Page 39 of Relentles
“Harley, put that fucking finger down because I spank you and punish you,” Daddy warned. “Apologize to your uncle and go home. You and me talking.”
“Lucas,” Mommie said, drawing Daddy’s attention away again. “You have to think about patching out. Suppose…suppose you can’t do something right? Or you forget Meggie because of family issues—”
“If his family would stop giving him issues, he’d focus on the job at hand,” Aunt Bunny retorted.
“I’m not talking to you!” Mommie cried.
“Well, she talking to you, Bailey.” Uncle Digger’s disgust matched Harley’s. “She right anyway. If we stop pulling Mort in so many fucking directions, he could concentrate on his assignments.”
“That could get him killed!” Mommie said.
“Bailey.”
The pain in her father’s voice hurt Harley. Her sympathy shocked her. In the last few weeks, she wanted nothing more than to see him hurt.
“I been in this club since I was seventeen years old,” Daddy said.
“I know, Lucas,” she said softly. “But the last time we went to California and stayed at the house, it was so peaceful.”
They’d gone five months ago, at the end of July. It was the first time CJ hadn’t accompanied them on their yearly family vacation.
“Bailey—”
“I’m going to suggest to you the same thing I suggested to my husband: talk to Meggie,” Aunt Bunny said. “Whatever is bothering you—”
“Won’t be cured in a conversation,” Mommie snapped, “especially by her. You should be the one tellingyourhusband to patch out.”
Uncle Digger snorted. “Meggie got Bunny loyalty, not me.”
“That isn’t true!” Aunt Bunny said with indignation. “I just don’t appreciate you beefing with her for something she hasn’t done, jackass!”
“We need to talk later,” Daddy said tiredly.
“When Momma called and asked me to send Harley over for the ointment and she told me why, I just kept remembering Outlaw summoning me to tell me my father had been killed.” Mommie closed her eyes and shuddered. “What was so bad duringchurchthat made Outlaw snap and sh-shoot Johnnie then hurt Digger? It could’ve been you!”
Daddy took Mommie into his arms and hugged her while she wept. “Bailey,” he whispered, his voice deep and soothing. “Pretty girl,” he crooned, tangling his big hands through her hair and tipping her head back.
Harley wasn’t sure if she was witnessing love, subjugation, or degradation. Her mother was an independent, intelligent woman, and a fierce mother. Yet, somehow, Daddy convinced her to desert her own daughter.
“I…Johnnie a stupid motherfucker and my brother fucking brainless.”
“Johnnie stupid…” Uncle Digger agreed before the entire statement sank in, and he scowled. “Hey!”
“Nothing is going to happen to me. Not by Outlaw, anyway,” Daddy added.
“Please, just think about it. We can go—”
“Digger will still be in the club,” Daddy interrupted.
“No, Mort,” Uncle Digger said with a shake of his head. “If you go, I go.”
“What?” Wide-eyed, Aunt Bunny stared at Uncle Digger. “I…this is our home. Meggie is my best friend. I couldn’t—”
“Bailey your sister-in-law, baby,” Uncle Digger said. “She can be your new best friend.”
Doubtful, but Harley didn’t say that. Two more different women didn’t exist. Mommie had a doctorate in psychology and was rather no-nonsense. Aunt Bunny was laidback and easy-going.
“But, Mark, this is our family!”
