Protective phlox, p.1
Protective Phlox, page 1
Copyright © July 2024
PROTECTIVE PHLOX
California Made Men
Written by: Brooklyn Cross
FIRST EDITION.
ISBN Ebook: 978-1-998015-43-6
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Edited by: R. Mudawar
Cover Art: Dazed Designs
Book Cover Disclaimer: Individuals depicted in the images on the cover and anywhere are models and solely used for illustrative purposes.
This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without the author’s written permission. Author Brooklyn Cross.
This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events, or locales is purely coincidental. The characters, incidents, and dialogues in this book are productions of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.
The ideas represented in this book are not factual representations of anyone’s thoughts affiliated with Author Brooklyn Cross, or of any of the trademarked acknowledgments mentioned in this story. This story is simply a work of fiction.
Trademark Acknowledgements
The author Brooklyn Cross acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of familiar wordmarks, products, actors’ names, television shows, books, characters, video games, and films mentioned in this fiction work.
Created with Vellum
Also by: BROOKLYN CROSS
The Kings of Wayward Academy
(Academy/Slow Burn/Slow Build/Why Choose/Mafia - Dark 1-3 Spice 1-4 the dark and spice will progress more as the series continues)
Disobedient Pawn
Defiant Knight
Intolerable Bishop
California Made Men
(Mafia/MF/Spicy/Crossover with Wayward Academy - Dark 3-4 Spice 3-5)
Protective Phlox
Avenging Azalea (Coming 2025)
Pucking Snowed In Series of Standalone Novellas
(Hockey/Mafia/Spicy/MF - Spice 2-4 Dark 1-3 - Tie In with Kings of Wayward Academy)
Pucking Snowed In With My Ex
Pucking Snowed In With The Enemy
Pucking Snowed In With The Coach’s Daughter
Pucking Snowed In With The Mascot
Pucking Snowed In With My Best Friend’s Sister
Lost Souls MC
(Motorcycle Club - Dark 3.5-4.5 Spice 3.5-4.5)
Malice
Surrender
Showbiz (Coming 2025)
The Righteous Series
(Vigilante/Ex Military Romance - Dark 3-4 Spice 3-4)
Dark Side of the Cloth
Ravaged by the Dark
Sleeping with the Dark
Hiding in the Dark
Redemption in the Dark
Crucified by the Dark
Dark Reunion (Coming Soon)
The Consumed Trilogy
(Suspense/Thriller/Anti-Hero Romance - Dark 4-5 Spice 3-4)
Burn for Me
Burn with Me
Burn me Down
The Complete Trilogy
The Buchanan Brother’s Duet & Next Generation
(Serial Killer/Captive Horror Romance - Dark 4-5 Spice 3-5)
Unhinged Cain by Brooklyn Cross
Twisted Abel by T.L Hodel
Unhinged Kallie by Brooklyn Cross
Bourbon Boys Duet
(Serial Killer/Captive/ Suspense/Splatter Punk/Horror Romance - Dark 4-5 Spice 3.5-5)
Bloody Quarter by Brooklyn Cross
Burning Quarter by Melissa McSherry
The Battered Souls World
(Standalone Books Shared World Romance/Dramatic/Women’s Fiction/All The Feels- Dark 2-3 Spice 2-3)
The Girl That Would Be Lost
The Brothers of Shadow and Death Series
(Dystopian/Cult/Occult/Poly MMF Romance - Dark 3-4 Spice 3-4)
Anywhere Book 1 of 3
Anyplace Book 2 of 3 (Coming 2025)
Anytime Book 3 of 3 (Coming 2025)
Seven Sin Series
(Multi Author/PNR/Angel and Demons/Redemption - Dark 2-5 Spice 3-5)
Greed by Brooklyn Cross
Lust by Drethi Anis
Envy by Dylan Page
Gluttony by Marissa Honeycutt
Wrath by Billie Blue
Sloth by Talli Wyndham
Pride by T.L. Hodel
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Epilogue
Prologue
NATHANIEL
Paperwork, always fucking paperwork. It felt like that was all I ever did anymore. Well, that and had meetings that led to more paperwork. Getting to kill the odd fucker was the highlight of my life these days.
I glanced at the monitors and the people partying. Heart-shaped balloons filled the club as silver and pink confetti floated around with the wind machines. God, I hated Valentine’s Day. I hated it more now than before my time with Savannah. Every fucking February was a reminder of what I gave up for this family or what Savannah refused to give up for me. Either way, it bit my ass. It wasn’t that I didn’t love my family…most of them anyway, but Savannah had felt like my future, while the Mikhailovs were a merry-go-round of the same shit. Did they hold me back? I couldn’t tell anymore. Did I choose to continue to live this life because I loved it and was loyal to my family, or was it simply easier?
Everything had been simple before Savannah marched into my life, but now, with each year that passed, I wanted to reach out and see how she was doing. Was she married? My hand tightened on my pen. She’d better not be fucking married. Did she still think of me at all, or was I the only one who thought about our time together? Memories normally faded, but my time with her grew clearer with each year. I kept waiting for my heart to stop aching with a longing that I knew only she could fill, but it never did.
