Whisky Throttle (Throttle Series, #1)

twenty-nine

Calla

I'm so pissed at my sister I could shove her face in the spinach dip. She won't stop glancing over her shoulder at Maddox, Isaiah, and Feyre, a continuous crease between her eyebrows. I haven't birthed my own babies, so I don't understand the concept of motherly instincts, but she doesn't have a valid reason to be concerned about her daughter. Her attitude is a fraction of a centimetre away from facing my wrath.

Vance rests a hand on my thigh. "Simmer down, Calla," he murmurs. "Your face is turning red."

"It is not!" I snap, shoving his hand away. I continue to stare at my sister, watching her every move. If she gets up and walks over to Isaiah and Maddox, I'm going to hop on my dirt bike and run her over. Maybe the injuries will knock some sense into her thick skull. It's obvious Maddox has done nothing wrong. I don't know what's making her so uncomfortable. Perhaps there's a stick shoved up her ass.

"So," Lindsay says, picking a piece of watermelon. "You're his cousin?"

Vance, using his deadpan, cocky bastard charm, leans back and wraps an arm around Laurel's shoulders. Her face turns the colour of a strawberry, but Vance is too busy with my sister to notice. "Whose? Specification is necessary when there is over one male figure present. For all I know, you could be referring to your husband."

Lindsay presses her lips into a flat line. "Maddox," she clarifies.

Her tone irritates me and causes Vance to rest his hand on my thigh again. I glance at him. Although there's a muscle tic in his jaw and he's having a hard time sitting still, he's appearing calm. "Oh, then yes," he replies. "He is my cousin. A cousin whom I love and will protect with my life. I also respect him and hate it when others can't do the same." He narrows his eyes at Lindsay. "Do me a favour and let me know if you see any irregular behaviour around him, okay?"

In my head, I'm cheering for Vance. God, I love this guy. He's making Lindsay squirm in her seat. As she should. She's judging Maddox without giving him a chance to prove he's a good person. It's unfair he has to prove he's nothing like his father, but that's the hand life has dealt him. Maddox has done a fine job over the years.

"You know what?" Lindsay says, setting her drink down. She pushes to her feet and steps out from the bench of the picnic table. "I haven't seen Feyre dirt bike in a while. I'm going to join Isaiah and her at the Learner's Loop."

The lack of Maddox's name makes me grind my teeth. I stand, knocking over a bottle of ketchup for the hot dogs we'll be roasting later.  "I'll tag along."

Lindsay continues to walk toward the Learner's Loop. I sigh. One thing we have in common is our stubbornness. When we want something, we'll work for it. I was hoping she'd argue with me and give Maddox and Isaiah a little more time together.

"Calla," Vance says, grabbing my wrist. He has a look of defeat in his eyes. "Promise me you will not murder your sister. Or harm her."

I roll my eyes. There goes my plan of running her over. Just to play along, I give Vance a sadistic smile. "I will not murder her. As much as I want to, Isaiah loves her and it would be unfair if he lost his wife."