I stared at Kash from across the table, the side of my face throbbing from when he’d hit me just moments ago. But I'd let him punch the fuck out of me, let him get his aggression out over the fact I’d just told him Jessa was mine and I wasn't giving her up.

I glanced to the side and saw my girl standing there, her hands twisted together, her expression worried. I wanted to go to her and tell her everything would be okay, that I'd make sure it was.

Kash had come home just an hour ago and I'd been sitting here waiting for him, not about to deny any of this. I wanted him to know right away that Jessa was mine.

As soon as Kash had walked through the door and seen me standing beside his daughter, the confusion and anger morphed across his face.

He'd known before I said anything.

And it had only taken a second after I got the words out that Kash had slugged the side of my face. But I let him hit me, let him get out his anger over what had transpired.

Jessa took a step forward and stood beside me. I clenched my hands, wanting to pull her closer, wanting to have her right on my lap. But I respected Kash too much to be disrespectful like that. He was clearly trying to understand all of this, and shoving my affection for his daughter in his face wouldn’t do anything but piss him off more.

Kash looked at Jessa, his expression unreadable. “How long has this been going on?” he asked, his voice void of emotion.

After he hit me, Jessa had screamed out for him to stop. He'd done so instantly and took a step back, obviously trying to rein in his anger. I couldn't blame him. If the roles had been reversed I would've reacted the same way.

“It hasn't been going on.” Jessa looked over at me. “But I've loved him for a while now, and I don't want to hold my feelings back any longer.”

I curled my fingers even harder into my palms, my blunt nails digging into my flesh. I loved her too. I looked at Kash, staring at the man I had known for longer than I cared to admit, wanting him to see how genuine this was. I was a bastard in a lot of ways, and had never really cared about anything.

But when it came to Jessa she was it for me.

And I was tired of pretending otherwise.

“I love her, Kash. Nothing was ever done behind your back until this one time.” I saw his jaw clenching and knew that little bit of information had pissed him off. I couldn't blame him, but I was also going to be honest.

He looked at his daughter then, his gaze softening. “You know this isn’t something that I can just accept?”

She didn’t answer Kash right away. Jessa exhaled and closed her eyes for a moment. “I hope you do, though. I love him, and I know he cares for me. I’m not a fool, Dad. I don’t just jump head first into situations. You know that.”

Kash rubbed a hand over his face and looked between the two of us. “Fucking hell,” he said without any heat in his voice. “You’re so much fucking older than her, Rye.”

“I’ll protect her,” I said with determination in my voice. “I’ll make sure she never wants for fucking anything.” I could see the tenseness in Kash slowly starting to dissipate. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Yeah, I know you’ll do all of that.”

I felt like this heaviness was lifting from me. I might be a badass to anyone who fucked with me, but Kash was a business partner, a friend, and seeing him pissed at me—and rightly so—felt like shit.

“You’re okay with this … with us?” Jessa asked softly.

Kash didn’t respond right away, but finally he exhaled. “Your happiness and wellbeing are all that I want.” He looked at me then. “And if being happy with Rye is what you want, then so be it. I know he’ll protect you with his life.”

And I would. I will.

* * *

I sat at one of the empty tables at my father and Rye’s bar, the glass of Coke in front of me warm and the ice already melted. I thought back to all the things that had happened up to this point. I thought about how my father had accepted what I wanted, and how he’d wanted to speak with Rye alone. I wondered what was being said, wondered if there would be threats to not hurt me, like I imagined fathers said to their daughters’ boyfriends.

I didn’t ask Rye about any of it, because I just wanted to enjoy the fact I was with him, my father wouldn’t have an issue, and I could finally be happy with the man I wanted. And the last couple of days hadn’t changed anything between my father or me. He hadn’t mentioned my relationship with Rye, maybe because he was still trying to come to grips with it, but he was also not trying to talk me out of it either.

I exhaled and ran my finger along the glass.

“Hey.” The sloppy, slurred voice behind me had me rolling my eyes.

The bar was pretty much dead, aside from a few stragglers hanging around. I didn’t bother saying anything, because interacting would only have him thinking I was interested, especially since he was drunk.

I felt his hand on my shoulder and was about to turn around and say some choice words, but before I could his hand was gone and I was looking over my shoulder in shock as Rye stood over him. The man was on the floor, Rye having clearly knocked him backward.

“Touch what’s mine again and I’ll be sure to snap off those fucking hands of yours. You got me?” His voice was deep, serious … deadly.

The guy nodded and quickly got off the ground to wisely head in the other direction. I looked up at Rye from where I sat and saw he was already looking at me.

“Come here, Jessa.”

I was out of my seat and in his embrace seconds later. I felt everyone staring at us, but I didn’t care. If they didn’t already know I was Rye’s they would find out soon enough.

“Was that really necessary?” I teased, knowing that Rye did whatever the hell he wanted.

He grunted and stroked the back of my head. “When it concerns you everything is fucking necessary.”

I smiled against his chest and closed my eyes. Yeah, this life was certainly not what I’d ever thought I’d have, but I’d certainly envisioned it plenty of times.