Free Her Tattooed Fighter by Jenika Snow Page B

by a truck, we’ll be fine.” Because there wasn’t any doubt in his mind he’d have some bruises and maybe even a broken bone or two once this was all said and done. He wanted to kiss her so fucking badly, but even if he didn’t care what anyone said about his relationship with Sunny, his wasn’t about to be disrespectful in Harlond’s house either. They needed to talk, and he needed to let the old man know he cared about his daughter, and she wasn’t just a lay to him.

Chapter Seven
     
    Sunny had watched London walk up to her dad and both of them disappear into one of the medical rooms. She really wanted to wait to tell her dad about being with London, but after Mack had found them almost having sex, she knew she wanted him to hear it from her, and not from Mack or through rumors. She just hoped London Stein wasn’t a mistake, because Mack would have been right, and she didn’t know if her heart could heal after something like that.  
    She cared for London, and those emotions grew every minute until she was drowning in them. Seeing this gentler side of him, one where he looked at her with adoration, and told her sweet things she could never imagine him saying, had Sunny realizing that there was so much more to London than what everyone around them saw. She was staring at the door they had gone behind when a touch on her shoulder had her spinning around. Mack stood behind her with a scowl on his face.
    “Can we talk?” Well, she knew this was coming, so she might as well get it over with. She nodded, and he tilted his head to the locker rooms again. Sunny followed him, and once they were inside and he turned and faced her, there was a moment of silence.
    “Just say it, Mack, so we can move past this.” His scowl deepened.
    “What in the hell do you think you’re doing messing around with London?” He sounded like her father, and she scowled.
    “Just stop right there.” She held her hand up. “I love you like my brother, Mack, but you’re not my father, so stop acting like it.” He didn’t respond, and suddenly she felt so exhausted from all of this. A sigh left her, and she leaned against the wall. “Okay, listen, I know why you’re upset, and I love you for being worried for me.” He opened his mouth to say something, but she lifted her hand to stop him. “I don’t want to hear about what London has done before we decided to try this out, whatever this is. No one’s perfect, and you calling him out on stuff I know you’ve done is pretty hypocritical.”
    “Yeah, but I’m not trying to get into your pants, Sunny girl.”
    “I’m an adult, can decide how I want to live my life, and know what the consequences are for those decisions.”
    “Sunny, we just don’t want you to get hurt.”
    “For as long as I can remember you and Dad have been telling me not to get involved with a fighter, that they are too rough and hardcore for me, but you fall into that category, and I think you are an amazing man. You sleep around just as much as the others, and I know how much you fight outside of the center in those underground events.” A flash of surprise crossed his face. “Don’t look too surprised. The guys talk around here, and they have pretty big mouths. I’m also not stupid, Mack.”
    “Sunny, I don’t think that.”
    “I’m also not some delicate freaking flower. I may not agree with you doing that, but I have never thought any differently of you because of it, Mack, and you shouldn’t either.” She rubbed her eyes, feeling so exhausted all of a sudden. “I know you’re just looking out for me, but please just let me find out for myself if this is a good or bad idea, okay?” It took Mack a long time to respond, but when he exhaled roughly and smiled almost reluctantly, she knew she had won him over, for right now at least.
    He pulled her into a hug and rested his chin on the top of her head. “I know you’re grown, and I don’t mean to father you, but you’re like my little