Page 54 of My Fixation

Xavier smiles softly. “For people who can’t help themselves.” His gaze shifts around the room. Taking in the Murphys one by one. “For people trapped in dangerous situations.”

“People who’ve fallen through the cracks,” Colton adds quietly.

“People everyone else forgot,” Xavier agrees.

I stare at them, trying to decide if they’re serious. Because what they’re describing sounds impossible. People don’t risk their lives for strangers. Not like that. Not without wanting something in return. Yet nobody in the room looks like Xavier has said anything unusual.

“Like vigilantes?” The question slips out before I can stop it. At this point, I’m pretty sure it’s the least ridiculous conclusion I’ve come to all night. Because what else am I supposed to think?

I’ve spent the last hour listening to stories about serial killers, cults, kidnappings, and rescues. Meanwhile, everyone else in the room is acting like they’re discussing the weather.

The room falls silent. Then Liam snorts. “Well, we’re definitely not superheroes.”

I glance around the room. “That wasn’t actually one of the options I was considering.” The laughter that follows is immediate.

“Sweetheart.” Alessia’s voice immediately draws my attention. The room seems to soften whenever she speaks. “My sons, my nephew, my husband, and my brother-in-law all have a very particular set of skills.”

“They’ve spent years honing those skills,” she continues. “And they have the mental fortitude to do things most people simply can’t.” Her gaze moves around the room. Lingering on each man in turn with pride. Pure, unmistakable pride.

“Some people might call that vigilantism.” Her shoulders lift in a small shrug. “Maybe they’re right. But when I look at them, I don’t see vigilantes.”

Her eyes settle on Kieran first. She pats the hand she is holding. “I see men willing to put themselves in danger so someone else doesn’t have to.” The conviction in her voice steals the breath from my lungs. “I see men who refuse to look away when someone needs help.” Her gaze finally returns to me. Softening immediately. “I see men who save people.”

The words settle heavily in my chest. Because nobody in my life has ever talked about people like that. With that kind of certainty. That kind of love. And for the first time, I begin to understand why every person in this room would walk through fire for her.

“That’s enough story time for tonight.” The deep voice cuts through the room, immediately drawing my attention. Duncan. It’s the first thing I’ve heard him say all evening. Which somehow makes the words carry more weight. Unlike the others, Duncan hasn’t spent the evening talking. He’s simply sat there listening, watching. Observing everything around him with an intensity that borders on unsettling.

The man is every bit as intimidating as the rest of the Murphy men. Maybe more. The others at least smile occasionally. Duncan looks like he was carved from stone and forgotten there.

“Jaxon.” His dark eyes settle on me. Not unkindly. The way a man might look at something he’s already made up his mind about. “We will do everything necessary to protect you.” The statement is simple. Matter-of-fact. Like he’s discussing dinner plans. Then he glances around the room. At his family. “And each other.”

No one disagrees with his statement. Like protecting one another is so deeply ingrained that it doesn’t need discussion. It’s just understood.

My chest tightens. Because I’ve spent what feels like hours trying to convince these people that I’m not worth the risk. And not a single one of them seems interested in listening. How can what they are telling me be real?

“I’ve had the most experience dealing with people like this.” Duncan’s voice remains calm. Steady. The kind of calm that somehow makes him more intimidating. “So I’ll be working with Conor to take care of the matter.”

The room barely reacts. Most of them simply nod. As though that’s a perfectly normal thing to say. Unfortunately, I’m sitting in a room full of lunatics.

“Take care of the matter?” I ask. Several pairs of eyes turn toward me. Duncan’s expression doesn’t change. Not even a little.

“Yes.” That is somehow less helpful than I expected.

“What exactly does that mean?” The question hangs in the air. For a moment, nobody answers. Then Duncan slowly turns his head toward me.

“It means we will do what is necessary to ensure your safety.” The matter-of-fact way he says it sends a chill down my spine. Duncan studies me for a second. Then cocks his head slightly. Like he’s confused about why we’re still discussing this. Like I’ve asked, why do people wear coats in winter?

“You seem concerned.”

I stare at him. “You think?” Across the room, Finn snorts. Liam immediately starts laughing. Even Conor’s shoulders shake slightly beside me.

Duncan remains completely serious. “I fail to see the issue.”

“So what’s the plan?” Conor asks.

Duncan doesn’t hesitate. “We find Henry and determine whether Manny is involved or if someone else is pulling the strings.” He says it like he’s reading items off a grocery list. “If Henry is acting on his own, we remove him from the equation.”

It takes me a full second to process what he actually said. Then another. My gaze slowly moves around the room.