Page 55 of Whiskey Chase
“Can we please focus?” Bowie demanded.
I lined up the coffee mugs on the counter and glanced toward the bedroom door, which was still closed. “I assume you’re all here to kick my ass?”
Gibson crossed his arms. “Why? Do we have a reason to?”
Besides the fact that his sister was naked in my bed?
“I’m guessing you’re here because Scarlett came home with me last night.”
“Give the man a sucker.” Bowie nodded.
“So, what’s the Bootleg Justice on this?” I asked, pouring the first cup. “You kick my ass? You drag her out of here and lecture her on premarital sex? Because I’m going to be pissed off if you think either one of those answers is the right one. I mean, I’d hate to sic my gran and Estelle on you when they get back for embarrassing your adult sister and beating me unconscious and stealing half their shit. They’d be very disappointed in you.”
“What makes you think we’d beat you unconscious?” Gibson asked innocently. He snagged a mug and poured.
“You’re the Bodines. I’ve seen you in action,” I said mildly.
“Why don’t we take our coffee on the deck and talk about this like adults,” Bowie suggested. His amicable tone wasn’t fooling me. But I also didn’t think they were going to kick my ass. At least not with their sister twenty feet away. Scarlett would side with me and fight like a wildcat.
Gibson and Bowie led the way, and Jameson and Jonah brought up the rear, neatly boxing me in.
“Look,” Bowie drawled. “All we want to do is explain that it’s in your best interest not to hurt Scarlett.”
Jameson nodded threateningly.
“Why in the hell would you think I’d hurt her?”
“If she falls for you and then you go back to wherever the hell you’re from, we’re gonna have a problem,” Gibson said, stroking his beard. His stance was deceptively relaxed.
They pounced in unison like backwoods ninjas. Even though I fought it, it was three against one. Gibson and Jameson each grabbed one of my arms and Bowie locked on to my left leg. Jonah was suddenly Mr. Switzerland. He sipped his coffee sheepishly a few feet away from the fray.
“Get his leg, Jonah, before he kicks someone in the balls,” Gibson said.
Jonah looked surprised to be included in the family fight.
“Hurry up, man,” Jameson breathed. “He’s a fighter.”
Jonah put his coffee down and grabbed my flailing leg.
“I really hate all of you right now,” I growled.
They carried me down the deck stairs.
“We’re doing this for your own good,” Bowie said.
“And for our own entertainment,” Gibson added.
“Sorry, man. She’s my sister,” Jonah said.
Jameson grunted.
“So, are Cassidy and Amos back together?” I asked. I felt the second that Bowie’s grip on my leg loosened, and I yanked free, kicking him in the gut.
Gibson hooted. “Serves you right for not keepin’ your eye on the prize, Bow.”
Bowie recovered and wrestled my leg into submission, but at least I felt like I hadn’t gone down without a fight. I heard their footsteps on wood and realized they were carting my ass down my gran’s dock. “Oh, come on, guys. Not the lake.”
“Would you rather a fist to the face?” Jonah asked cheerfully.
