Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (sight word books .txt) 📕

He took a picture of the machine with his phone. “I’m gonnasend Sal and Angel a picture. I’m sure Sal will research it to death before wemake any changes.”

Savannah placed her hand over Byron’s again and he turned to lookat her. She shook her head smiling sweetly. “He has it but thank you.”

Giving up, Byron put his card back into his wallet. What he’danticipated being an agonizingly awkward dinner didn’t turn out to be too bad.Except for hearing Savannah’s response to her dad about what he’d clearly beenasking about, the evening had gone far better than he’d expected.

They got to the parking lot and Savannah said goodbye toeveryone. They’d parked right next to her family’s SUV and her dad lingered fora minute asking Savannah a few more things as the rest of her family boardedthe SUV. Was she good on money, how the car was running, and something aboutcalling her grandmother because her elderly aunt wasn’t doing so well. Itdidn’t even dawn on Byron that her dad had been stalling until the rest of thegang was all settled in the SUV, doors and windows closed. Her dad opened Byron’spassenger side door to let Savannah in but placed his hand on Byron’s shoulder.Before starting around the car like he would’ve, Byron froze in place feelinghis heart rate spike.

Standing next to him again felt even more daunting now that theywere technically alone. The man was just about as big as Beast.

“Listen,” he said tightening his hold on Byron’s shoulder just abit, his intense eyes boring into Byron’s. “My boys have always dealt with any guyswho might give their sisters trouble. You know middle school and high schoolbullshit. Hell, you saw for yourself today even college stuff now that thegirls have graduated high school. You seem like a nice enough guy and I trusther judgement, but now that I know my little girl is seeing a twenty-five-year-oldman, not some college kid, it’s me you’ll be dealing with if you doanything to hurt her, understood?” Byron nodded swallowing hard. “And if youthink my son got hot in there because he thought someone messed with one of hissisters, that boy has nothing on the fury I’d unleash on any man whofucks with either of my girls’ hearts.”

“Alex, honey,” Savannah’s mom called out from her now rolled downwindow. “Time to go now.”

Before Byron could respond, the man’s expression eased up and heclapped Byron’s shoulder. “So, yeah.” Her dad begun to walk away. “Glad we gota chance to talk. Look forward to chatting with you again.”

“I’ve got nothing but good intentions, Mr. Moreno,” Byron said asher father walked away. “I’d never hurt her. You have my word.”

Her father turned just before walking around his SUV. “Perfect,”he said barely cracking a smile. “Then we should be good.”

“Holy shit,” Byron whispered under his breath as he waited forthe SUV to pull out so he could meekly wave at all of them one last time.

As a black belt in jiu jitsu Byron had no doubt he could hold hisown even against someone as big as Savannah’s dad. He might even be able totake on both her brothers at once if it ever came down to it. Despite them bothbeing much younger than him, they were still big guys who clearly didn’t takekindly to anyone messing with their sisters. If it weren’t for his nieces Byronwouldn’t even flinch at the no-bones-about-it threat from her dad. But becauseof them he knew, no amount of skill or brute strength could compete with thewrath of any man protecting his loved ones—especially a daughter. His brotherwas just that, a Beast when his temper flared, but when it came to his family,there’d be absolute hell to pay if anyone ever even attempted to hurtthem. Byron saw it tonight in both her brother’s and dad’s eyes. There was noquestion about it. If he were ever stupid enough to hurt Savannah they’d be outfor blood.

“The hell did I get myself into?” he muttered as he walked to thepassenger side door and opened it.

“Did he threaten you?” Savannah asked with a wince as soon asByron got in and he glanced down to push the ignition button. “Because as bigand scary as he might seem, he’s really just a big teddy bear. Hedoesn’t mean anything by it.”

If Byron’s head had jerked any more violently to face her big doeeyed expression, he might be wearing a neck brace for the next few weeks.

Seventeen

The Twins

Vannah

If a slap could describe a facial expression, Vannahwas certain her face would be stinging hot from Byron’s. But it was true. Her fatherreally was a sweetheart. Sure, he and her brothers could be a bit overbearingand over-the-top at times, but they meant well and would never do anything thatmight upset her or Nena. If he’d said anything that might upset Byron thatwould certainly warrant Vannah getting upset. So, whatever it is he’d said to himshouldn’t justify this kind of reaction from Byron, right?

Still wincing she sunk her teeth into her bottom lip. “What didhe say to you?”

To her surprise, he actually smirked as he exhaled loudly andpulled out of the parking space. “What any dad would say to a guy they just metwho’s dating their baby girl.”

“And what would that be?”

“Basically, if I hurt you, he hurts me.” Vannah gasped and Byronturned to look at her before pulling onto the street and shrugged. “It’s a fairwarning, babe. I’d do the same. Just took me by surprise, is all. Guess there’sa first time for everything and since I’ve never actually met any other chick’sdad, or entire family for that matter, I didn’t see that coming.”

Feeling her face heat, Vannah laughed nervously. “Well, you gottaknow it’s just an expression. He wouldn’t actually hurt—”

“The hell he wouldn’t.” Glad he was still smirking even thoughhis tone was as adamant as her dads could get. “I don’t doubt for a secondif I hurt you; he’ll hunt my ass down.” He turned to her the smirk softeninginto a smile. “Good thing the odds of that happening are zilch.” Turning backto