Keeping the can directed on Everest, she said, “Get behind me,Ness.”
When I didn’t, she stretched out her arm and tried to force me back. Worried about my uncle’s reaction, I pressed her arm down and whispered, “It’s okay,” even though itwasn’t.
A frown worked itself onto my aunt’s smooth, milky skin. “Who’sshe?”
Evelyn glared at her. “Who areyou?”
“People I used to know,” Imuttered.
“We’re her family,” Jebsaid.
Evelyn cocked a penciled eyebrowup.
“They’re the reason Mom and I had to leaveBoulder.”
“And you are, Ma’am?” my uncleasked.
“Evelyn.”
Lucy crossed her thick freckled arms, and a column of metal bangles clinked against each another. “And you know Nesshow?”
“She’s been playing the role you guys failed so miserably at,” I said through gritted teeth. “If anyone should be my legal guardian, it should be her, notyou.”
Evelyn glanced over her shoulder at me, then back at my uncle. “I will gladly be her legal guardian. Entrust her tome.”
My heart bounded at thepossibility.
“I’m not entrusting Ness to a person I don’t know from Eve or Adam.” Jeb shook hishead.
“Why not?” I asked. “Iknowher.”
Jeb slapped the kitchen countertop. “That’s not how it works. Now you start packing right away, young lady, or—or—”
I could tell from the strain around my uncle’s eyes that I was chipping away at his patience, but he had to understand I wasn’t the submissive pup he could kick aroundanymore.
I raised my chin. “Orwhat?”
“Or Everest will carry you out to the car,” Jeb said in a quietroar.
“He wouldn’tdare.”
Everest shot me a brazensmile.
Crap.Hewoulddare.
“Evelyn’s been here for me when you guys haven’t! I am not leavingher.”
She wrapped her calloused fingers around my wrist. “Shh,querida.”
“Then I guess we’ll be taking her along,” Everestsaid.
I blinked at my cousin. “No one’s takinganyone—”
Jeb tipped his head toward Everest. My cousin slapped the can of pepper spray out of Evelyn’s fingers, then shackled the fists I swung at him, pinning them against myback.
“Take your hands off me!” I tried to tear my wrists out of his grasp, but the action was as futile as a hanging man trying to loosen anoose.
“Sorry, Cuz. No cando.”
