answers immediately with a shake of his head. “But he’s mean to Cassidy all the time.”
“Who’s Cassidy?” When a protective flare darts through his eyes, the truth smacks into me. “She was the little girl with the bunny.”
Although I’m not asking a question, Bobby nods as if I am.
“Do you want to protect her, B?”
He nods again. “Yeah. I don’t like it when she cries. It makes me sad.”
I rustle his sweat-slicked hair, loving the empathy in his eyes. It proves what I’ve always known—your DNA has nothing to do with your ability to have a caring, loving soul.
After removing a pad from my hand, I quickly clear away a tear sitting high on Bobby’s cheek, then ask, “Do you know what’s making her upset?”
He fights with all his might to hold in his tears when he answers, “No, but I think I can help her if I know how to fight.”
Since there’s some truth in his reply, I say, “Okay. I’ll teach you how to fight…” His bright smile sags a little when I add, “… but I can’t teach you how to properly protect Cassidy if I don’t also show you how to take care of yourself. If you’re willing to fight for her, B, you’ve also got to be willing to fight for yourself. Do you think you can handle that?”
He nods his head extremely quick.
“All right, then let’s get started.” After removing the second protective pad from my hand, I tug off Bobby’s gloves before pulling him into my chest. My hug breaks his little heart, but I know better than anyone that it’s for the best. “It’s okay to cry if you’re sad. Just like it’s okay to get mad. Don’t hold them in, B, or one day you’ll crack.” He laughs through the tiny sobs breaking free from his throat. “Even when you are protecting, honoring, obeying, and serving, you’re still you. Don’t ever forget that.”
“I won’t, Daddy,” he replies, hugging me tighter. “I won’t ever forget.”
As the wetness of his tears soaks my shirt, I remember the words Mr. Gregg spoke to my father many moons ago.
Don't wait until your son is a man to make him great.
Make him great as a boy.
Mr. Gregg had to take up the challenge for me. Mercifully, Bobby will never face that burden. He’s my son, and I’ll protect, honor, obey, and serve him as well as I will his mother, his baby sister, and his grandmother. I will love him until the end of time, even on the days it hurts because that’s precisely what I’ve done the past twenty-four years.
The End!
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Rico, Asher, Isaac, Hugo, Hawke, Ryan, Cormack, Enrique & Brax stories have already been released, but Grayson, Julian, Phillipa, and all the other great characters of Ravenshoe will be getting their own stories at some point during 2019/2020.
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Message from the Author
Jesus, that was book twenty in the Enigma Series. TWENTY! Like, WTF. I’m so sad this series is now done. We still have many great side characters to explore, but because they’re not essentially attached to Isaac and Isabelle, they will not be part of the Enigma Series. That makes me sad, but in a way, I’m also proud.
If you made it this far, you read all twenty of the books in this series. That makes me damn proud of myself. To have people read that many books and not grow bored feels phenomenal. And let’s not get me started on if you’ve read all 42 of my titles or my head might not fit through the door anymore.
I am so humbled by your support. It has been an awesomely crazy four years.
I can’t see what the next four years brings.
Talk soon,
Shandi xx
Acknowledgments
To all the peeps who make this happen, a huge thank you.
To my editor, Nicki @ Swish Design and Editing, my mom, the alpha readers, beta readers, and the people who download my books without even reading the blurb. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I truly appreciate you from the bottom of my heart.
You rock!
I can’t do an acknowledgement page without mentioning the man who makes this all possible. To my husband, Chris. Thank you for being you, and for being my number one fan before I had written a single word. I love you, boo. Today, tomorrow, and forever.
Shandi xx
About the Author
Shandi Boyes is a USA Today Bestselling Author who was an avid reader for many years before she discovered the love of writing in February 2016. Her first penned novel 'Saving Noah' is a new adult rockstar romance that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat until the very last word.
In September 2016, her focus shifted to hot alpha men in steamy contemporary reads that sizzle off the pages. Shandi's novel 'Enigma' is an award-winning story about an FBI agent and the subject she was assigned to investigate. Her men are swoon-worthy, devoted, and alpha; and her heroines are strong-willed, determined, and loveable. You should start her stories first thing in the morning, or you may not sleep.
You will laugh and you will cry, but Shandi's characters will stay with you for a lifetime!
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Also by Shandi Boyes
Perception Series:
Saving Noah
Fighting Jacob
Taming Nick
Redeeming Slater
Saving Emily (Novella)
Wrapped up with Rise Up (Novella - should be read after Bound)
Enigma:
Enigma of Life
Unraveling an Enigma
Enigma: The Mystery Unmasked
Enigma: The Final Chapter
Beneath the Secrets
Beneath the Sheets
Spy Thy Neighbor
The Opposite Effect
I Married a Mob Boss
Second Shot
The Way We Are
The Way We Were
Sugar and Spice
Lady in Waiting
Man in Queue
Couple on Hold
Enigma: The Wedding
Silent Vigilante
Hushed Guardian
Quiet Protector
Bound Series:
Chains
Links
Bound
Restrained
Psycho
Russian Mob Chronicles:
Nikolai: A Mafia Prince Romance
Nikolai: Taking Back What's Mine
Nikolai: What's Left of Me
Nikolai: Mine to Protect
Asher: My Russian Revenge
Nikolai: Through the Devil's Eyes
Trey: European Redemption
RomCom Standalones:
Just Playin'
The Drop Zone
Ain't Happenin'
Christmas Trio
Falling for a Stranger
Coming Soon:
Skitzo
Trey