Page 100 of Whiskey Chase
Johanna had gotten both of those in the divorce.
“I’m saving my marriage,” Johanna said icily.
“Like hell you are,” Scarlett announced. She was pure fire to Johanna’s ice. She was magnificent.
“You’re obviously not feeling like yourself,” Johanna said, addressing her comment to me and dismissing Scarlett. “And I take ownership of my part in that. I was the one that sent you into a tailspin, but Devlin, you can’t accomplish all you’re meant to do with her by your side.”
“At least he doesn’t have to worry about me soliciting dick all the time,” Scarlett shot back.
I heard snickers from the deck. Johanna’s mouth dropped open. I doubted that she’d ever heard anything so crass before in her entire life.
“I beg your pardon. You’re a child and an ignorant one at that. You couldn’t possibly understand the kind of partner that Devlin needs.”
“He doesn’t need a fucking partner,” Scarlett enunciated. “He needs a best friend. Someone who will have his back, not end up on hers under someone else.”
Her brothers were howling with laughter behind me, and I inched my way toward them. I needed to put myself between Scarlett and Johanna, but I wasn’t sure if I could count on any of them for backup.
“You need to leave,” Johanna announced. “You need to leave so I can talk to my husband.”
“Oh, hell no,” Scarlett said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Johanna had six inches in height on her, but Scarlett had a good fifteen pounds of muscle in her favor. She also had a hammer and a few screwdrivers in her tool belt. “In fact, I think it’s time you left. You have to the count of three to get your non-existent ass out of this house.”
Johanna sputtered. “I’m not leaving. This is Devlin’s house, and I am welcome in it as long as he says I am!”
“Oh, are you?” Scarlett drawled. “Devlin?”
“Devlin?” Johanna glared at me, willing me to choose her.
I wanted to calm things down. “Let’s just take a step back—”
The Bodines groaned behind me, and I knew immediately I’d made a huge mistake.
Scarlett’s eyes narrowed at me. “Not good enough, McCallister.”
“Johanna, I think you should leave,” I said calmly.
Scarlett bared her teeth, and I knew it was too little too late.
“Devlin, I feel like we should continue this discussion—”
“Get out of this house now!” Scarlett shrieked. She took a threatening step toward Johanna who hopped behind the wingback armchair. “Take your skinny, cheating ass all the way back to Annapolis and find someone else to fuck over! And if I ever see your face around Bootleg again—”
She was reaching for her hammer, trying to wrestle it free. The sliding screen door imploded behind me as four bodies shoved their way through it. Gibson dove for Scarlett while Jameson and Bowie ushered Johanna down the hall toward the front door. Jonah blocked Scarlett’s attempt to chase her down, and I stood there wondering what in the hell had just happened.
“Get her out of here!” Scarlett yelled at the top of her lungs. “If she comes near Devlin again, I am shoving her in Rocky Tobias’s septic tank!” Gibson wrestled her to the ground and sat on her. Jonah jogged down the hallway to the front door. I could hear raised voices outside before he closed it.
I couldn’t quite comprehend what had just happened. All I knew is that the squirming ball of fury on my grandmother’s living room rug cared more about me than any appearance or any plan. She wanted to protect me when no one else in my family or circle of friends had been willing to.
I loved Scarlett Bodine. She might not know it yet, but she sure as hell loved me back.
Jameson and Bowie returned to the living room where Scarlett was swearing a blue streak.
“When I let her up, she’s gonna try to kill you,” Gibson predicted.
“Me?”
“You invited your ex-wife into your house. The woman who treated you like dog shit. You don’t play nice with that,” Bowie explained.
“Unless of course you’re hoping to get back together with her,” Jameson added.
