“Holy shit.” Daisy breathed it out as they headed back to where Jonah was now standing with Levi. “If you made se**n, I’d totally have your babies.”

Raven snorted. “Um. Thanks, I guess. Has she done this before?”

“She went off on me once in the middle of a restaurant. And she’s made comments under her breath. But she’s never touched me. I thought for sure she was going to end up with a black eye.”

“It’s been a very long time since I’ve had to solve a problem with a fist. She nearly broke that fast. I imagine Liesl’s probationary like of me is going to dissolve away now. That was pretty tacky of me.”

“Of you? Are you kidding me? You did nothing but defend yourself.”

Levi sidled up to Daisy. “What’s got you bouncing around like a bee in a jar?”

“Nothing.” Raven tried to stop it, not wanting the scene, but both men were far too smart for that.

“It was Gwen,” Daisy finally said, throwing an apologetic look Raven’s way. “She flipped out in the bathroom. She grabbed Raven’s arm and yelled in her face.”

Jonah’s features darkened and a slice of emotion nearly cut her in half. That was defense, protection.

“Do I need to call an ambulance?” Levi tried to make light, but he wore a similarly dark look.

“It’s fine. She made her point. I made mine.”

“It is most assuredly not fine, Raven. This bitch has done enough damage as it is. What did she say?”

Daisy told it and Raven made a mental note to go over a little thing called discretion with her friend.

“This is going to make a scene.” Raven linked her arm with Jonah’s. “You promised sushi. I had to deal with your mother and your sister-in-law. I deserve ice cream as well.”

Across the room Gwen burst from the women’s room and Raven blew out a breath. From the look on her face, things were only going to get worse.

Jonah stalked over, his arm around Raven’s waist. Levi did much of the same with Daisy.

She dug her heels in. “I said no.”

He paused. “Why? Damn it, Raven, I can’t allow this sort of behavior. It’s bad enough that she’s said what she has in the past to Daisy. But she grabbed you. She had no f**king right to touch you. It is not acceptable.”

She leaned in close. “I appreciate that more than I can even say. But I’m begging you not to make a scene. Please.”

He stopped, emotion filling his eyes. He turned to face her fully, kissing her right there in front of God and everyone. “I don’t want you to feel like this is how it’s going to be. Being with me, I mean. She can’t get away with this.”

“Can you please just deal with it any time and any place not here? People are looking. I don’t like it.”

Levi had turned a few feet away, watching. Daisy was talking to him, brushing a hand down the front of his lapel.

But on the other side of the room Gwen was giving Mal an earful.

“If we stay, I’m going to have to deal with it. She’s over there with Mal right now.”

He wanted to go punch his brother in the face for having such bad taste. He wanted to slap Gwen hard enough to leave a mark. But he saw the misery on Raven’s face and it cut him deep. The pain in her whispered plea had wrapped around his heart.

“Come on, I have some sushi and ice cream to procure. Levi, why don’t you and Daisy come along?”

“Because you know this needs dealing with.”

“I do. But not here. We can go see him tomorrow.”

Levi looked to Raven and then back to Daisy. “This shit has gone on long enough.”

“It has. I agree.”

“This is a benefit. It’s not about your family.” Jonah heard the anxiety in Raven’s voice.

Levi huffed a sigh and turned Daisy toward the doors. “I need a drink with that sushi.”

They’d made it to the drive of the hotel, waiting for their car when Mal came out, Gwen at his heels. Raven gathered herself up to her full height and Jonah held her close. “I’m going to handle this, all right?”

“Is that your way of telling me not to punch your sister-in-law?”

He grinned a moment and then turned back to Mal. “Be careful now. There’s not a full ballroom here to protect you and your wife.”

“Your f**king date attacked my wife.”

Raven snorted. “Is that what she told you?” She looked at Gwen, who had the good grace to keep her gaze averted.

“Why should I believe the likes of you?”

Jonah stepped forward, bumping his brother with his chest. “You best watch what you say, Mal. Think real carefully about what comes out of that mouth of yours next. And think about what a lying bitch you’re married to before you go tossing accusations around.”

Daisy spoke, breaking the tension. “We were in the ladies’ room when Gwen came in. Before Raven said a single thing she started in. She called me a whore. She insulted Raven, repeatedly. It was Raven who tried to end it by leaving. It was Gwen who grabbed Raven. It was Gwen. It’s always Gwen, Mal. I wish that wasn’t true, but you know it is.”

“You’re lying. You just want me out of the way.” Gwen’s voice carried a mean edge.

“For what? Out of whose way? You speak like you’re important in any sense.” Levi stood next to Jonah, both men keeping Raven and Daisy behind them.