There isn’t a chance I’m letting Clara go off with these boys, but there’s a part of me that wants to see her make that decision. Needs to know she’ll choose me.
“You better get out of here before my uncle shows up. He won’t like other men talking to me.” She lifts her chin. “I don’t like it, either.”
The young men exchange a look that turns my stomach and they begin wading toward Clara again. “Come on, now,” says one of them. “You’re not being very friendly. We just want to make nice.”
I’ve heard enough. The blood in my veins is boiling, a roar pressing against the insides of my throat. Hands in fists, I storm the water and let loose a sound that carries clear across the lake, echoing off the mountains. The boys drop their poles and try to run, but I reach them in three quick lunges, catching them both by the collars and slamming their heads together. Taking advantage of their dizziness, I spin the first one around and cold cock him once, twice, letting him drop into the water. The second guy throws a right hook at me, but it’s like getting tapped by a fly swatter. He attempts to escape when I barely register his punch, but I don’t allow it. Oh no. I saw the way he looked at my niece and he’s going to pay.
One shot puts his lights out. His friend, who is only somewhat coherent, drags the man toward the shore. I start to follow, intending to inflict more harm, but Clara steps in front of me. “Don’t. Please.” Tears run down her cheeks. “Just hold me.”
My hands close around her shoulders and I give her a good shake. “I should paddle your ass, girl,” I grit out. “Where the fuck are your clothes?”
She chews her lip. “I was coming for a swim.” Her gaze moves lower to my chest and stomach, followed by a quick intake of air. “You’re not wearing a shirt.”
“So what?”
“I haven’t seen all the h-hair and tattoos before.” Under my watch, her nipples turn to little points inside the triangles of her bikini top, her eyes glazing over. “Y-you…I-I…like the way you look.”
My dick grows swollen behind my fly. Somewhere deep down, I expected her to find me an ugly bastard below the neck. I’ve got anchors and treasure maps and ship masts inked all over me, but half of them aren’t visible, thanks to the pelt of black hair on my arms and chest. She actually likes this? More than she likes the look of those two kids her own age? I shake myself. “Stop trying to distract me, Clara. You’re in trouble.”
“I know.”
“They were fittin’ to carry you off somewhere, goddammit.”
Her lower lips starts to wobble. “You have a cut under your eye.” She takes me by the hand and tugs until I follow her out of the water, my anger turning black at seeing how little of her ass is covered by the bikini bottoms. When we reach the shore, she goes down to her knees in the spot she left her backpack. She unzips the front pocket and pulls out a box of Band-Aids. I throw a glance across the lake to make sure the young men are long gone, and when I return my attention to Clara, I notice something. She’s holding the box right in front of her face, nose winkled, eyes squinted as she tries to find the opening.
“Clara.”
“Sorry, it’s so hard to find the little flap…”
I take the box out of Clara’s hands and pull her to her feet. “Answer me something.” She nods and waits as I take a few paces backwards, holding up the Band-Aids. “Read the red words near the bottom.”
She squints for a second, a pout playing around her mouth. “I can’t.”
When I see my brother and sister-in-law, I’m going to tell them they’re a couple pieces of shit. Seriously, how did they miss something this obvious while living with her every day? “You need glasses, girl. That’s why you’ve been falling down all over the damn place.”
Pink appears in her cheeks. “But…really? You think so?”
“We’ll go see the eye doctor today.” I toss the box toward her backpack, then pin her with a look. “This don’t mean you’re not in trouble.”
My leftover rage drains right out of me when Clara launches herself at me, wrapping her arms tight around my waist. “Thank you, Uncle Rex.”
With a grunt, I pull her closer, wondering how long the squeeze in my chest can last without killing me. “You want to go for a swim, you bring me with you next time. Men see a sweet thing barely clothed and alone, they don’t care that you belong to someone else. They just want to take.”
Her head comes up, face full of hope. “I wasn’t sure if you’d still feel the same in the morning. That’s why I came out here alone. I was worried.” She slides her fingers into my chest hair. “But…you said I belong to you.”