“Just tying up some loose ends. Don’t worry about it. But who’s ignoring you and looking at someputa?”
“My husband. Diesel,” Tabitha added as if Tío didn’t know. “I don’t know what to do.”
“CJ’s big bro,si?”
Another piece of information Tío knew. Ever since Bash remarked in passing that he resembled CJ, Tío had developed an unnatural hatred toward their cousin. Admittedly,somethingabout Tío resembled CJ, but the motherfucker wished he was as good looking.
“Yeah,” Tabitha confirmed, her lips trembling.
“Fucking pussy in a business suit, pretending to be a badass,” Tío scoffed.
Rumors about Diesel’s brutality ran rampant in the club. Knowledge Tío didn’t have and Tabitha apparently didn’t believe if she’d heard them. Shine would know. Why that braindead fuckhead wouldn’t tell Tío not to fuck with Diesel, Easton didn’t know.
As much as he didn’t like his half-brother, theywerefamily. Easton didn’t want Tío to fuck with a man who was not only unafraid to shed blood but quick to do it.
“Leave that shit alone, Tío,” Easton advised. “Don’t fuck with Diesel, especially without running the idea by Bash. Diesel’s a madman. He might fucking kill you.”
“You don’t have shit to tell me,sapo. I do what the fuck I want to,” Tío growled, punching his chest. “No motherfucker around can stop me. Papi knows that. He won’t care if I wipe the fucking floor clean with that motherfucker.”
Easton lifted a brow at Tabitha, hoping she opened her fucking mouth and confessed.
“You know why he putmein charge?” Tío smirked at Easton. “Because you’re a fucking pussy, too. You’d run to him for every little deviation from the plan. Me?” He directed his thumb toward himself. “I don’t need permission to handle motherfuckers.”
“You don’t want to fuck with Diesel, brother,” Easton reiterated, holding onto his temper—and his fucking sanity—by a thread. “Not yet. At least study your op first. Or let me hang around him a little more. Granted, I haven’t seen him in action. I’ve only heard rumors, but–”
Tío swept Easton with a look of disgust. “Fuck you.”
“Easton’s right, Tío,” Aunt Celia broke in. “It is always better to have a complete picture before you take on the enemy.”
“No, Aunt.” Tío’s lip curled into a sneer. “Cousin Tabitha needs me to step up for her.”
“I do,” Tabitha said primly.
Easton glared at her. “You sure you want to send Tío to your fucking husband?”
Tabitha rolled her eyes. “I never took you for a coward.”
“I’m not—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Tío ordered. “I need amusement.Papihas forbidden me to touch CJ for now.” He smiled at Easton. “Text that motherfucker and pretend I’m a client in desperate need.”
“Fuck no. I’m not sending you to your fucking death.” No matter how much easier Easton’s life would be. Motherfucker’s death would hurt Aunt Celia and send Bash into a further spiral.
“Do it, Easton, or I’m calling Papi, and telling him you met with Rory Donovan.”
Easton’s gaze flew to Tío’s; the motherfucker smirked.
“You fucked up,sapo. I finally have something to keep you in fucking line. Now, text that motherfucker so I can pay him a visit and show him who’s boss.”
Glancing at his watch, Diesel tried to curb his impatience. He hadn’t accepted the invitation from Jana’s parents, but since she’d returned to Camas for him, he wanted to see her. He felt responsible for her, although he could no longer marry her.
He hated that thought. He hated the reason why even more. It made him feel like everything Uncle Christopher and CJ had called him. A creep. A pedo. A disgusting asshole thathewould’ve taken pleasure in castrating.
But he couldn’t imagine how upset Rebel would be if he went through with his plans to marry Jana. Rebel had been through enough. If he had to confine himself to looking after Jana as a friend, then he would. Rebel and Jana didn’t live in the same city, which helped. Camas was familiar territory to Jana, so he’d set her up in her own place and visit as often as possible.
Rebel would never know.
Yet, he worried something inside of him was wrong. Wanting Rebel was horrendous enough, but it concerned him that he might find another underaged girl desirable if she flaunted herself in front of him.
