“I’m on your side, Ryan!”
“Not if you’re blaming them,” Ryan retorted. “I’mnot even on my fucking side. But I’d stake my fucking life that Rebel didn’t open her mouth. She said she wouldn’t because of Mom, and she won’t. It’s our behavior, Devon. Especially yours and Rory’s. Until recently, hewas all up CJ’s ass. Now you two stupid motherfuckers are all up each other’s.”
Harley shrank into the corner, close to hyperventilating, barely able to form any thoughts as the boys argued.
“Ryan’s right. Rebel didn’t tell me,” Grant said in an ugly tone. “Rory just fucking admitted to watching the videos in so many words. Like Ryan said, you two are suddenly buddy-buddy, so that shit’s easy to figure out.”
“Uncle Christopher knows, too,” Devon admitted.
“Well, fuckhead, pray Mortician doesn’t find out. He’ll kill all three of you fucking perverts and put you out of your goddamn misery,” Grant said.
Rory swallowed. “But our moms…he’d never hurt us because that would devastate them.”
“That means Diesel can’t do us anything either.”
Ryan snorted. “You don’t fucking get it, incel. Use your fucking brain. Uncle Christopher is looking at the situation as the head of the entire family. CJ’s overdose and Rebel’s near drowning just happened weeks ago. He can put himself in Mom and Aunt Kendall’s places if something happened to us. But Diesel? Diesel doesn’t give a fuck. Diesel doesn’t fucking play at being a psycho. Heisone. He wants me dead. I’ve been spared. He won’t allow both of us to live, Devon. And you, Rory? He fucking hates Uncle Johnnie. Since you’vebecome Mini Johnnie, Diesel will not care. Trust me on this. As for Harley—”
“Harley is Mortician’sdaughter,” Grant inserted. “He adores her. Nothing and no one are above his children. He’s a damn good father and a wonderful husband, you delusional motherfucker. He’d break all of you, then live with fucking guilt for the rest of his life because of Aunt Kendall and Aunt Zoann. He wouldn’t realize he did the world a fucking favor.”
Grant’s anger seeped into Harley’s brain and she blinked, unable to remember a time when he’d been so furious.
“You terrorized four innocent girls. You almost got your sister raped and strangled, Rory. I hope your guilt eats your fucking insides and spits them the fuck out.”
“Dude?” Ryan asked, ashen. “Are you okay?”
“Shut the fuck up, Ryan. Am I okay? Are you? Bailey was already an emotional wreck because of Rory’s beloved father…” Grant glared at Rory. “Fuck you, dude. I’m the one who came across Mattie. I saw that motherfucker strangling her and trying to violate her. I have to watch my mom fall apart because Bailey iswhatever.What about Mortician? He doesn’t deserve any of this. All he’s ever done is loved us and advised us.”
“My mom’s gone. She devastated my dad so much that he had to leave too. I don’t know when he’s returning because Mom just walkedthe fuck away,” Rory said. “And you’re shitting on me?”
“I hope Aunt Kendall never returns,” Grant shot back. “She deserves some happiness. She should take Mattie, JJ, and Blade, and leave you two fuckheads to rot together.”
“If you feel so strongly, acting like such a tough man, why don’t you beat us?” Devon challenged.
“Because I don’t fuck up little boys with little dick mentalities,” Grant said darkly.
Well. Score one for Grant.
Devon flipped him off. “Come on, Ro. Let’s go before I really lose my temper.”
Grant got to his feet again. He was over six feet and muscular. His muscles weren’t gross with veins bulging but he was very well honed. He lifted his big fist. “You really want to eat my fucking knuckles?”
Instead of answering, Devon paled and nodded to Rory. They hightailed it out of the room.
Grant turned to Harley. “Why don’t you pack your things now? I’ll sleep on the sofa for the next few days.”
“Aunt Zoann’s letting me stay home tomorrow and I promised to help her clean up.” Harley would wait until after Aunt Zoann’s doctor’s appointment before she left. As much as she needed Mommie, if Harley left Aunt Zoann’s and Mommie refused to see her, itwould crush her a little more. “I’ll be fine tonight.”
Hesitation crossed Grant’s face. “Call me if you change your mind. Or if you need anything. I know everything seems bleak and upside down, which I know all about. You’re going to be okay. I was okay after my mom was killed, although it was long and painful. But you have no better support system than Roxy and Mort. And me. The past is the past. However you behaved is forgiven. You apologized and that means a lot. Even if you hadn’t, we’re family and we’ll never desert you.”
“Thank you, Grant. That means so much to me.”
“It’s the truth, Harley.”
Despite how much his avowal meant, she was almost afraid to believe his words. “Have you checked on Mattie? It sounds as if she can really use a brother, since hers has gone insane.”
“I thought about it,” he admitted. “I’m worried Uncle Johnnie will be there and also seeing me will trigger her.”
“You heard Rory,” Harley said. “He’s out of town.”
