“Jesus Christ! What do you have under that hood?” When they all stared at him, Mitch simply shrugged. “I’m curious.”

“Now both y’all listen up and listen up good. You get in one more bit of trouble, and I’ll come down on you like the Archangel Gabriel himself. Understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” Ronnie answered.

But Sissy didn’t say anything, and Ronnie’s uncle stood in front of her waiting for that answer. They locked gazes, and Sissy didn’t back down. She never did. She really didn’t know how.

“Sissy promises too,” Ronnie said, pushing her uncle back toward the car.

With a snarl, the sheriff walked off, but not before tossing over his shoulder, “She’s just like her momma.”

She knew he’d said it on purpose. A low blow, but she still nearly had her hands around his throat when a strong arm grabbed her around the waist and yanked her back. She swung wildly ordering the sheriff to, “take that back, you bastard!”

But he only laughed at her and drove off.

Mitch wrapped his arms around her rage-shaking body and kissed her scalp. “Calm down.”

“He blames me for everything. I never did a damn thing to him, and he hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you,” Ronnie corrected her. “He just doesn’t like you.”

“Thanks.”

“Come on.” Ronnie smiled. “Let’s get out of here. I think we both need a beer.”

“I’m hungry,” both Shaw brothers stated simultaneously.

“Guess we better go to Sammy Ray’s diner then,” Sissy sighed. “I definitely don’t have enough food for the both of ya, and the steakhouse needs reservations made twenty-four hours in advance when you’re coming in with more than one male lion.”

“One of our kind tried to kill Mitch?”

“Yeah.” Ronnie put a paper napkin on her lap before looking back at Sissy. “Can you believe it? Where’s the loyalty?”

“I don’t know. Sounds like Mitchy here just pissed off some Pride, and they want revenge.”

“Stop calling me that. Only my mother can call me that because she was in labor for eighteen hours. And no Pride would fuck with me because no one wants to fuck with my mother.”

“That’s true,” Brendon confirmed while taking food off Ronnie’s plate—clearly to her annoyance. “The O’Neill Pride may not be in the Llewellyn ranks, but they are definitely feared and breed a lot of females. Personally, I agree with Dez. Some cat is being paid a lot of money to kill Mitch.”

“I’m surprised O’Farrell would even hire a woman. He doesn’t trust them to do anything but cook and—” He stopped talking when he looked up to see Sissy and Ronnie staring at him. “Forget it.”

“He may not have hired her. You do have a bounty on that big head.”

“You could stay lion all the time.” Now everyone stared at Ronnie.

“Why?” Sissy had to ask.

“I’m sure O’Farrell wants proof of Mitch’s death before he’ll pay up. And this lioness would know if she kills him as cat, he stays cat. Not like she’ll be able to prove dick then.”

“Wow.” Mitch nodded in approval. “That’s not remotely as stupid as it sounds.”

“Thanks.”

“But I can’t.” Mitch took a roll off Sissy’s plate, and she debated chopping his hands off.

“Why not?”

“Can’t play if I’m cat all the time.”

“Play?” Brendon glanced between them. “Play what?”

Sissy glanced at the clock on the wall of her brother’s diner. “Lord, Mitchell, we better move if we’re gonna make this practice on time.”

“Practice?” Brendon’s eyes narrowed. “Practice for what?”

Mitch gave a dramatic sigh. “You’re not gonna believe this, bruh, but in order to stay here, I have to play football.”

Sissy saw Ronnie wince seconds before Brendon’s hand slammed against the table. “How come he gets to play?”

“Now, darlin’,” Ronnie rubbed his forearm, “there’s no use gettin’ upset.”

“It’s not fair. I’m as good as him.”

“Is that why they call you Mr. Fumble Paws?”

Sissy barely ducked in time as that roll came flying at her head courtesy of Ronnie Lee.

“What? It was just a question.”

Chapter 12

Sammy Ray stormed into his brother’s shop while the big bastard was getting ready to get out to the field for practice.

“You’re making him play football?”

Travis barely glanced at him. “Don’t see what it is to you, Sammy Ray.”

“She’s your sister.”

“She doesn’t have to play.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Look, I didn’t tell her she had to leave. But it’s not safe to have him here.”

“But you’ll let him stay if he plays ball?” That only made sense in Travis’s universe.

“I’m willing to take the risk if he’s as good as she promises.”

Donnie walked out of the office and stopped. He stared at Sammy, and Sammy stared right back until Donnie looked away.

“Meet you outside.” Then Donnie was gone.

Lord, Bobby Ray and Sissy had the right idea. Leave this town and their crazy ways. Because really, Sammy didn’t know how much more of his big brother he could take.