“Are you going to tell them?” I croak out.

Fear creeps into me like a shady snake at the thought of losing Cassidy because her family doesn’t approve of me. Losing her would be a slit to the heart.

“Not my business to tell.” Maliki levels his gaze on me. “All I’m saying is, if you haven’t told her your past, you should. Not only is one brother a cop but Rex can also hack into anything. Give the guy your first name, and in five minutes, he can provide every digital move you and your family have made your entire lives. Cassidy is a good girl—sarcastic and mouthy as shit, like her sister, but she has a heart of gold. Don’t fuck her over.”

Our conversation is interrupted by the sound of Cassidy arguing with someone in the other room.

“He’s a fucking criminal, Cassidy,” Kyle roars from down the hallway.

He managed to keep things casual the rest of dinner but didn’t mutter a word in my direction or glance at me again. I had no doubts that he was waiting for the perfect moment to get Cassidy alone to warn her about me.

“Oh shit,” Maliki says, shaking his head. “And here we go.”

I stand and head in the direction of their voices.

“How do you know that?” Cassidy asks.

“Everyone knows who the Callahans are,” Kyle replies. “They were all over the news!”

“You don’t know the entire story,” Cassidy argues.

“What don’t I know?” Kyle’s voice rises. “He was in prison. Did he tell you that?”

“He did.”

I reach the doorway of the room they’re in to find her facing off with Kyle, her arms crossed.

“And in case you forgot, I was also arrested,” Cassidy adds.

Kyle shakes his head. “Big difference. You didn’t go to goddamn prison.”

“White-collar prison,” Rex corrects, and my gaze tears across the room to find him sitting in the corner, watching the show in front of him. “Dude, you know that’s two different things. He didn’t fucking murder someone.”

Rex, I fucking like you.

“Prison is prison,” Kyle snaps.

“I’m not having this conversation with you,” Cassidy says.

Kyle crosses his arms, mirroring her stance. “Do you want me to call Dad, so you can have that conversation with him instead? We can let him know you’re hanging out with convicts.”

“Oh, don’t try to bullshit me.” Cassidy snorts. “You wouldn’t call Dad if your dick was on fire and he had the last glass of water to put it out.”

Rex scoffs, shaking his head. “That was a good one, sis.”

Having had enough, I place my knuckles against the door, tapping lightly to make my appearance known. This isn’t how I wanted to meet the fam, but I’m not going to sit back and allow Cassidy to take the heat for my actions.