Page 66 of Bound by Family
Tina.Fuck.
A scream echoes as Tina falls to the ground in a heap.
Bristyl steps back, covering her mouth, eyes wide as she looks from me to Tina, who is screaming on the ground with blood pouring out of her nose. Bristyl’s breaths begin to deepen as I move up to her and wrap her in my warmth.
“What did I do?” she wonders, her words muffled behind her hands.
Suddenly, applause breaks out in the clubhouse. It starts small and ends up in a roar, with whistles and all.
Bristyl looks up at me. “What’s going on? Who is she?”
Tina rises to her feet. “You bitch,” she spits out, lunging for Bristyl.
Instantly, I block her, and Tina’s pissed off eyes come to me.
“What, she your ol’ lady now?”
“Yep.”
“What?” Bristyl asks, her hands finally falling from her mouth.
“You’re my ol’ lady,” I respond naturally, then turn back toward Tina. “Spread that shit. No one comes near me or Bristyl.”
Tina’s face turns sour as she storms off and out of the clubhouse.
“We seriously need to talk,” Bristyl says as my father and Pops come up, each wrapping me in a one-armed hug then stepping back.
“About time,” my dad says.
“Whatever, old man.”
My father takes a shot to the shoulder. It stings, but I never let it show.
“Next one, we’re in the ring.”
My father laughs. “Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I’ve gotta get home to my wife.”
He leans down and wraps Bristyl in his arms. She stares at me, wide-eyed, her arms out at her sides awkwardly. When I lift my chin, she puts her small arms around my father, or tries to. She only gets about three-fourths of the way.
“Welcome to the family,” he says.
“Cruz, I don’t—”
“Roll with it.” Once the words leave my lips, I get her glare from over my father’s shoulder.
“Give me some of that,” Pops says, and my father releases her as Pops steps up. “The way you’re breathin’ fire, you’ll be a good match for our boy here.”
“Pops …” I warn, hating being called a boy more than anything, even from our president, which he knows and which is why he’s doing it with a smile.
“I know, I know. Welcome in the fold.” Pops gives Bristyl a squeeze on the shoulder, then turns toward me. “Son, you’ve turned into a damn fine man. I’m proud of ya.” Pops wraps me in his arms, giving me a very brief hug, then walks off.
“Cooper, we need to talk—like now,” Bristyl says, her hand on her hip, foot pointed out. “I mean, I just punched someone I don’t know. That’s not me. I don’t hit people. Then this whole business with the ol’ lady—”
I toss her up over my shoulder and head back to my room, having heard enough of her yapping.
“Put me down!” She smacks my ass.
“Beautiful, fuckin’ love it when you slap my ass.” My hand connects with her ass hard, and she screeches as we enter the room.
