Page 182 of Restless
Ryan drew in a sharp breath, trying to clear away the images. Back and forth about Harley or the Terrible Triplets wouldn’t get to the next point. “You know Johnnie.”
Bash flung his cigarette. “So, what if I do?”
“Your appearance sent him over the fucking edge, and my cousin, Rory, on a hunt for answers.” Ryan explained the conversation he’d had in the cave with Rory. “Meggie’s out of the hospital now, so Outlaw will take more interest in everything else. He will kill you, me, Cleaner, Tabitha,andJohnnie.Everyoneconnected to you.”
“I don’t give a fuck what he does to me, Cleaner, you, or Johnnie. If he hurts my niece, there’ll be hell to pay.”
“Then you shouldn’t have put that bitch in a position to be hurt, asshole,” Ryan snapped. “She’s fucking vicious, and the women in the family hate her.”
“As long as they don’t hurt her—”
“They won’t, Bash,” Ryan promised, shook up at the venom in the man’s voice. “But what can you tell me…? What can you add to all Rory discovered?”
“I’ll ask the fucking questions, you arrogant little fuckhead.”
“Bash—”
“Shut the fuck up.” He grabbed Ryan’s collar and yanked him off his feet. “You and your fucking uncle are fucking me over, protecting Christopher’s cunt. I might have to take matters into my own hands. Maybe, I should start by cutting your head off.”
Fear seized Ryan, and he was so sorry he’d summoned Bash without telling anyone. Whocouldhe tell though? His cousins and his brother didn’t like him, so they wouldn’t care. Molly was in the hospital. The Barts were firmly on Bash’s side.
“Excuse me?”
At first, Ryan thought he was imagining Rebel’s voice, until Bash stilled, then jerked him away and turned. Ready to piss himself, Ryan straightened, wincing at Rebel’s narrowed blue eyes.
“Bash.”
The word fell from her lips like an accusation.
“Hello, Rebel. Ryan and me—” Bash started.
“Save it, motherfucker,” she said in a hard voice. “As a general rule, I don’t talk to assholes, and I won’t start now.” She glared at Ryan. “If CJ hadn’t told me Daddy knew about this fuckhead, I would call you a fucking traitor and garrot your bitch ass.”
Stiffening, Bash moved forward. Rebel raised her fists.
“Rebel, didn’t I ask you not to curse?” Rule stepped into view and halted, blinking at the scene before him.
His arrival halted a disaster in the making. Though Rebel was tall, she was slim, and Bash was tallerandmuscular.
Rule covered his twin’s fists with his hands and forced them down. He took in the scene. Instead of cowering in fear, he stepped in front of Rebel and faced Bash.
For the first time, Ryan felt a smidgeon of respect for the pious prick.
“You’re Bash, aren’t you?” Rule asked.
“I’m famous,” Bash said with a smirk.
“You’re a fuckhead,” Rebel said flatly.
Rule raised his hand and glanced over his shoulder. “Sister, please. I can handle this.” He smiled at Bash. “A prayer will calm you.”
“Those words will get us killed, dummy,” Rebel complained.
“No. We come in peace.”
“Youcome in peace. I come however the fuck this motherfucker comes,” Rebel responded.
Bash laughed. “Couldn’t have said it better, niece.”
