Brian stretched, the pull in his back a reminder of another long day handled like a boss. The quiet in the house was a rare treat, and he savored it, knowing full well the whirlwind that was his girls would burst through the door any second.
The sharp knock at the door shattered his moment of peace. Rolling his shoulders, he smirked as he opened it to find Dom and Vince leaning casually, their grins as easy as ever.
"Look who decided to drop by," Brian said, stepping back. "What's the occasion?"
Dom gave the place a quick once-over. "Just thought we'd invite you and the girls over for lunch and dinner. Everyone's dying to get to know you guys better."
Brian's smile was warm, but there was a playful edge to his tone. "Dying to meet us, huh? Well, who could blame them? The girls should be back with the dogs any minute. We'll head over when they're ready."
Outside, he spotted Izzy and Abby jogging toward the house. Missy and Sissy were perfectly in sync with their strides, while J, their overgrown puppy of a Great Dane, bounded around like he owned the street. Brian couldn't help but grin. His girls always managed to steal the show, even during a casual jog.
As they reached the driveway, Brian called out, "Hey, ladies! Dom's invited us over. What do you say?"
Izzy shot a thumbs-up without breaking her stride. "We're in! Give us five, Dad—you're not showing up like that."
Brian chuckled. "Yes, ma'am," he teased, shaking his head as the girls disappeared inside to freshen up.
When Dom and Vince headed out, promising to save them a spot, Brian sank into the couch with a sigh, grateful for the breather. The girls, of course, weren't having it. Izzy marched in, outfit in hand, and gave him a look that said she wasn't about to take no for an answer.
"Up. Change. You're not embarrassing us today," she ordered with a smirk.
Brian held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. But only because you're bossy."
As they got ready, the sound of claws on the floor and leashes jingling signaled the dogs were prepped for action. Abby gave J a pat while Missy and Sissy sat obediently, their biothane collars gleaming. The whole scene was a well-oiled machine, the girls leading with a confidence Brian couldn't help but admire.
By the time they reached Dom's backyard, the smell of grilled perfection and the buzz of laughter hit them like a warm welcome. Brian had barely sat down before the familiar rumble of irritation kicked in—those damn teenagers were back, loitering around his Skyline like they owned it.
Izzy's sharp growl cut through the hum of the party. "Not this again."
Abby was already in motion, her phone in hand, her voice sharp and commanding as she spoke to the dogs in flawless German. Missy and Sissy moved like they'd been waiting for this moment, sleek and lethal as they cornered the teens.
Brian rose slowly, his movements deliberate as his eyes narrowed on the scene. He stalked over to his car, fingers grazing the fresh scratches along the hood. His voice was low, deadly. "Oh, they did not."
The teens froze, pale and wide-eyed, as Brian turned, every inch of him radiating fury. "You've got ten seconds to explain yourselves before I let the dogs finish what they started."
The fathers of the kids arrived, puffed up and posturing, but Brian didn't even flinch. He stepped toward them, his tone sharp enough to cut glass. "Your brats just vandalized my car. PPD-trained dogs don't miss a target, and neither do I. So either they pay for the damage, or we take this to the police. Your move."
Dom and the crew flanked him, the silent, united front adding to the weight of his words. The fathers blustered, but Brian didn't budge, his confidence like a wall they couldn't scale. Finally, they backed down, dragging their kids away with mumbled threats.
Brian watched them go, shaking his head as he turned back to the group. "Cowards," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.
Izzy and Abby stood beside him, their smiles smug. "Told you we've got this," Abby said, giving Missy a proud scratch behind the ears.
Brian smirked, his pride for his daughters shining through. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."