What do you think?
Protect
Hayes and Travis Caine are more than cousins, they’re best friends. Born thirteen days apart and raised like brothers on their family’s compound, the men share secrets that bond them in ways no one else notices.
As past traumas come to light, Hayes and Travis find more than safety and protection in each other’s arms. In the Caine family, betrayal is punishable by death, but sometimes betrayal and protection are intertwined.
Protect is Book One in the Caine Family Mafia series. It contains situations of violence and graphic sexual content. It is for adults 18+.
As past traumas come to light, Hayes and Travis find more than safety and protection in each other’s arms. In the Caine family, betrayal is punishable by death, but sometimes betrayal and protection are intertwined.
Protect is Book One in the Caine Family Mafia series. It contains situations of violence and graphic sexual content. It is for adults 18+.
ebook
Published January 1, 2026
About the author
Dallas Hawke
2 books8 followersDallas Hawke loves queer romance, wine, pizza, and popcorn. She enjoys reading dirty, taboo, smut almost as much as she loves writing it.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 19, 2026
Wow, i didnt know what to expect but wowza i was glued to my seat… i cant wait for the next books!!! I’m excited about Atticus! And Eli!!!! Oh maaaannnn
March 19, 2026
2.5 stars.
I really really wanted to like this book but it's one where the longer I sit with it the more of a mess it feels like.
You have a side character (one of the MCs younger brother) Eli who is mentioned more times then either "MC" and at some point it starts to get confusing who the book is even about. The entire story is centered around his abuse. Don't get me started on the fact Eli is 15 going on 16 during all of this.
The story itself is called Protect but you really get the feeling they're protecting Eli and not each other which is odd because Eli is a side character...
It also feels off to read a character that is supposed to be this hardened mafia prince who carries guns and drives an armored vehicle who also cries a lot and has panic attacks. Travis felt like he was written like murder twink but really started to feel like he was too emotionally unstable to be functional. That doesn’t really work in a crime family.
The spice was good in the beginning but then they have a whole scene where they're doing some light BDSM play and Travis gets mad at Hayes because he thinks if Hayes trusts him he doesn't need a safe word.... which is not how any of that works. Esp when both MCs have experienced pretty extreme sexual assault as children. (by each other forced by their uncle/dad)
The bones of this story are there but it really needed some more editing and work to make the story work because in its current state it doesn’t all fit together.
I really really wanted to like this book but it's one where the longer I sit with it the more of a mess it feels like.
You have a side character (one of the MCs younger brother) Eli who is mentioned more times then either "MC" and at some point it starts to get confusing who the book is even about. The entire story is centered around his abuse. Don't get me started on the fact Eli is 15 going on 16 during all of this.
The story itself is called Protect but you really get the feeling they're protecting Eli and not each other which is odd because Eli is a side character...
It also feels off to read a character that is supposed to be this hardened mafia prince who carries guns and drives an armored vehicle who also cries a lot and has panic attacks. Travis felt like he was written like murder twink but really started to feel like he was too emotionally unstable to be functional. That doesn’t really work in a crime family.
The spice was good in the beginning but then they have a whole scene where they're doing some light BDSM play and Travis gets mad at Hayes because he thinks if Hayes trusts him he doesn't need a safe word.... which is not how any of that works. Esp when both MCs have experienced pretty extreme sexual assault as children. (by each other forced by their uncle/dad)
The bones of this story are there but it really needed some more editing and work to make the story work because in its current state it doesn’t all fit together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
This is giving us taboo MM dark mafia with hurt/comfort and trauma, praise and k!nk exploration, and most importantly cousins who kiss. This is a full length novel that does contain some dark themes so be aware going into it. There’s also an abundance of family and I’m looking forward to potentially more from this new mafia world! It’s got drama, spice and everything (not so) nice and I really enjoyed reading Travis & Hayes’ story.
Travis and Hayes are called back to the family home when Hayes’ younger brother shows up beaten and bloodied on their doorstep. Tragic events from the past are brought to light, something Travis and Hayes had hoped to keep buried. After everything they’ve been through together, it ends up stirring up feelings they can no longer deny and they no longer want to. How can something that feels so right, be wrong.
Travis and Hayes are called back to the family home when Hayes’ younger brother shows up beaten and bloodied on their doorstep. Tragic events from the past are brought to light, something Travis and Hayes had hoped to keep buried. After everything they’ve been through together, it ends up stirring up feelings they can no longer deny and they no longer want to. How can something that feels so right, be wrong.
February 2, 2026
🍁🍁🍁
Join Hayes and Travis on their journey if you vibe with…
♥️ MM
🖤 Taboo | Cousins
♥️ Organized Crime | Mafia
🖤 Hurt | Comfort
♥️ Best Friends
🖤 Praise
Hayes and Travis have been throughouly traumatized. Still, their shared trauma is what makes their bond unbreakable.
Well, I enjoyed my first Dallas Hawke book; I felt Hayes and Travis’ story was more focused on Elias, Hayes’ brother, than it was on Hayes and Travis themselves. I am interested to see if we get more from this family and what secrets they are all hiding.
Join Hayes and Travis on their journey if you vibe with…
♥️ MM
🖤 Taboo | Cousins
♥️ Organized Crime | Mafia
🖤 Hurt | Comfort
♥️ Best Friends
🖤 Praise
Hayes and Travis have been throughouly traumatized. Still, their shared trauma is what makes their bond unbreakable.
Well, I enjoyed my first Dallas Hawke book; I felt Hayes and Travis’ story was more focused on Elias, Hayes’ brother, than it was on Hayes and Travis themselves. I am interested to see if we get more from this family and what secrets they are all hiding.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews