Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 5

Elliot couldn't intervene in time and could only rush over with a look of distress to help Emmett up.

"Where does it hurt, buddy?" he asked, gently propping his little brother.

"Here... and here." Emmett sobbed, pointing to his backside and shin.

Elliot rolled up Emmett's jeans for a quick look and was shocked, "Holy smokes!"

A large bruise was blossoming on Emmett's pale leg, a deep purple mark that stood out starkly against his skin.

Elliot clenched his fists, fuming. He had wanted to keep his brother Evan from stirring up trouble, but now it seemed he wouldn't just stand by; he was also ready to let him off the leash.

Someone thought they could bully Emmett and get away with it? Emmett had his back!

"It's alright, Emmett. I’m here. Let me blow on it, and the pain will go away," Elliot consoled.

Emmett nodded in aggravation, "...Okay."

Meanwhile, Evan had chased Nola out of the train station.

Upon seeing her trying to get into her car, he dashed in front of her and puffed up like a little bulldog.

"Hey, witch, who gave you the nerve to pick on my little brother?"

Witch?

Nola's finely arched eyebrows knitted in anger as she glared at Evan. She wanted to smack him into next week!

But with Tarquin in the car, she needed to curry favor and show off her 'affection' for children. So she shot Evan several death glares and hissed, "Who are you calling a witch?!"

"You! You're not only ugly but also old and mean! A wicked old hag beyond saving!" Evan retorted, then pulled out a pocketknife and started circling the luxury car, leaving a trail of scratches.

Nola's eyes bulged as she saw the fresh marks on her sleek black car.

"Stop it, you little terror! Do you have any idea whose car this is when you did this? You're playing with fire!" she yelled, rushing to stop him.

Evan dodged, leading Nola on a wild goose chase around the car like a circus act.

Tarquin had come to pick up Nola and was watching the scene unfold from the car seat. Frowning, he said to his assistant Lowell, "Go check it out."

Tarquin's face was stormy as he held Evan up to him.

"Are you ordering me around?" he asked, his voice cool but with an undercurrent of chill.

"I..." Evan, behind his mask, froze mid-sentence.

Oh boy, this man... he looked a lot like him and his big brother—like an adult version of them!

Was this their absentee, good-for-nothing dad?

But their mom had told them their dad had passed away young, taken by illness.

It must just be a resemblance!

Thinking this, Evan fluttered his long lashes a few times and said defiantly,

"I'll let you off this time since you look a bit like my dad. Now put me down, or else! I'm warning you, I can be scary when I'm mad!"

He even yelled and made a spooky face at Tarquin to punctuate his threat.