Fierce Protector: Hard to Handle trilogy, Book 1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

motioned to Flynn to drink up. “You know,” CJ reminded them, “Zack’s momma had a tough time off of his dad. Showed up here a few times looking like they went three rounds, only he weren’t wearing no gloves, ya know?”
    “I remember,” admitted Flynn. “He just hates that shit. Can’t even watch a girl in a movie getting a beating. Just flicks a switch in him, or something.”
    “Well, fellas,” said CJ thoughtfully. “I think – just right now - it’d be a good idea to keep Mr. Norcross away from things that flick his switch.” He slid the shotgun back onto its shelf under the bar. “Let him take out his aggression in the ring, like he used to.”
    “He is,” Flynn replied. “He got his membership back and he’s been training there twice a week.”
    “Well that’s good,” said CJ, clearing away their empty glasses.
    “Yes and no,” said Mitch, bring a raised eyebrow from the barman. “They said he’s different from before. More . . . angry, the guy said. Meaner.”
    “You can see it in his eyes,” Flynn confirmed. “It’s almost like he wants revenge or something.”
    CJ shook his head. “Got to handle him with kid gloves,” he said. “They all just need to be real careful.”

Chapter 4 – Collect Caller
Stockdale, TX
Friday
    Her phone had been ringing for nearly a minute when she finally found it at the bottom of her bag. “Oh, God , not again.” Eva sent the call to voicemail for the third time that morning. “Leave me alone ,” she breathed. The old Pontiac started without complaint, and Eva pulled out into the patchy traffic of a Friday lunchtime. Her second shift at Cheryl’s Bakery had been exhausting, in no small measure because of the 5:30AM start, but her new boss couldn’t have been happier. Once the rolls and cookies were in the oven, Cheryl had sent her to bus tables and ring up some checks. She learned quickly, smiled almost all the time, and enjoyed meeting the morning crowd, all of whom had a friendly word of welcome.
    Eva relaxed into the drive. She had changed out of her work-wear – apron, hairnet, short-sleeved white blouse and white, draw-string cotton pants – and was in her more familiar jeans and a comfortable sweater. She turned on the radio and hummed along for a while, scanning the road carefully as she always did. One of the older male customers had called her ‘pretty as a peach blossom’, which had made her day. Glancing in the mirror she found, for the first time in a while, that she liked what she saw. Tyler’s big breakfasts were putting meat back on her bones, and her color had improved the instant she had left Illinois.
    The phone rang again. Eva growled angrily but decided to take the call; at least, here in the car, nobody else would hear and, if she needed to yell at Hank, she could do so without raising any concerns. With the new law in place, she had to pull over into a farm entrance before reluctantly pushing the green button.
    “Hank, for the love of God, what do you want?”
    “How’s that for sisterly kindness?” asked the voice on the line. “You’re a tough lady to get a hold of.”
    “I’ve been at work, Hank,” she explained as if to a child. “You remember, the thing that most people do where they leave their house, contribute to society, and bring back a paycheck?”
    Hank gasped. “Sounds awful. What kinda work?”
    The less he knew, Eva had learned, the smaller a problem he would be. Hank had been mooching off his sister for two years, and her patience had expired long before. There were, in truth, a whole list of reasons why she had left Illinois, but Hank was certainly on that list. “Never you mind,” she replied sternly. “I’m more interested in what work you’re going to be doing.”
    “Oh, I’m doing fine,” he said, although Eva was skeptical as usual. “I got a nice job lined up and I’m going to be making more than enough.”
    Yes, I’m sure crime pays better than getting a real job , she