Page 183 of Restless
“Don’t fucking remind me,” Rebel said crossly. “It’s bad enough I have to claim Uncle Johnnie.”
Glancing away, Ryan hid his smile.
“You wound me, princess.”
“Not bad enough. You aren’t bleeding.” Rebel shoved Rule to her side and lasered Ryan. “It’s your lucky day. I’m in the holiday spirit, fuck face. I’m not going into the complicated details of how Mattie intercepted Uncle Val’s monitoring you. I swear she’s going to be a fucking spy one day. Anyway, she recruited me, and I recruited Rule and Devon. Mattie’s at the fucking mall with Devon.”
“Where you should be with her, and Devon with me,” Rule said with displeasure. “Females are delicate flowers whose virtue and innocence should be protected.”
“So you’ve said,” Rebel conceded.
“You disagree,” Bash guessed.
Rebel smiled sweetly. “Obviously, I disagree. I’m here. Besides, none of the boys in my family have a normal view of women and girls.” She thought for a moment and shrugged. “Except CJ. He’s the best of us.”
“Of course,” Ryan said with distaste, offended that even CJ’s sister put him on a pedestal. “Saint CJ.”
“Compared to you, he is.” She glared at Ryan and turned. As she marched away, she said, “Do come along, Rule and Ryan. Mattie called Uncle Mort. He’s probably arriving at the mall and is ready to search for us.”
Bash stared at Rebel’s retreating form. “She’s gorgeous.”
Unease swept through Ryan. “She’s a child. Younger than Molly.”
“She’s gorgeous,” he repeated.
“Rebel is favored with beauty and brains,” Rule said.
Bash frowned at him.
“As is our mother. Mom is breathtaking. They are both blessed.”
“The bible’s not my thing,” Bash grunted.
“It wouldn’t be,” Ryan said dryly, “not with your love of rape, torture, and murder.”
Bash moved so fast, Ryan didn’t have time to attempt escape. He grabbed Ryan’s throat and started to squeeze, smiling and staring into Ryan’s eyes as he choked the life from him.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Rule’s desperate voice reached Ryan through a haze. At any moment, he’d lose consciousness. Then, Bash would throw him into the water before shooting Rule.
Without warning, Bash released Ryan and stumbled back, his eyes wide with surprise. Rule stepped in front of Ryan and headbutted Bash, who screamed and dropped to his knees. A knife protruded from his shoulder.
Making the sign of the cross, Rule kicked Bash in the head, then calmly jerked away the knife and wiped the blood on his black jeans.
“You have to tell Uncle Johnnie about this,” he said, folding the blade and then stuffing it in his jacket pocket. “CJ and Bishop were talking at the club last night. The Dwellers are trying to negotiate a peace deal with the Scorpions. Bash might take offense at my tactics to save your life.” He started off.
Ryan made himself catch up to his cousin. “You…you stabbed him, Rule.You. When…when…you’re always…You don’t like cursing. You don’t fight. You don’t drink. You pray.”
Halting, Rule faced Ryan and nodded. “I was told to save you.”
Ryan blinked.
“After Momma took ill, He has spoken at length to me of death and torture. I’ve practiced on birds, rodents, and forest creatures. Sacrifices are required if prayers are to be heard. That’s why she’s better. Now, come. We have to get to the mall before Uncle Mort arrives. Besides, it is almost time for my evening prayers.”
Fuck. Him.
Speechless, Ryan stared at Rule. He searched for, and failed to find, the words to counter that entire fucked up statement.
