The Protectors: Forever Allies Mafia Series, #1

By L.M. Payson

~ Derek ~

 

My best friend, Damien, and I retired from the United States Army Special Forces after a devastating loss.

 

We start our own security company and thrive, but the best part is that we get to keep our feet on home soil with our families. It's all we've ever wanted.

 

But fate is cruel and has never been kind. When she decides our lives are too perfect, she intervenes and takes everything from me. My entire world.

 

I'll stop at nothing to get my revenge…

 

~ Damien ~

 

Working with my best friend after retiring from the Army and starting a life with the one woman in the world meant for me is a dream come true.

 

But when tragedy strikes, my perfect life crashes down with epic spectacularity.

 

I try to be the level-headed strong one just like I always have been. But I'm not sure I'm coming back from my darkness this time…

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.M. Payson
• Release date: Apr 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798989366415

L.M. Payson

L.M. Payson started writing as a hobby when she was a preteen. She is an author of contemporary romance stories with twists and turns at every corner. Each story has spicy sex scenes that are for mature audiences only. Her mind is constantly creating new stories, and she decided to share them with the world. L.M. Payson does not only enjoy reading and writing, she enjoys painting when she has the time. You can always catch her with her phone in her hand snapping pictures to savor the memories and moments that she will cherish forever. She enjoys riding her horses, especially her personal horse, Apache. L.M. Payson has four horses on her farm that she enjoys and loves. Like writing, riding Apache brings her a sense of peace and relaxation. When she isn't writing, she enjoys making memories with her family and friends. Her family is everything to her. L.M. Payson spends time with her family taking care of their small farm in Colorado. On her farm, she has cows, chickens, ducks, horses, and dogs. L.M. Payson is a wife of 10+ years to a US Army Veteran. They have four children together, whom L.M. Payson homeschools. It is important to L.M. Payson that her children have the proper education, and she feels she can give that to them. Being a veteran's wife, L.M. Payson has learned family is not only blood, family is the people you choose to have around you. She has learned through pain and loss that being blood does not matter. It matters who is always there. L.M. Payson hopes her readers will find joy in reading her stories. She hopes her stories help them escape reality for a bit. Sometimes we just need a few minutes away from life for a refresh. There's no better way to do that than enjoy a book.

Book preview

The Protectors

Forever Allies Mafia Series

L.M. Payson

Copyright

Second Edition April 2023

Copyright © 2023 L. M. Payson

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author or the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents either are product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction of distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Disclaimer

Content Warning: Please read at your own discretion.

The Protectors may contain triggersfor some.

Trigger warnings include, but are not limited to:

Mature Content Not Suitable for Readers Under 18

Dark Themes

Mentions of Abuse

Violence

Kidnapping

Military Scenes

Placenta Abruption Causing Stillbirth (Due to Accident)

Death

Lactation/Adult Breastfeeding

Sex During Pregnancy

Unplanned Pregnancy

Accident Caused By Drunk Driver

Fertility Issues

Brief Mention of Alcoholism

Unresolved Grief

Abbreviations

SFC - Sergeant First Class

SSGT - Staff Sergeant

SGT - Sergeant

ETS - Expiration Term of Service

Chapter One

~Derek~

Three years ago

I'm at the barracks in my room lying in my bed when Damien, my best friend, asks me if I want to go to a club. We just returned to the States from a six-month deployment overseas and have only been on US soil for about two hours and are ready to converse with civilians.

After showering and getting ready, we get in my truck and head to the club. I'm twenty-one, getting ready to turn twenty-two. I haven't been to a club in a while, but it will be nice to go have a drink with my best friend. After a fairly short drive, Damian and I arrived at a club called Cowboys in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Ready, Derek?

Let's go up to the bar and get a drink. Maybe we can find some ladies to talk to, I grin.

What are you hoping for tonight? He wiggles his eyebrows teasingly.

