Page 135 of Devil and the Deep Blue Fish

“Mm… yes. Kaden got him—well, all the kids, really, but Anthony was working toward this with chores—one of those video game expansions.”

“Nice,” Jackson said, glad because it meanthecould play Kaden and the kids on the expansion as soon as they practiced a little. “Okay, then—no, I think you’re good.”

Rhonda let out a breath. “But… but Jackson. I wasso proud.I mean, besides standing up for his sister, and having his brother come get me—a grown-up—he was so brave. And did I mention the kicker?”

Jackson grinned. “Yeah. Man, that was some class A banter right there.”

“Right?” she said. “I want him to know he wasappreciated.”

Jackson had an idea. A wonderful, awful idea.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said happily, pulling up his laptop as he spoke to Rhonda and worked on dinner for Ellery. “I’ve got just the thing.”

“ARE YOUsure we won’t get into trouble?” Diamond asked. Well, he was young, and Anthony understood how somebody who worked hard at being good would not be excited about doing what they were doing.

“You don’t have to,” River told him. “You weren’t in the fight—nobody will expect you to come back with ’tude.”

Diamond furrowed his handsome little brow. “No, no,” he said. “It’s fine. Anthony stood up for our family. The least I can do is wear the damned T-shirt.”

“Heh heh heh heh heh heh,” River laughed, the sound a little bit evil, but Anthony approved. “Our uncle Jackson isthe best,” she said, zipping her hoodie up over the T-shirt. It was March, and there was still a crust of snow on the ground, and the hoodie—and the T-shirt—were both brand-new.

“He is,” Anthony said, grinning athisT-shirt before zipping up his own jacket. They both looked at Diamond, who stared back and then caught the hint and zipped uphisjacket.

“This way,” he said, like the idea was just dawning on him, “Mom and Dad can’t see.”

“Yup,” River said. “They have plausible deniability.”

“And we can show the kids not to mess with our family,” Diamond said smugly.

“Nobody messes with our family,” River affirmed. “Right, Anthony?” She stared at him meaningfully, because she knewof some of the struggles he’d had, letting down his guard tobefamily.

“Right,” Anthony said. Then, a little quieter, “I hope you guys don’t get into trouble.”

“If we do, we can blame Jackson,” River told him.

“He won’t mind,” Diamond said, blithe as a spring day.

“Kids!” Rhonda called from downstairs in the Cameron home, “get down here and get your toast and let’s get this show on the road!”

“Listen to your mother!” Kaden told them, and they all ran to their own rooms to grab their backpacks, now that their conspiracy was solid and all.

“SO,” KADENsaid as the kids ran for the car, jackets zipped securely up to their chins, “are we supposed to not know they’re wearing the shirts to school?”

“Yup,” Rhonda said, kissing him on the cheek. “We shall be surprised.”

“Think they’ll be suspended again?” Kaden asked.

“Heh heh heh heh….” Rhonda laughed, and Kaden loved that she and his brother had the same laugh. “Not after that newspaper article hit the stores. Boy, people were mad. Mark Troyar hasn’t gotten that many pissed-off phone calls in his entire worthless career.”

“I love it when you’re evil,” Kaden said,hiskiss landing on her mouth. “Go out and kick some asses and take some names, Buttercup.”

She gave him a happy wave as she grabbed her own book bag and ran to the minivan so they could all get to school.

“YOU READY?”River asked, and Anthony and Diamond both put their fingers on their jacket zippers as they stood at the hallentrance. It was not their imagination—the entire junior high was staring at them to see how they’d enter after the three of them had been out for the week. Would they keep their heads down? Would they be the next bullies? Were they predators or fresh meat?

Anthony’s family wouldnotbe meat.

“Zippers down,” he said.

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