Page 69 of Shadow and Skulls

I wrap my arms around him. “There’s no one else in this world I trust more than you.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kelsie

Ilean against the counter with Ash, watching my mom hold Lexi’s hand as the doctor checks her over. She looks at us over her shoulder after the doctor whispers something to her.

“Could you two wait outside?”

Ash begins to argue with her, but my mother narrows her eyes and snaps her fingers, channeling her inner Jesse.

“You can’t argue with her when she’s in momma-bear mode,” I tell him, dragging him out the door.

The men all look up when we step outside. Brody and Jackson pat Ash on the back, walking him over to sit at the picnic table.

“Is everything going okay in there?” my dad asks.

I settle on the bench beside him. “Yeah. Mom has it handled.”

My gaze roams over the men. They’re all here, waiting to see whose ass needs kicking.

“So,” I say on a long-drawn-out breath. “I have a plan for getting even with them.”

Petey blows smoke rings over his head. “Oh, we’re not going to get even. We’re going to bury them.”

I roll my eyes, tapping my nails on the table. “And then what? The town already distrusts you guys. They’re just high schoolers. You can’t just go kicking their asses or worse,” I say, swallowing hard when Dirk flicks his knife open and runs it over his tongue.

“Let’s hear it.”

My stomach does a flip because I know my chances of getting my way are slim to none. “Okay. Will you promise to let me finish before saying no?”

Everyone nods.

Here it goes. “Have you all seenAmerican Pie?You know there’s that scene where …” I begin.

Dad pushes me off the bench. “No.”

My hands fall to my hips. “You said you’d let me finish.”

Jackson starts laughing. “Oh god, I’ve got to hear this. That movie is hilarious. I’m evoking my president rights. Let’s hear it.”

“I’m her father,” my dad begins to argue.

Jackson fires back. “Well, I’m her uncle and the president of this club.”

“Will you both shut up? This is going to work, and I’ll have Ash at my back.”

Ash lifts his head. “What’s that?” It’s clear he wasn’t listening.

“He can’t even pay attention,” my dad accuses.

I smack his arm. “He’s worried about Lexi. Stop.”

The surprise on his face at me smacking him makes me take a step back. But then I remember I’m a Skull woman, so I look him in the eye.

“I can do this. For her.” I point to the door of my house. “And for me.” I don’t look away from him. “Ash saved me from Jason … and who knows, maybe even Matt.”

My dad’s face falls, his eyes snapping to Ash for confirmation.

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