Page 156 of Savage Suit
Reaching his bullshit quota, Noah looked at me. “Walk me to the door, Ryan.”
“If you leave, so do I,” I told him.
“That’s not a threat, Ryan,” Quinn said dryly. “That sounds like a blessed escape.” She got to her feet and offered our brothers and Timothe a two figured salute. “Fuck y’all. I’m out too.”
“Armani wants us to have dinner.” Dakota found the balls to open his fucking mouth. “It will crush her if her plans are ruined.”
“She’ll survive,” Quinn said, walking to where Noah and I stood.
Logan hopped from his seat. “You can have my chair, Noah. I’ll go ask Armani about an extra chair if you stay.” He looked at me, always the fucking peacemaker.
I wasn’t feeling peaceful. Nor did I care any longer how they felt about my relationship with Noah. “Stop fucking with Noah, Timothe. He’s important to me.” Those words escaped me before my brain caught up with my mouth. Couldn’t recall them now. I folded my arms and glared between Timothe and Dakota. “You fuck with him, you fuck with me.”
My asshole of a brother-in-law leaned forward. “I’m shaking.”
Noah’s comments would add fuel to the fire, so I glanced up at him. He must’ve sensed me looking at him and focused on me. I gave a slight shake of my head. A muscle ticked in his jaw. He was pissed, but he nodded, and I breathed easier.
“You would defend your date,” Timothe went on, “since you enjoy so few of them.”
“Dude,” Logan said with disapproval. “You’re getting your full asshole on with Ryan. We get it, okay? You don’t like her. You’ve always taken special issue with her. But back off. Damn.”
“You know, Tiny Tim, if it wasn’t for Ryan, the responsibility of looking after me and Logan would’ve fallen to Armani?” Quinn said.
“Or you would’ve ended up in foster care,” Timothe said.
“No,” Logan said, shaking his head. “Armani wouldn’t have let that happen. Family is important to her.”
“Herfamily,” Timothe pointed out. “Her husband and her children. She has no responsibility to any of you, when your mama’s relatives washed their hands of her and her children years ago.”
“Yeah, they found out Armani brought a mongrel into the family,” Quinn said, never one to allow anybody to best her.
He perused her from head to toe, then smirked at her. “I’m the mongrel? You sure about that?”
I grabbed Noah’s hand, and he turned a dark look to me. He hadn’t made a move, but rage wafted from him.
“Please,” I whispered. His anger would only add fuel to the fire.
“We have set aside manners,” he said, looking at Timothe. “I’m at a disadvantage. I got none of your names.”
Our earlier conversation came to mind. If he unleashed his wrath on Timothe, my sister and her kids would be in the crossfire. “That’s my brother, Logan,” I said quickly, pointing to my youngest brother. I nodded to my older one. “Dakota.”
“And fuckface is Timothe,” Quinn said. “Armani’s husband.”
Logan walked to Noah and held his hand out. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Same here,” Noah responded, accepting Logan’s hand, and shaking.
“Sit,” Logan urged. “Behave, Quinn,” he ordered, then looked at me to back him up. “Tell her, Ryan.”
“She’s behaving as the situation warrants, Logan,” I told him.
“I’m going to get an extra chair,” he said, shaking his head and loping out.
Quinn grabbed my arm and dragged me to the table. “Join us, Noah,” she called over her shoulder as she gently pushed me into the chair Logan had vacated.
I looked at Noah. “Please?”
Visibly gritting his teeth, he came and sat next to me.