Fuck.
My phone dinged, and I jerked out of my thoughts. I had a message from Aaron, a stupid gif of a dog giving me a heart. Really? At twenty-eight, my life was reduced to getting dog gifs from my cousin. I should probably just agree to the arranged marriage my father was once more trying to set up. This was his third attempt in four years, and his persistence surprised me as much as it annoyed me. Why he cared, I had no idea. Ronan was going to marry whoever Father chose and take the throne, so what did it matter if I ever got married?
I shot Aaron a gif of a middle finger, and he laughed. I envied my cousin sometimes. His parents were killed when he was seven, which was how he came to live with us. It was a tragic situation, and yet he never had anyone telling him who to marry. In fact, my father was so lenient with Aaron that it bordered on favoritism.
The soft knock on the door made me sigh. No one ever bothered me with good news. “It’s open.”
“Boss?”
“Hey Goran, everything good down on the floor?”
“Yeah, the crowd is loving the extra additions, and the bar is making a killing.”
“Excellent, finally, some good news,” I said.
“About that…can I come in? I need to talk to you about something not club or business related.”
That caught my attention, and I looked up from the contract I’d been signing. “You know you can. For the last time, you’re my friend, not just an employee,” I growled, annoyed that he still acted like this after all this time. I’d grown up with Goran, but he’d also taken a bullet for me. Nothing solidified a friendship like that.
Goran stepped in and closed the door before walking closer. His face was pale, and his gaze darted around the room like he was avoiding looking me in the eyes.
“What’s wrong?” He opened his mouth and closed it again. “Shit, what the fuck is going on?” I stood from my desk, worry etching my mind. “Are you trying to quit? Are you dying of some terminal disease? Did you kill someone and need me to send out a clean-up crew?”
He sighed. “No, it’s nothing like that. Cesare is on the warpath again,” he said.
“Jesus fucking Christ. What is it this time? Does he think we stole his gifts out from under the tree at Christmas? Better yet, I hired the fucking Easter Bunny to shit on his lawn.”
“No. According to my sources, Aldo called Cesare from Italy and has been yelling from the rooftops that you’re a double agent and are trying to push Cesare out of the round table. You know that it doesn’t take much to get him stirred up.” What the hell did Aldo have to do with anything? I’d never even spoken to the man before. “He is also claiming that you’ve sent the FBI after him.”
My heart sped up with those three letters, but I didn’t know why he would think that. I’d only given over three names, and they were all people the council was trying to get rid of. To the best of my knowle
“I don’t understand. Why does Aldo think I’m after him and Cesare? I swear that family is more paranoid than my father, which is saying a lot.”
Goran cleared his throat, and I eyed the beads of sweat on his forehead. This had to be really bad, and I braced myself for the information.
“Aldo thinks you’re after him because there is a certain FBI agent, who you know, working in Italy. She may or may not have been involved with a raid where some of the Mancini family members were arrested. I don’t know if she was personally investigating them or just part of a larger team based in Italy.” I licked my lips. Shit, Savannah.
“Okay…well, I can solve this with a phone call,” I said and grabbed my phone.
“Wait…Nathan, that’s not all that’s going on.”
He stared at me and didn’t say anything more. I wasn’t even sure if he was still breathing, so I waved my hand. Goran swallowed hard. This wasn’t good. If he fucking said she was married, I was going to lose my mind. I could feel the pressure building in my head, worrying over what Goran would say next. “Just spit it out already before you give me an aneurysm.”
“Aldo didn’t want to wait for answers. He said he was done with Russian lies.” What the fuck was it with this guy? “He’s put a hit out on Savannah Freeborn.” Fuck, fuck, fuck. “And….” Goran paused. “Promise me you’re going to say calm, Nathan.” My brows knit together as he pulled out his phone. “You promise? Better yet, give me your gun. I don’t trust you not to shoot me.”
I waved at his hand. “What the fuck is this? Are you going to make me pinky swear next?”
“Fuck,” Goran mumbled. “Fine, but if you shoot me, just remember you’re losing an employee and a friend, your words.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and handed it over. One look at the image of Savannah brought back all the emotions I’d been trying so hard to bury. She had the same fire in her. It practically glowed around her. She was walking across the street, her strawberry hair blowing behind her, a commanding air to the way she held herself. Fuck, she was more beautiful than I remembered. The reaction was instant, and my body hardened, including my cock, as the memory of being buried deep inside of her came rushing back.
“I want this photo,” I said, rolling out my shoulders.
“You may not in a minute. Go to the next picture.”
I swiped to the next photo, and my world came to a halt. She was standing outside of a large private school holding the hand of a young boy who looked to be about four. He had midnight black hair and Savannah’s bright blue eyes, but the shape of his face, nose, and lips…he looked exactly like me. Oh my fucking god. I had a son. I had a son, and she didn’t tell me.
