“Who else?”
“Me,” CJ said quietly. “I want her to do it, too.”
“Of course you do. It’ll complete my shame and humiliation.”
Rebel pasted a smile on her face. “Don’t you mean Harley’s shame and humiliation, Auntie?”
“No, I said it right. Please do not call me auntie. No one will care aboutyourdisrespect and disregard for everything. Of course it had to beHarleybeat up and with the mortifying videos.”
“Do you need fucking glasses or do you not see me beat the fuck up?” Rebel snapped, forgetting herself. “Rule beat the fuck out of meandMomma.”
“Spare the rod, spoil the child,” Aunt Bailey replied.
“Oh, please don’t quote bible verses around me,” Rebel ordered. “It has to be a sacrilege coming from a wicked witch like you.”
“Meggie should be ashamed of herself for raising such fucking devils.”
“Mommie—”
“Quiet, Harley!” Aunt Bailey barked, polluting the air with fumes of alcohol.
“I want to get Nardo, but I’m afraid,” Harley said around sniffles. “Can you tell me what to do, Mommie? Please.”
“So, now you want my fucking advice? A few weeks ago you told me we were both women.”
“I’m sorry—”
“Save it, Harley Vivian. This is the worst thing you could’ve done to me and our family.”
Rebel leaned forward and squinted, pointedly looking at Aunt Bailey. “Nope. Don’t see a single bruise on you. So I’m pretty sure nothing has been done toyou.And,for the record, this isn’t about you.”
“Unlike Meggie, I care when my daughter acts as if she has no morals.” Aunt Bailey pinned Harley with an accusing look. “I hope you’re proud of what you’ve become. Instead of working on yourself while you were living with Zoann, you fell completely.You. No one else—”
“Aunt Bailey, I have videos floating around of me, too.” Rebel refused to include Mattie since it wasn’t her story to tell. If Mattie felt comfortable sharing, that was her call. “It isn’t only Harley.”
When her mother didn’t respond, Harley pulled away from Rebel and looked at CJ. “What do you think I should do?”
“It isn’t up to him,” Aunt Bailey screeched. “He’s a kid like you and has no say-so in your life.”
“Then who the fuck is it up to, Aunt Bailey?” Rebel yelled. “Harley askedyoufirst.”
Aunt Bailey drew in a deep breath and opened her mouth, but CJ addressed Harley before her mother spewed more bullshit.
“We need to find Nardo and his father, bae,” CJ said, offering Harley a gentle look. “They can’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe.”
“He can release the videos,” Harley whispered.
“Most of which were coercion by Willard,” CJ started.
Rebel rolled her eyes. How the fuck did that matter? It would still humiliate Harley.
She hung her head. “Not me and Ryan, though. I-I liked Ryan,” she admitted in a small voice.
“Fuck him,” CJ exploded. “He’s a fucking fuckhead.”
“Already established, brother,” Rebel said, lifting a brow at him, hoping he got the message to shut the fuck up.
“Look in the mirror and blame yourself for my daughter’s state, CJ,” Aunt Bailey spat.
