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“Of course not. The bitch is lucky to have you.”
“Xenia’s special, okay? I need you to be nice to her.”
“No. People mustearnmy respect.”
“Have I earned it?”
“Of course,” Kourtney says, dropping her shark persona and revealing the tender heart of my little sister. “I want this woman to be right for you. Do you understand?”
“She says she loves me.”
Kourtney goes quiet again. “I heard her shop is on a dumpy road, and she’s bleeding money.”
“Who told you that?”
“I asked around after Wynonna only gave me the rainbow version of your woman’s story.”
“Sheismy woman, Kourtney. You can’t meddle in this, or I might lose her. If that happens, I’ll never forgive you.”
Kourtney doesn’t answer immediately. She’s struggling between her normal bitch personality and the need to please her big brother.
“I’m willing to take that chance if it’s the only way to protect you.”
“Kourtney.”
“I love you.”
“Don’t do that.”
“I’m only where I am because of you.”
“You worked hard.”
“If not for you, I’d be living with a redneck in a trailer.”
“No, you were always going to find a better way.”
“You saved me a thousand times, every day in so many ways. I owe you everything,” Kourtney says, sounding ready to cry before shifting gears. “That’s why I’ll make sure this bitch is good enough for you. No one loves you like I do. It’s my job to save you, even from yourself.”
“If you fuck this up for me, I will wreck you, Kourtney. You’ll never have a car that doesn’t go up in flames.”
“Another risk I’m willing to take.”
“Just leave this alone.”
“No. I’ll be in the Valley in a week. Expect me to make your cupcake lady jump through Olympics-sized hoops to win my blessing.”
“She already had to deal with the cult. If you push her, she might just leave me.”
“Which wackadoodle fucks hassled her?”
“Four and Six.”
“Harmless bitches. Your cupcake lady hasn’t seen shit yet. Prepare her. I’ll see you soon.”
Hanging up on my sister, I holler into the void. The Valley responds by going quiet as if intimidated by my rage. The birds and other wildlife rebound from their fear and get loud as if to prove they’re no more afraid of me than my sister.
I never babied Kourtney when we were younger. I didn’t know how. But I did right by her. We were a package deal. That’s why she was in my group, even though she barely got along with anyone. Many girls would have survived by acting submissive, but Kourtney learned early on to be a predator. She was always on guard and on the hunt.
