“Harls!” Axel cried, seconds later, running to her and hugging her as Ryder and Ransom followed him in.
Mortician had forgotten the kid was on his way.
“I wanted to check on you and I couldn’t afford flowers, so I found this for you.” Axel held up a pinecone.
“Now isn’t the time,” Bailey said stiffly. “Please leave.”
Mortician was so fucking exhausted. He didn’t even have it in him to agree or disagree with Bailey’s decree. If she wanted him fucking killed, he was through trying to convince her that she played a dangerous fucking game.
“Hey, Aunt Bailey,” Axel greeted once Harley took the pinecone.
“Leave,” Bailey said again.
“We can go up to my room,” Harley offered.
“No!” Bailey screeched. “This is trespassing.”
“Fuck, Bailey,” Mort said tiredly as Axel ran to Ryder and Ransom and whispered to them.
“Leave now, boys,” Bailey ordered. “We were in the middle of a family discussion.”
Axel marched back to Bailey. “My men tell me trespassing means I’m here without your permission.”
“Little dude—”
“Shhhh, I got this, Uncle Mort,” Axel said.
“Quiet!” Bailey declared. “You’re disrespecting Lucas with your bullshit.”
Axel stiffened. “I am not! Take that back, Aunt Bailey.”
“You’re just proving my point. You’re as disrespectful as your asshole of a big brother.”
Ryder lifted his dark blond brows. “You’re calling CJ an asshole?”
“He’s that and more,” Bailey spat. “He deserves whatever he gets for being a motherfucker.”
“CJ istoonice, so shut up, stupid,” Axel said.
“Hey, little dude,” Mortician said sternly. “Enough.”
Bailey slid out of her seat and pointed to the door. “Get out before I throw you out. You’re hurting my ears with your nonsense.”
“Listen to me first or I’m calling my dad,” Axel said.
That was the last fucking thing Mortician wanted.
Bailey smirked at Axel. “He’ll agree—”
“Hemight,” Axel said darkly. “But Mom won’t, andhe’sstopped being a stupid motherfucker. That means, Aunt Bailey, Mom will have Uncle Mort killed and make you watch if CJ gets anything from you. So what will it be? Your ears or Uncle Mort’s head?”
MorttoldBailey, and warned her, and talked until he didn’t know what the fuck to say. She refused to listen to him and the little motherfucker wasn’t about to shut up. He’d taken on his daddy and won. No other motherfucker stood a fucking chance.
“You wouldn’t,” Bailey said faintly.
“You like to bet?” Axel replied.
“That’s your uncle! Harley is supposedly your friend. You’d take her father from her to have your fucking way?”
