Some get on Eden, too. My cousin kicks him again and yells, “I just got my hair done, you ass.” She lunges at him, and he steps aside and sprays water directly on her head.
“Melt, witch.” Selene lunges for him again and grabs his collar.
“What the hell is your problem?” Eden asks right before she jumps on his back. Dax loses his balance, and the three of them fall to the floor.
Eden rains punches on his back, while Dax tries to extricate himself. Selene pulls on his shirt with one hand and tries to scratch him with the other. She manages to get enough of a grasp on the shirt to rip it in half.
“Get him in the nuts, Selene!” I shout just as Ms. Hazel walks in.
“What the hell is going on?” No one pays her any attention as Dax continues to fight off my friends. Eden is doing her best to get him in a headlock, but he keeps moving his neck and head. Selene finally stands and kicks him in the knee. He howls like an animal in the wild.
Ms. Hazel opens the kitchen door and shouts, “Ripley, get in here and get your wife. Right now, before she destroys my kitchen, and you can bet your sweet ass, I’m gonna make you pay for it.”
In an instant, Ripley storms in, along with a man named Preacher, who I believe also works for Dax. Ripley lifts Eden off Dax’s back, and Preacher grabs Selene. He wraps his arm around her waist and lifts her off her feet while she continues to throw air punches.
Preacher makes the mistake of putting Selene back on her feet. She manages to get away, runs to Dax, and bites him in the arm.
“What the fuck?” Dax yells. “Get this pit bull the fuck off me.” Preacher pulls Selene away again, but not before she scrapes her fingernails on Dax’s face. “Are you rabid?” he yells. “Ouch.” He puts his hand on his cheek.
“Don’t call my cousin a dog!”
“I would never compare her to a dog. I love dogs too much for that. She’s more like a rabid raccoon.”
“Really?” I run to him and kick him in his other shin. He howls and hops in pain.
Eden tries to go for him, but Ripley holds her in place.
“He hurt my hand.” Eden lifts her right hand in the air and winces.
“He did what?” Ripley puts his wife behind him and steps to Dax, but Ms. Hazel intercepts.
“Your wife’s hand is fine. She’s only saying that to get you to hit him,” Ms. Hazel says.
“It worked,” Ripley practically growls. “You know she’s still recovering.”
“Then maybe she shouldn’t have jumped on me.” Dax dabs his face with his torn shirt. “Look at what they did to my shirt.” He gestures at himself. “You’re going to pay for it.” He points at Selene, who gives him the middle finger.
“Back off,” Ms. Hazel warns Ripley, who takes a threatening step toward Dax. “Dax, every man gets his ass kicked by a woman at least once in his life. You got yours kicked by two, making you twice blessed. Accept the beatdown before you make it three women. Ripley, your wife is fine.”
Ripley takes both of Eden’s hands and kisses them.
“I’m better now.” I almost roll my eyes as Eden smiles into her husband’s face.
“What the hell is going on?” Ripley asks his wife. “Why did you two attack him?”
“Did you know that he’s blackmailing Cori into some sham marriage?” Ripley’s eyes widen as he cranes his neck to look at Dax.
“It’s not blackmail. It’s a bribe.” He pulls on the torn shirt and cusses under his breath. “That’s why I called you two here. Expect my invitation today.”
“You did what?” Ripley asks.
“I’m getting married.”
Chapter 27
Dax
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I don’t appreciate King’s tone, and I won’t abide by it.
