Page 24 of Bad News Babe

WEST, AKA THE SIBLING OWNER

I don’t know how Iget stuck arguing with a gun-toting geezer with a grudge against Tripp’s grandmother. No matter how often I point out how the old bitch doesn’t live in the duplex, the angry fuck keeps waving around his pistol. Finally, I swipe his weapon.

“You’ll get this back when you show you’ve learned your lesson,” I say and point at the man’s house. “Get going before I tell my club you were hassling the son of one of our dead members.”

“Sniveling bitch needing his daddy’s help,” the guy mutters like I’m a coward.

I look at Tripp, the cousins, and my dream girl. They’re all watching me like I’m a fricking superhero. Yeah, that’s the shit, right there!

“I’ll get ready,” Alexis says, backing away from me like she can’t bear to leave my side.

Smirking at her lust, I watch Alexis until she’s inside the house. Then, I notice the remaining three.

“What?”

“Can I have that gun?” Juno asks.

“Naw, then, he’ll claim you stole it.”

“But he’s going to tell everyone you stole it.”

“Let him prove it,” I mutter and toss the weapon in my hog’s storage. “I might just use his weapon in a crime and leave that shit behind to pin on him.”

Tripp responds to my threat by laughing like a kid who just heard a hilarious fart joke. Juno smiles at his antics like a girl who needs to aim for a higher dating target. Zelda eyes my hog like an overly obvious thief.

“Don’t even think about it,” I say and poke her freckled forehead.

Rolling her dark eyes, Zelda walks inside. Juno follows after her. Once again, I’m stuck talking to Tripp.

“Which one do you like again?” he asks me.

“The redheaded one.” When Tripp stares dumbfounded at me, I add, “The one dressed as a clown.”

“Oh, yeah, she has red hair.”

“She’s not even wearing a hat, bud. You should have caught on faster.”

Tripp shrugs his soft shoulders, probably wishing his older brother was around to think for him. Topper was the slightly smarter, better-looking one. Even with his improved qualities, I still don’t get why my cousin Rie slept with the guy. They made two pretty little girls, though, so at least the fucks weren’t a complete waste.

“Hey, Tripp,” Juno says from the upstairs door. “We’re getting drinks at a bar. Want to come?”

“I don’t have any money.”

Juno’s dark eyes flash to me, followed by Tripp’s blue ones.

“Fine, but no cockblocking,” I announce and point between them. “You’re not there to interrupt my smooth moves.”

“Cockblocking,” Tripp repeats and starts laughing.

Juno giggles, too, since she’s got the hots for the chubby, mildly appealing dork. Huh, maybe that’s good. When chicks get hooked up, their friends want to copy them. That’ll help me with Alexis. I don’t need her going all “proud single gal” when I’m trying to lock down her heart.

Alexis returns to the driveway, freshly showered and smelling lemony fresh. I hug her immediately so her scent will remain on my clothes after saying goodbye tonight.

Her surprised expression makes me smile. I like how she isn’t used to someone pampering her. This way, she’ll appreciate my attention even more.

Alexis isn’t like my sister, who expects men to treat her with the same kid gloves as our father. Most can’t live up to the spoiling Emmett Mercer gave his only baby girl. Therefore, she claims the local men suck and dismisses their affections.

However, Alexis looks at me like her champion. My knuckles stroke her cheek as the others babble about seating options. Though I wish we were alone, that’s not an option for tonight.

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