“Well.” Huck looked at Potter, Pike, and Zephyr. “Remind me never to fuck with Meggie.”
“Diesel?” Rebel called.
Their group parted, revealing his little sister standing in the archway, leaning on Kaia, in one of her peignoir sets.
CJ frowned. She looked both sweet and innocent and like a girl that guys wanted to date.
Diesel’s fierce glower rivaled Dad’s as Rebel hobbled toward Diesel without Kaia’s assistance. CJ would’ve hung back too if he had two motherfuckers looking at him like Dad and Diesel were staring at Kaia.
Rebel greeted Uncle Val, nodded to Dad, and ignored everyone else.
Diesel scowled at her.
“Lean down, fuckhead,” she said crossly. “I have something to tell you.”
“Did you ask him yet, Reb?” Axel’s frightened little voice blared down the hallway.
Growling like a fucking grizzly, Dad started forward.
“Wait, Daddy!” Rebel called, turning toward him.
Ignoring Diesel’s death stare, Kaia hurried to assist Rebel as she rushed to Dad as fast as she could.
“Just listen to me,” Rebel said to their father.
“Fuck no, Reb. You know what that little motherfucker did.”
“I have a right to due process, Dad,” Axel called. “That’s why I need my fucking attorney.”
“You have a motherfucking right to have your fucking ass beat,” Dad roared, appeasing CJ’s need for revenge. Finally, that little fuckhead would face punishment for his fucking crimes. “Diesel not fuckin’ gettin’ you off.”
“I didn’t mean to blow up the bathroom.”
“You planted that motherfucker. You meant to do it.”
“He didn’t,” Rebel insisted. “It was to warn Diesel. When he moved it, it must’ve destabilized the contents.”
Jesus Christ.
Jesus.
Christ.
Floundering for a response, Dad lost his color.
“Goddamn,” Diesel whispered. “Axel could’ve blown himself the fuck up.”
Rebel nodded. “Mom brought him, Ryder, and Ransom to my room. The boys are really upset, Daddy.” She lowered her voice. “Mom wants them punished, but she told me to get Diesel. What could’ve happened hasn’t dawned on Axel, but Ryder and Ransom understood the moment they heard his explanation and Mom’s trying to ease their fear. This could’ve been so bad. We could’ve lost him.”
A sobering reminder that went over everyone’s head in the heat of the fuckery.
“Your ma must be so upset,” Dad croaked.
“A little,” Rebel admitted, instructing Kaia to help her to the bench. “Narci, would you know how to remove this cast? My foot and ankle should be healed and it is so fucking cumbersome.”
“It involves a medical saw and other tools, Reb,” Narci said.
“They’re different from regular saws,” Rebel responded. “They’re designed to minimize harm to the skin underneath.”
