“You should,” Bailey screeched. “You always take up for him without thinking about how it affects Harley.”
“I’m not taking up for him. But Harley not telling the fucking truth. Her story don’t make sense. Rebel throw a fucking punch in a minute, but it’s never for nothing. A motherfucker got to do something first.”
“I don’t have to hear anyone’s side but Harley’s. I especially don’t need CJ’s. I believe Harley because she wouldn’t lie about something so serious. Unlike CJ and Rebel.”
“Fine, Bailey,” Mortician growled, and looked at Rebel. “Your turn, baby.”
Panic settled into Harley’s eyes. She wove truths into her bucket of lies. Undoubtedly, it had to do with Ryan.
“Harley’s a desperate bitch,” Rebel scoffed. “The end.”
Meggie glared at Rebel.
“I hate you!” Harley cried.
“Boohoo, bitch. I don’t give a fuck,” Rebel said. “I’m better off without a lying, miserable viper in my life and so is CJ.”
“Rebel, tell your side and stop addin’ shit,” Christopher ordered.
“Fine!”
“No! No! No!” Harley said, sobbing. “Everything she says isa lie.”
“Reb ain’t said a motherfuckin’ thing, Harley,” Christopher growled. “We got your side. Shut the fuck up so we can get Rebel’s.”
“We’ve heard enough, Lucas,” Bailey said.
Mortician shook his head. “No, Bailey. We got to hear all sides—”
Drawing herself up, Bailey fisted her hands on her hips. “You’re humiliating our daughter. Show us whose side you’re on and prove your lovenow. Yousayyou love us? Show it. I’m telling you we’ve heard everything we need to hear.”
“Andmyass tellin’ you we ain’t,” Christopher roared, interrupting whatever Mortician might have said. “You shuttin’ the fuck up, Bailey, just like motherfuckin’ Harley.Youwelcome to get to fuckin’ steppin’. Harley not leavin’ this motherfucker until we hear Rebel side.”
Meggie hated Mortician’s stricken look. Outrage dropped into Bailey’s face.
“Mort can’t do nothing, Bailey,” Digger said. “Outlaw word final. Don’t put your man in this position and have his ass shot off.”
Bailey threw Christopher an accusatory look. “You wouldn’t!”
“Mort my good friend,” Christopher responded. “My family, so he get more leeway than a regular member. But this ismyfuckin’ house and I’mhispresident. Most of fuckin’ all, Rebelmydaughter.”
“We refuse to listen to Rebel’s side,” Bailey snarled. “This is a family matter not a club matter.”
Christopher glared at Bailey. Envisioning the dissolution of a decades-old friendship between Christopher and Mortician, Meggie stepped in.
“She’s right, Christopher,” she said sourly, interceding because of the men not because of Bailey. “Therefore, you can’t bar Mortician from speaking uportaking his family and leaving.”
Like everything recently, the camaraderie of their extended family was damaged. Instead of adding their two cents, everyone remained silent. Uneasiness hung in the air. Since Christopher’s birthday party, when Meggie announced he could kill Johnnie, family matters turned into uncomfortable situations instead of boisterous disagreements.
“We’ll be leaving in that case,” Bailey said, gesturing for Harley.
She smirked at Rebel.
“Bailey?” Meggie called, folding her arms and halting her and Harley’s retreat.
Turning to her and placing an arm around Harley’s shoulder, Bailey lifted a brow.
“Don’t ever set foot in this house again. You want Harley’s behavior to go unchecked, that’s up to you. But I don’t want youorher at this house or at the table at the club.”
