Page 74 of Dagger

Jolly Batman arched up on his paws, his hair standing on end, and he bared his teeth at the SAA with a low growl.

Cash cursed again. “Get him, Sunny. Show him who’s boss.”

The SAA squeezed Xan’s neck harder.

Suddenly, a loud screech filled the ether.

I whipped my head around, and my heart leaped as I watched Sunny fly through the air with one leg straight and the other one folded up, a la Bruce Lee. She let out a war cry as she sailed toward the two idiots who were play-fighting.

“Now, look here, Sunsh—” Atlas began but was cut off when Sunny’s foot clipped the side of his knee. He let out a loud “Oof.” Then, he slowly crumpled to the floor, his face turning a sickly shade of green.

Sunny landed square on her feet. “I won! I won!” she sang, wiggling her little ass in a victory dance. “I beats Asslessssssss.”

JB let out a loud bark before lowering his head and baring his teeth at the SAA, who was groaning from the floor.

Sunny giggled. “Did you see me, Granddaddy John? I gots Assless good.”

I barked a laugh. “Good girl, but remember what I said, go for the nuts next time.”

Sunny looked up at me, her eyes shining, and she nodded eagerly.

Bowie’s eyes widened with horror as his gaze became glued to Atlas moaning on the floor, holding his knee. “Sunny! What have I told you about those high kicks? Jesus, you broke Atlas.”

I busted out a laugh.

Sunny’s bottom lip popped out, and she stared down at her shoes. “Buts he was being mean.”

Atlas groaned from the direction of my feet. “Fuuuck. My leg.”

The music lowered, and Abe’s voice drifted toward us. “What the hell’s goin’ on?” I looked up just as he and Mason shouldered their way through the crowd, who were watching us, laughing. “Get the fuck up, Atlas,” he ordered. “Stop pissin’ around.”

“He can’t,” Cash replied, laughter lacing his tone. “Sunshine just kicked the shit outta him. Fucked his knee up.” My eldest nodded toward the floor. “Asshole’s not goin’ anywhere.”

I laughed harder.

“Whaddya mean Sunshine kicked the fuck outta him?” Abe questioned, his eyes turning to my granddaughter. “What did you do, Sunny?”

By then, my baby girl must’ve suspected she’d fucked up because her bottom lip began to wobble, and moisture welled in her eyes. “He was bein’ a meanie,” she jabbered. “He cussed at me, and Grandma Dell hasn’t got the cussy box, so I tolds him off, and he was mean to Jolly Batman, and my daddy saids that yous gotsa fights fires with fires, so I kicked him like Mr. Miyagi.” She did a little wax-on, wax-off motion with her hand,then began to breathe fast and deep as her little face scrunched up. “I’m sorry!” she wailed.

The sound of heels clattering on wood sounded.

I turned to see a posse of ol’ ladies flouncing our way, and they didn’t look happy. “Oh shit,” I breathed. “Hold onto your hats.”

“What on earth happened,” Sophie demanded. She walked toward Atlas and crouched down to examine his knee. “How the hell did you do that?”

“Sunny kicked his ass,” Cash declared.

Abe hooted.

Biting down my laughter, I covered my mouth with my hand.

“Oh my God,” Layla said, her tone anguished as her gaze cut from Atlas to her daughter and then back again. “What have I told you about those kicks, Sunny?”

The little girl’s face scrunched up, and she let out another pained wail.

“It was his own fault,” Bowie informed his woman. “Atlas got in her face.”

Layla’s head snapped toward Bowie. “What do you mean he got in her face?”

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