She clutched Harley, who gripped Mattie just as fiercely.
Rebel got to her feet and planted herself in front of her cousins. “Leave us alone,” she ordered.
“Who’s the red head?”
“Uncle Johnnie’s daughter,” Rebel said flatly.
“Mattie?” he breathed.
“Younger thanme.”
“Tio!”
At the sound of Mr. Hottie McThottie’s voice—aka Easton DeLuca—Tio growled.
“Get the fuck inside and leave our cousins alone.”
“Make me, Pounder,” Tio spat. “We’re just having a conversation.”
Pounder? Gross. Rebel preferredhernickname to his road name.
“Is that true, Rebel?” Easton asked.
“It was a fucking forced conversation,” Rebel said. She needed to get her bearings again. Just knowing Tio saw her…God, that meant he’d probably seen Mattie and Harley, too. “I didn’t want to talk to him.”
“You’re in my fucking way. I couldn’t be rude.”
“But you can be dead,” Easton snapped. “I saw you walk out. Diesel was otherwise occupied. He will fucking kill you this time.”
Fear and hesitation crossed Tio’s face, before he spat. “Fuck Diesel.”
“I dare you to say that to his face,” Rebel said. Whatever else Diesel was, he had a reputation for vicious brutality.
“I’ll say that and more to him.”
Easton sighed. “Bash wantspeace, you arrogant little motherfucker. Don’t ruin it because you end up getting yourself killed. Leave our cousins alone, which, by the way, they all are.”
Tio stared at her, then walked so close to her that his body brushed hers. When he thrust his face into hers, Easton cursed. Behind her, Mattie and Harley squeaked. Rebel lifted her chin and held her ground.
It crossed her mind to shove him and throw him off-balance. But she didn’t want to find out the consequences of those actions. Besides,Easton was right. They were there because the two clubs had reached a peace agreement, and Daddy was trying to accept his long-lost brother and sister into the family.
Peace meant life would be good again with no chance of Daddy losing his mind and Momma leaving.
“Get the fuck inside, Tio,” Easton ordered.
He gave Rebel another vicious smile and half-turned. “Until the next time,” he said, and limped toward Easton.
Rebel turned to Mattie and Harley. Not knowing what to say because she was shaken up too, she opted for a group hug. For the hundred thousandth time, she reminded herself that she was fine and that Mattie and Harley had suffered much more than she had.
“Let’s sit.” She pointed to the edge of the landing where Mattie first found her. “I hope dinner is served soon.”
“Me, too.” Mattie cleared her throat. When she spoke again, she almost sounded normal. “I’m hungry.”
Once they sat with Rebel between Mattie and Harley, she grabbed both their hands. “Together again.”
“Yeah,” Harley said. “I know you probably don’t believe me, but I’m so sorry for everything I did.”
“Life’s short,” she said again. The encounter with Tio only reinforced that idea. He was still healing, so she probably would’ve gotten the upper hand. But he wouldn’t always be injured. She would tell CJ what happened later. “I forgive you, Harley. Not just for now because of what happened, but completely. Don’t hurt me, CJ, or Uncle Mort like that ever again.”