I want to find someone to have a normal conversation with. I'm not looking for the one tonight, but a conversation won't hurt anyone.

Same. I'm not looking to get laid. I'm not like the other guys on our team and all about one-night stands.

I chuckle. Damien doesn't have a problem meeting women. The asshole is six foot two and has a body built like a linebacker. One wink from his brown eyes and women fall at his feet.

After we get our drinks from the bar, we find a table. Cowboys is packed because it happens to be Lady's night, but luckily, we find an empty table just as a beautiful woman and her friend approach us. The woman that catches my eye has long brown hair, curves in all the right places, and sapphire blue eyes. Her eyes are intoxicating and hypnotize me when I look into them. I feel like all the weight on my shoulders has been lifted. With a job like mine, I feel like I carry the weight of the world. It's exhausting.

Excuse me, would you mind if we joined your table? It's packed here, and we want to enjoy our drink before we hit the dance floor, the gorgeous beauty says to me in the most melodic voice I've ever heard.

Something in my gut stirs. Of course, you can. My name is Derek, and this is my best friend, Damien.

She smiles, and it makes her sapphire blue eyes sparkle. Hello, my name is Karina. This is my friend Jill.

Jill looks down nervously while playing with her thumbs. You guys are lifesavers. Some of the guys here give me the creeps. We asked if we could sit with you because you don't give off those dangerous vibes.

I watch as they both take a seat at the table. I'm glad to hear that, ladies. You have no reason to worry. Damien and I aren't like that. What do you ladies do for work?

I'm going to school to become a fashion designer, Karina replies.

My eyebrows shoot up. Wow, that's awesome!

I'm going to be a registered nurse. Jill smiles proudly.

That's a very highly demanding job. It's a taxing profession but also very rewarding. I wish you luck.

Jill rolls her eyes and scoffs. I can manage. What do you guys do?

We're soldiers and we're stationed at Fort Carson, I tell her.

We're part of Special Forces. We just got back from a six-month deployment. Most of our deployments are six months and involve things we can't discuss, Damien adds.

Karina smiles a smile that brightens my world. Welcome back, guys. I'm going to dance. Derek, would you like to join me?

I see Jill looking at Damien with seductive eyes. I don't think she's Damien's type. She's trying way too hard.

I wink at Karina. I would be honored to dance with you. Damien, are you going to be okay here?

It's impossible to say no. Since Karina approached us with Jill, I haven't been able to take my eyes off of her. Her beautiful eyes pull me in. She has the voice of an angel. Maybe she was sent to me.

Damien rolls his eyes. Yes, Jill and I will be fine. Go dance with Karina and have fun.

I know he's only hanging out with Jill to help me with Karina. Damien has been a great friend since I met him. I will forever be thankful for having him in my life.

Karina and I make our way to the dance floor and start dancing to Get Low by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. Karina starts rubbing her ass against my cock while we dance, and I'm gone. Holy shit. Somehow, this five foot four Goddess of a woman can reach my most sensitive parts even though I stand a foot taller than she does.

Every time she touches me, I feel sparks. I've had my fair share of girlfriends, but I'm experiencing something different now. Is this love? She turns to face me, wraps her arms around my neck, looks into my icy blue eyes, and starts kissing me.

Oh fuck. I kiss her back. Is it just the music? No fucking clue, but my body is on fire. I slide my tongue over her lips. She opens up for me. Her fingers lace into my black hair as we continue the tongue war. This kiss is so different from any other I've ever had. It is full of passion. My heart is racing, and I don't even know this woman.

How can a woman I just met have such an effect? I can see this woman breaking my heart later, but something tells me she's worth it. I need to get to know her.

Before I can change my mind, I stop our kiss, grab her hand, and pull her off the dance floor to talk. This is going to sound crazy. I have no idea when I'll be called to do a mission, but I want to take you out on dates. I really want to get to know you.

She looks at me with her sparkling, sapphire eyes. "I feel the same way. I want to give it a shot. I would hate