Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Two: Don't Talk, Just Listen

The streetlight outside of Mike Sorenson's house was out again however that wasn't unusual. The neighborhood he lived in was on the poorer side of Canaryville, somewhere that wasn't a priority when it came to fixing potholes or broken streetlamps. It was just another deprived block, somewhere he couldn't afford to move from. The house was remortgaged, he was barely keeping it afloat as it was and now this latest setback, the one that had ended with his broken nose and a precinct full of hatred had left him down by 11k. That wasn't counting the booze he'd put back tonight trying to forget all about the last twenty four hours. He was worse for wear but it wasn't a state he was unaccustomed to, he'd managed to get himself home numerous times before and it was the same tonight. His keys were jingling in his fist, the sound echoing through the night as he took unsteady steps up the unkempt pathway leading to his front door.

The punch came out of nowhere. That balled fist was lightning fast, driving straight into his gut causing him to double over as the air rushed out of his lungs. The explosion of agony in his belly left him gasping for breath as he sagged against his front door in an attempt to keep himself upright. His cop's brain was already screaming at him to straighten up, if he let his knees buckle he wouldn't be able to defend himself when he went down. Part of him had expected this, he owed Joey Calducci a lot of money and it had been getting to the point where the other man was getting tired of asking. If this was simply a beating there was no question of whether he would survive it. It was bad business to kill your clients, you'd never get back the money you had invested in them if you did.

A hand threaded through his thick Irish curls. The gloved fingers raked across his scalp, grasping at the roots before yanking his head up so he was starring into the blazing azure eyes of Sean Roman. The fury in Roman's features was enough to make Sorenson's heart jack hammer against his rib cage. He could feel each individual thud through the pulse in his throat as the cold, metallic gun was forced underneath his chin, jamming his jaw shut, his teeth to clacking together loudly in his mouth.

"Don't talk just listen." Roman directed, the tone of his voice completely devoid of emotion as he spoke. Sorenson could do little more than incline his head in order to show his understanding.

"This thing with Kayla it's over." Roman informed him with a venom that Sorenson had never believed the other man could bolster. "I see you or any of the other shitheads that hung around with Sheppard near her, I'll come back and I'll finish the job."

He meant it, Sorenson could see it. There was something alive inside of Sean Roman that he had never been privy to before and he realised at that very moment that he had underestimated the other man. There was a glint of crazy in those bright blue eyes of his, one that was associated with that fierce instinct that came with protecting something you loved and Sorenson had no doubt that the other man would pull the trigger. He would be left bleeding out on his porch alone in the darkness.

"Nod if you understand what I'm saying." Roman ordered, his stare glacial as Sorenson swallowed hard against the lump in this throat and did as he was told.

"Kayla's off limits." Roman reinforced once more before he removed his gun from underneath Sorenson's chin and disappeared into the darkness as if he'd never been there at all.

The light was still on in the kitchen when Sean Roman let himself into Phillip's suburban brownstone with the silver key the other man had given him a couple of weeks ago so that he could feed the dog whilst he was at his conference. He remembered the feeling of pride that swelled inside of him when Phillip had pressed that key into his hand, the other man had been trusting him another one of the most precious things in life. Both Kayla and the Alaskan Malamute Simba were Phillip's entire world, already Sean knew that giant fluff ball had nabbed his space in the bed alongside Kayla. He was glad that she had that comfort, his lover always slept better when that dog was around, it was one of the reasons he had insisted they stay at her father's house tonight.

Phillip was drying the dishes when Sean stepped into the modest kitchen. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up to his elbows as he used the checked towel fervently on the white porcelain plate in his hand. His eyes flickered up to Roman as he entered, his keen gaze reading the other man's taunt features as his steady hands unzipped the jacket he was wearing.

"It's done." Sean said quietly, his right hand unclasping the holster from his hip before he set down in the center of the kitchen table. "They won't be bothering Kayla anymore."

Phillip said nothing, instead he folded the tea towel in half before setting it down on the black, speckled work surface. He reached up into the glass cupboard, removing two crystal tumblers and the bottle of bourbon he stored in there for special occasions. Sean watched as he set the two glasses upon the kitchen table before taking the seat across from him and pouring a little of the amber liquid into each of them. He used agile fingertips to push it in Roman's direction before clasping his own glass and taking a thoughtful sip.

"You came through for Kayla today." he said finally as Sean tilted his tumbler, watching the reflection of the overhead light shimmer on the plateau of the bourbon. "Thank you."

Sean shook his head to show the other man that his thanks wasn't needed. He would do anything for Kayla, he had been willing to kill for her tonight. He knew the thought should scare him but it didn't. What she had been through in the past twenty four hours was traumatizing and he would do anything to keep her safe.

"I told you. I would do anything for your daughter." Roman reminded the other man with an unflinching look. "I meant it."

Phillip took a sip of his bourbon once as Sean reached into the confines of his jacket pocket and put a small box on the table between the two of them. Phillip regarded it with interest, his glass coming back to rest upon the table as he reached for the pretty white box.

"I love Kayla more than anything else in the world." Sean informed the older man, his hands clasped together as if in prayer as he spoke earnestly. "I can't imagine what life would be like without her so I'm asking you man to man, if I could have your blessing and marry your daughter?"

Phillip clasped the ring box in his hand for a moment, his lips pursed together as he placed it back upon the kitchen table, the edges of his mouth beginning to twitch up into a small smile.

"I guess I should say welcome to the family."