we live in brother. I wish I could fucking lock Caitie Bear in a room somewhere until she’s fifty, but that right there would be crossing the line.”

“Instead I teach my kid values and shit and hope that some of it takes and when she marries that stupid ass boy I’ma make sure he tags her ass too and if he can’t protect her the way I do, he can’t fucking have her.”

I’m not sure I should be taking advice from Lyon but even Lo was nodding his head. No wonder these women are always getting into shit, their men are crazy as fuck.

“So what’s the difference between you lot and the assholes who beat on their wives and kids, never let them leave the house, shit like that?”

The room went quiet as fuck before they all started talking at once. “Whoa-whoa-whoa I’m just asking. Because you know, she was locked away her whole fucking life. When the dust settles I’m gonna take her back to Georgia and lock her away again?”

“It’s not the same thing you ass. In Georgia she’ll have the whole compound to roam. I don’t think she was even allowed in the backyard at her father’s place.”

“Yes Tyler but there’s more to the world than the compound. What if she wants to travel? Take a cruise? Go to the damn store?”

As I said it I realized that none of my sisters had been let out of our sight alone in months. No wonder they’re always rebelling.

“Then that’s what we’ll do. Things are strained now because of this shit, until Khalil is eliminated their lives have to be this way, but once the danger passes things will relax a little.”

“I’m not saying I’m gonna let Gaby run wild but I’m sure as fuck not going shopping with her.”

“Same here. But just like Lyon we have tags on them though they don’t know it, but it’s just to keep them safe. Speaking of which you and Quinn need to get on that shit as soon as we get back.”

“So you see nothing wrong with locking them away Con?”

“They’re not locked away brother, it just seems that way now. But Dani has a job, so does Gaby, and Vicki, Susie has school and Nessa owes the military what another year or two? As soon as this shit’s over they’ll go back to their lives, we’ll just know where they are at all times.”

“What if she wants to get a job? What am I gonna do?” Why is this shit so hard?

“Dude my woman is an FBI agent.”

“Oh yeah, that’s bad. Shit, how do you deal with that shit Mancini?”

“I’m trying to get her ass fired.”

“Okay then so I’m not the only one that’s fucked in the head.”

“Nope!”

“Damn, I thought the women were in the media room; bitch made motherfuckers. Listen, we have a business, the women have jobs and school. Once we send Khalil’s ass to the hereafter, we’ll go back to life. She’s not going to be locked away brother, unless of course you don’t get your head out of your ass and the old king drags her back to Saudi Arabia.”

“Tyler what the fuck?”

“Well what do you think is going to happen if you hand her over to him? You’ll never see her again I can tell you that much.”

“I’ve already decided that’s not gonna happen.” That was tantamount to me announcing to the room at large that she was mine.

From the slaps on the shoulder and the congratulations I guess it didn’t go right over their heads. “Welcome brother, now prepare yourself.”

“For what Lyon?”

“To never have a moment’s peace.”

“To sleeping with one eye open.”

“To losing your fucking mind.” Everyone had something to say.

“Okay I get it.” I wonder why the hell they wanted me to take the plunge if it was going to be like that? But the smiles and stupid grins told me they were full of shit.