“Is this….” I couldn’t get the words out and pointed at the phone. Goran nodded.
“She named him Cutter Nathaniel Freeborn, but I did some digging before I came to speak to you. I didn’t want to blow up your world on a rumor. My sources were able to dig up his birth certificate. It wasn’t easy, but your name is on it. Aldo is trying to hit you where it would hurt the most. He’s out for blood. He knows that coming directly for you is too dangerous here on American soil, so the hit is not just for Savannah…it’s also for your son in Italy.”
I’d never tasted rage before, but I did now as I stared at my son’s face. Aldo and his men weren’t getting anywhere near what was mine. I rose from the desk and glared at Savannah’s image.
“You thought you could keep my son from me? Big mistake Savannah, big fucking mistake.” My glare met Goran next, and he took a step back. “Goran, get me Ricardo and then assemble a team of our best. We’re flying to Italy tonight.”
Chapter
One
SAVANNAH
“Come on, Cutter, we’re going to be late for school,” I called up the stairs and then rushed into the kitchen to continue making his lunch. Rushing and running around were not things I excelled at, and I swore and dropped the knife on the counter as I cut myself. “Dammit.”
Turning on the water, I ran my bleeding index finger under the spray. The dishtowel—the only thing in reach—became my wrap as I shut off the water and dashed across the kitchen to the drawer that held all the first aid stuff. I didn’t need this today.
I glanced over my shoulder as I put the antiseptic and sticky bandage on, but Cutter’s seat and bowl of cereal were still not touched. What was going on with him today? The rest of his lunch was made in record time. I didn’t know why NASCAR didn’t have mothers as their pit crew because no one could multitask at lightning speed the way we could. Stuffing the lunch into Cutter’s bag, I tore out of the kitchen and up the stairs, grabbed my jacket, and stuffed my arms through the sleeves as I went.
“Cutter, what’s taking so long?” Not only was Cutter always on time, but he was genuinely the greatest kid on the planet. I was sure every mother said that about their children, but it was as if Cutter had been born wise beyond his years. He creeped me out with how smart he was. It was great, but the words he said and used correctly were words I didn’t know until I was much older. It didn’t help that when he said these things seriously and with a tiny smirk on his adorable face, it felt like I was staring at a miniature version of Nathan.
Stepping into Cutter’s room, I found him sitting on the bed, dressed and ready for school, but his head was down as he held onto his Wolverine action figure. I walked over and sat down beside him.
“Hey, are you not feeling well?” He shook his head. “Are you having trouble getting ready?” He shook his head again. I wrapped my arm around his shoulders. “Then what has you so upset?”
He let out an annoyed sigh that had me biting my lip to keep from laughing. “Mommy, is Daddy really not coming home anymore?” My smile fell. Oh shit. “Why does he have to leave us?” His big blue eyes turned up to mine, and there was so much sadness in them that I almost burst into tears.
I knew when I took this undercover job that it was a risk bringing him with me, but I couldn’t leave him behind. My mother and I weren’t on speaking terms, and Nathan didn’t know about him. I needed to keep it that way until Cutter was old enough to understand.
It was supposed to be three to six months—tops. It wouldn’t have been a big deal, but Marko, getting deeper into the organization, created extension after extension. We’d tried to explain to Cutter that Marko was only Mommy’s friend—we were never intimate and didn’t even sleep in the same room—but he was still the only father figure he’d ever known. Marko was from the local office and had been undercover for over a year. He’d gotten in deep enough that dinners with family were expected, so they shipped me over here to be his pretend wife.
I’d grown to love Italy and was fine with staying, but I’d always worried what kind of toll it would take on Cutter when the job ended and Marko went home to his family while we flew back to the United States. Now, here I was, staring into Cutter’s sad eyes as guilt wracked every fiber of my being.
“We talked about this last night. Marko’s job is done, and he no longer needs to rent a room from us.”
When his lip pushed out and his eyes filled with tears, I wanted to take the last three years back. How could someone so young understand so much?
“But he was my daddy,” he said.
“Cutter, he isn’t your daddy. He is a really, really good friend. I know he’s going to miss you though. He told me before he left.”
“He has a family?” I nodded. “Can we just be part of his family?” I gave him a sad smile.
“It doesn’t work like that, Bud.”
Marko finally had enough information that a team raided and arrested twelve prominent members of a smuggling ring, including the right-hand man to Aldo Mancini, who was the head of the snake we’d been after here in Italy. But that also meant our time here at this house, pretending to be a happily married couple outside these doors, was over.
I needed to figure out how to explain all of this in a way that Cutter would understand, and at the moment, I was at a loss for the right words.
“How about we get you to school? After I pick you up this afternoon, we’ll go anywhere you want for dinner, and I’ll answer all your questions.”
“Anywhere I want?”
“Anywhere you want.” Smiling at him, some of the sadness lifted in his eyes as he nodded. “Perfect, go grab your shoes, and I’ll get you a blueberry bagel for breakfast. Would you like that?”
