Page 111 of Remorseless

Bailey blinked; Harley gasped.

“You want to be a part of this family?” Meggie continued. “Your daughter is being held as accountable as mine. Either Rebel tells her side of the storywithHarley present or I’m barring you and her.”

“You wouldn’t,” Bailey said.

Arms still folded, Meggie lifted a brow. “Try me.”

“You just said you didn’t want to come between Daddy and Uncle Christopher, Aunt Meggie,” Harley said, her voice trembling with feigned despair. Anger burned in her eyes. “You’re doing exactly that.”

“My decree for you and your mom have no bearings on your daddy and your brothers,” Meggie responded. “Especially in club matters. This isn’t a do-or-die, life-or-death situation where Christopher and Mortician have to take sides and ruin their working relationship and their friendship because we, as wives and daughters, can’t handle our own business.”

Harley studied Meggie. “If…if I can’t come over or go to the club, I can’t see CJ…never mind, I’ll see him at school.”

The triumph in those words annoyed Meggie. She smiled. “Unless he attends whatever school Bailey would send you to, I’ll see to it that you’d never see even the back of my son.”

Harley and Bailey exchanged glances, unaware of what a tenuous place Meggie felt she had in CJ’s life. Not that those two witches needed to know.

“So what will it be?” Meggie asked. “We’re hearing Rebel’s story or you two are leaving?”

Bailey pulled Harley into her arms and hugged her tightly, then drew in a deep breath and released her. They both looked at Rebel.

“Tell us why the fuck you knocked Harley out, Rebel,” Christopher said.

“Harley said she and Ryan—” Rebel blew out a breath, irritation crossing her features— “She and Ryan kissed. She said it to make CJ jealous. I called her desperate becauseRyan.” She shivered dramatically.

“The extra commentary’s unnecessary, baby,” Christopher told her. “Bitsy and Val don’t like hearin’ their boy a motherfucker.”

“Uncle Val and Aunt Zoann not stupid, Dad,” Axel said with indignation. “They know Ryan’s a motherfucker. Unlike Aunt Bailey who can’t see Harley’s a liar and mean.”

“You callin’ your Aunt Bailey stupid, boy?”

“Aunt Bailey’s not stupid, Dad,” Ryder answered. “She’s just blind because Harley’s vicious.”

“Harley’sstupid,” Axel said. “She punched the Blonde Viper for no fucking reason. The only person who ever beat Reb was Mattie. Not even Uncle Johnnie bested Reb andHarleythought she could? Stupid, I say. The prosecution rests.” He smiled at Rebel. “I got it right, Reb?”

“This shit out of hand.” Christopher stalked to the door. “All lil’ motherfuckers except CJ, Rebel, Mattie, Rory, Devon, and Harley get the fuck out.”

“I want to hear what my sons have to say,” Bailey said stubbornly.

“Lou stay,” Christopher said.

Once all the other kids trooped out, grumbling about unfairness, he turned to Lou. “Tell your ma what happened.”

“If you lie on me, I’ll never forgive you,” Harley swore.

“If you throw in never crying or talking to me again, you have a deal. I’ll lie and say Rebel attacked you. Otherwise, I’m telling how you keep trying to play CJ no matter how much we all tell you all he wants is honesty. You really think Rebel’s going to sit quietly while you mistreat her brother?”

“You’remybrother.”

Lou shrugged. “It’s your fault Mom and Dad don’t like each other anymore. It’s your fault Lolly doesn’t visit us anymore. It’s your fault Lolly and Mom aren’t friends anymore. You can’t be mean to people and not expect retaliation. I always looked up to you. Everybody thought you were so smart and pretty. But you’re mean, petty, and spiteful. I wish Iwasn’tyour brother. I wish Dad could take Kaleb and me, and leave you and Mom, so we could be happy again.”

“Lou—” Mort started.

Harley rushed Lou and punched him in the mouth. “Motherfucker!” she yelled.

CJ shoved Lou behind him before Harley hit him again. Instead, she walloped CJ’s chest since he was taller than her brother. Before she inflicted any more damage, Mortician plucked her toward him. To Meggie’s way of thinking, Harley had just proven her guilt.

“Go away, Daddy! Blame me—”