Page 37 of Relentles
CJ looked at her with incredulity. “She’s my goddamn little sister.”
“Come on, dude,” Grant said, looking at Harley with disapproval and laying a hand on CJ’s shoulder. “Let’s go see to Molly while Roxy sees to Uncle Digger.”
“No, we can go together.” Lolly dug in the pocket of her robe and pulled out a tube of ointment, then laid it on the breakfast bar. With a last glare at Harley, she turned to follow CJ and Grant through the swinging door.
Aunt Bunny stepping forward halted Lolly. “Maybe, I can help.”
“I see how it is, girl,” Uncle Digger grumbled. “You don’t want to see to your man after Outlaw burned me.”
“You brought it on yourself,” Aunt Bunny said sharply, and stomped behind Lolly as they both exited.
“Go home, Harley,” Daddy told her, guiding her closer to everyone and letting her go.”
Making a face at the space where Aunt Bunny had stood, Uncle Digger looked at Harley. “Are you okay?”
“CJ is a fucking asshole!” she snarled.
Shock crossed her uncle’s face. Even Daddy and Pop stared at her.
“Don’t let no dude change my sweet niece, baby,” Uncle Digger said with disapproval. “Even though you was wrong likea motherfucker for the way your treated CJ, he not worth you turning into super bad bitch. You don’t curse and you don’t fight.”
“Hemademe do it, Uncle Digger.”
“No, baby. He didn’t. If anything,youpushedhimto his breaking point.”
“Why areyousaying this to me, when myfatheris silent?” Harley seethed.
“‘Cause your daddy mad as hell at you,” Uncle Digger said. “He don’t want to say the wrong thing and make shit worse.”
“Bailey, can you call one of your friends for a sedative for Molly?” Pop asked since Daddy didn’t correct her uncle.
Harley heaved in a shuddering breath, her sense of betrayal deepening. “No, Mommie,please!She stole CJ from me. She’s the reason he’s so disrespectful. Heneverwould’ve spoken to you and Daddy like that if it wasn’t forher.”
Daddy whispered to Mommie, and she nodded.
“Harley, baby, my temple throbbing,” Uncle Digger complained. “Can you please have your fucking meltdownaftersomebody put the ointment on me?”
“Put it on yourself, son,” Daddy snapped, before looking at Harley and opening his arms.
She refused to move.
He sighed and dropped his arms. “Harley, I expect better from you. No matter what Molly is to CJ, she need us now. He was right when he said that. Check your bullshit, baby. Now isn’t the time for this. We need all fucking hands on deck.Youincluded.”
“You’re still defending him, even after he disrespected you?”
“The fucking irony.” Shaking his head, Daddy glowered at her, then looked at Pop. “I’ll get whatever Molly need, Knox.” He dug in the pocket of his cut and came out with a bag of pills. Opening it, he poured one into Pop’s palm. “Quarter that. Makesure she drink a full glass of water and try to get her to eat something.”
“You taking my fucking pills and giving them away, Mort,” Uncle Digger said woefully. “She don’t have a fucking cigarette burn onhertemple.”
Once Pop got a glass and filled it with water, he left the kitchen.
“Sit, dumb ass,” Daddy growled to Uncle Digger.
He scowled, stomping to the same stool CJ was sitting in when Harley first arrived.
As Daddy began to administer the ointment to Uncle Digger’s temple, Mommie glanced between them.
“What, pretty girl?” Daddy asked, his attention on Uncle Digger.
