Page 108 of Beyond the Hate

“Do we explain what an asshole he is before or after Hudson and Caleb tear him into pieces?”

Lucas sighs. “No tearing from limb to limb. I can’t explain away bloodshed.”

“But you said we could beat him up,” Caleb practically pouts.

“Knock him around, give him a few bruises, but no bloodshed.”

“What about broken bones? I promise they won’t be compound fractures.” Caleb rakes his gaze over me.

I lock my muscles before I squirm in my seat. Guessing by the anger flaring in his eyes, Caleb is dead serious.

“You can’t beat me up because I broke up with Paisley,” I argue.

“Yes, we can,” Hudson says.

“It’ll be my pleasure.”

I admit it. Caleb is now officially scaring the fuck out of me.

“If we had known you wouldn’t treat Paisley with kid gloves, we would have never let you near her,” Flynn says. “Not after the way the wicked stepsisters and evil stepdad handled her.”

“Don’t forget her mom,” Hudson adds. “She lets her husband treat her daughter with malice. I will never allow anyone to treat Iliana badly. I’ll kill them first.”

Lucas sighs. “Can we cut out the talk of killing when I’m around?”

Hudson frowns at him. “You’re off duty.”

“Have you met my wife? I’m never off duty.”

Flynn nods. “It’s true. Your wife is a wild child.”

Lucas growls. “Not a wild child anymore.”

Flynn raises his hands in surrender. “I misspoke. She’s a troublemaker, not a wild child.”

Lucas grins. “She’s a troublemaker all right.”

“I still disagree with the use of prune juice,” Caleb says.

Lucas shrugs. “Chloe didn’t want Maya or Nova to feel left out.”

“Maya wouldn’t have felt left out. My shy bunny isn’t as shy anymore.”

Hudson chuckles. “Rumor has it she’s the one who suggested leaving Viking the otter in Eli’s house.”

I squirm in my seat. Viking is out to get me. The otter appears all sweet and cuddly but the second you turn your back, he bites you. He’s a mean little furball.

Flynn points to me. “Judging by how scared Eli is, we should have brought Viking with us.”

“I’m not scared.”

Caleb snorts. “And I’m not eagerly anticipating kicking your ass into the next state.”

“I have a plane. I’ll be in the next state shortly.”

“I guess we better buckle in.” Hudson digs for the seatbelt. “I don’t mind going for a test ride. I wonder if Nova would want one of these.”

“Nah.” Flynn shakes his head. “Nova isn’t interested in your money.”

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