Page 102 of Clap Back (Carter Brothers)

Her eyes filled with angry tears, but she nodded.

Garrett let her go, and I caught her hand loosely in mine and led her to my truck that was surprisingly not blocked in the driveway.

I’d just gotten her to the passenger door, and let her hand go to grab the door handle, when she darted out and ran full force toward Scott.

I cursed and started to follow her, but she turned out to be surprisingly quick despite her small stature.

Before I could say a word—and before the cops next to Scott could react—she reared back and kicked Scott straight in the balls.

Then she calmly turned and walked away, much to everyone’s stunned astonishment.

“That’s definitely our sister,” one of the Semyonov sisters whispered.

“If there were any doubts about who she belongs to,” Shasha said sardonically, “then there isn’t anymore.”

“That’s my girl,” Jessa mused from her perch in one of the cop cars. “Let’s go get a hotel.”

“You can stay with us,” my mother offered. “We have plenty of room.”

I didn’t hear the rest of it.

Not when Maven was back saying, “Let’s go.”

My lips twitched. “Yes, ma’am.”

Your driving skills have me looking both ways at green lights.

—Text from Athena to Maven

MAVEN

“Women will never know the horrified feeling of when your dick accidentally touches the toilet bowl,” Garrett said, sounding grossed out.

I snorted, but it was sweet and sassy Ellodie who said, “Men will never know the feeling of a fart that rolls up the front and into your vagina, which you then have to walk funny and squeeze your vaginal muscles to get out.”

There was a long moment of silence and then, “You’re joking.”

That was Gable.

“Not even a little bit, baby Carter,” Ellodie countered.

“Don’t call me that. I’m not the baby. Garrett is.” He pointed at Shayne, as if she was going to tell him a different story. “Is that true?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it, mortification rising up her neck and taking over her entire face.

It was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.

And she seriously did some cute things.

“I mean, yeah.” She glanced at me, then quickly looked away.

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped my lips.

This family.

I loved them with everything I had.

When I’d needed a family, the Carters were there.

---