“You aren’t helping her, Axel,” CJ said. “If you stop antagonizing her, she might shut up.”
“Nope,” Jasper, Ophelia’s oldest boy said. “Once Winnie starts, she can go for hours.”
“Yeah, because Uncle Cash is her dad,” Axel grumbled.
Cash stiffened. “I resent that.”
“Yeah, cuz I got to do everything around this motherfucker,” Axel responded. “Winnie’syourdaughter, Uncle Cash, but who does she run to? Rebel. After sitting in that fucking chair all night like a dead statue.”
“Do you know a fucking live statue, Ax?” Ryder asked.
Axel nodded. “I saw this porn girl and she was going all around stuffs and standing still like a statue, then when dudes would come around, she’d take off her coat.” He sidled a glance at Rebel. “And do stuffs. A lot of stuffs.”
Ransom and Ryder snickered. Bash’s gaze was traveling back and forth between the Terrible Triplets as if he couldn’t fucking believe his ears.
“I don’t won’t you around my innocent daughter, Axel,” Cash said, on edge for some reason.
“Good, cuz I don’t want to be aroundher, Uncle Cash.”
The words must’ve sank into Winnie’s head because she turned to Axel and wailed louder. “But you’re my friend! I love you.”
Axel raised his hands to keep her from touching him. “If you loved me, you wouldn’t hurt my fucking ears.”
Johnnie got to his feet and headed to the bar. “Said with all the mercy of one of Christopher’s sons.”
“What doyouknow about mercy, Uncle Johnnie?” Ransom asked, standing among the younger boys in a group that included JJ. But unlike Rory, JJ wasn’t as enamored of Johnnie. “Especially for Dad’s sons?”
Johnnie poured himself a drink, took a swallow, then looked at Ransom. “I don’t answer to children.”
“Toddlers don’t have the proper vocabulary, so we understand, Uncle Johnnie,” Ryder said.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Axel said, dragging Winnie back to her seat and placing a finger over her mouth. “Shhh for a little while.”
“Don’t tell my daughter to shut up!” Cash said.
“I’ll tellyouto fucking shut up, Uncle Cash,” Axel responded. “But since I’m worried about Reb, you’re safe.” Not giving Cash a chance to respond, he stomped back to Rebel, glaring at Cash the entire fucking way. “I saw you when you walked in, Reb.”
“Okay.”
“Your nose didn’t turn red until Uncle Bash wanted to introduce you to his son. Hisotherson. Cuz Easton’s his son, too.”
Christopher noted Rebel’s non-reaction.
“Tio left,” Axel continued, and pointed to the door in the far corner. “He went out that way. Anytime he was stupid enough to listen to Tabitha, he was probably stupid enough to—”
“You don’t know me, Axel,” Tio said. “I remember insults.”
“Shut your fucking mouth, boy,” Bash snapped.
Axel frowned, then walked forward. “I got this, Uncle Bash.”
“We all know you’re a little psycho,” Bash responded. “But Tio’smykid.”
“You only know I’m a psycho, ‘causeyouare, Uncle Bash,” Axel said in exasperation.
Bash grinned. “That’s slander.”
“You called me a psycho first. I can sue you, too.”
