Page 44 of Hyde

“That might just be your lastget out of jail freecard, y’know.” The look Bree gives me tells me she’s not just talking about Gunner.

While I’ve included her in many of my plans over the years, I knew this was a sensitive one—so I kept my council and didn’t give her a heads-up.

“I’m going to need you to give me one more, darlin’,” I say with a heavy sigh. “Gunner’s going to… sort things out with Hyde when they get back. And you and I are going to let him.”

The flash of pain in Bree’s eyes feels like someone’s reached an icy hand into my chest and squeezed my heart, more so because I’m responsible for it. I’m surprised that she doesn’t pull away,she just tucks her head into my neck, and I tighten my arms around her.

“No matter how much I love you, all of you guys. Sometimes I don’t like you very much,” she replies after a pause. “And I guess I’m no better than any of you, because if that’s the price that has to be paid to have my family together, then I agree.”

Chapter 13

Leslee

“Go ahead inside, angel,” Dad addresses me even though his eyes are glued to Joe’s face.

“Leslee?” Mom calls as she steps out of the clubhouse, stopping in her tracks to give Joe a look that matches the one on Dad’s face.

Threading my fingers through Joe’s, I spread my legs shoulder width apart, showing them that I’m determined to stand by my Ol’ Man’s side to hash this out.

“No. This is…” I start but am quickly interrupted.

“Babe, head inside with your mom,” Joe murmurs, lifting his hand up to his mouth to place a kiss on each of my fingers.

“Dad, Mom, let’s go inside and talk,” I offer a perfectly logical option.

“Xander.” Dad calmly says my brother’s name, then looking beyond me, he nods. I let out a scream seconds later when my little brother picks me up and carries me to where Mom is standing, holding the door to the clubhouse wide open.

“This is ridiculous!” I bellow, pissed at all of them as I try to grab onto the doorframe. “Dad, don’t you lay a hand on Joe…”

I stop screaming when Mom closes the door behind her, blocking us off from the front yard.

“Mom, you have to stop this! Dad will listen to you,” I demand, taking a step toward her.

“You’re right,” she replies, crossing her arms over her chest after she turns the deadbolt. “We’ve already discussed it.”

“I’m Joe’s Ol’ Lady now,” I tell her, fisting my hands and determined to get back outside.

“Then sit your ass down and act like it. You want to be treated like an adult? Let your Ol’ Man take his lumps for you, he crossed a line and he knows it.” Mom’s voice is as hard and determined as I’ve ever heard it.

“He would not have touched me without my permission, or let me be blunt,” I reply. Worried about Joe, I try to keep my voice level the more upset I get. “He would not have touched me if I hadn’t of sat on his lap and taken matters into my own hands.”

“No one needs any details, Le-Lee,” my brother crows from behind me. “Especially not me!”

“Fuck off!” I growl, turning my glare on him and the large audience beyond him comes into focus. “Joe saved my life! He doesnotdeserve to be treated like this.”

“Does he deserve you?” my Aunt Charlie asks nonchalantly, entering the room with a bowl of popcorn.

“Yes!” I snap back, exasperated.

“Then let him prove it to your dad.” Through the roaring in my ears, I can barely make out Bree’s softly spoken words.

Looking around the room, I notice that none of my friends are present. It’s filled with my parents’ friends or those a decade or so older than me. Basically, everyone that Joe grew up around.

My eyes finally meet Bree’s just as her comment slowly worms its way into my heart. I know how these men are, but that doesn’t mean that Joe deserves a beat down for giving into what I have always wanted.

There’s no doubt in my mind that the testosterone poisoning taking place in the yard bothers her as much as it does me. Looking down at my mom I revel in the inches I have on her.

“So much for always having my back,” I say before spinning on my heel and striding past everyone. I’m suddenly desperate to leave the spectators behind before my tears of frustration overwhelm me.

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