Page 102 of Ruptured

He didn’t flinch at Johnnie’s growl.

“Good one, Outlaw,” Kendall complimented, laughing wildly. “Although Johnnie isn’t a fool.”

“So what? You finally realized how much you pissed me off by letting her call you Christopher and told her to stop?”

Kendall tipped her head back and frowned at Johnnie. “Why are you angry I can call him Christopher? We’re family.” Uncertainty entered her eyes. “Aren’t we?”

“Yeah, ain’t we?”

“Motherfucker,” Johnnie growled, “you love Kendall fawning over you.”

“Nope. We friends. She’s my sister-in-law. Iamenjoyin’ the motherfuckin’ irony. You and Megan was friends. I ain’t liked it but I ain’t pitched a bitch cuz I know the fuckin’ difference. You fuckin’ don’t.” Christopher got to his feet and gave Johnnie an ugly look. “You ain’t cared Kiera was seventeen. If I didn’t protect her pussy until she was eighteen, you would’ve fucked her. You wouldna bothered about bein’ her friend. Getcha motherfuckin’ head out your motherfuckin’ ass. I ain’t no threat.”

“As if I ever was to you and Megan. She only ever wantedyou.”

“This old shit, Johnnie. I got enough new shit that we ain’t got to keep rehashin’ who Megan did or didn’t want. I don’t fuckin’ know how many motherfuckers, how many times, over the years told you why shit turned out like it did. I ain’t sure how many timesMegantold you. You just stuck on fuckin’ stupid shit.”

Christopher snapping his fucking fingers and Kendall falling into line enraged Johnnie. When Megan never jumped tohisbidding. He’d had a fucking plan to claim CJ as his own because Christopher hadn’t wanted her or their baby.

Did she listen? Did she evenconsiderhis idea?

Christopher started past him.

“I hope Megan’s happy with you,” Johnnie barked, pushed to his limit. “Between me and you, her and Kendall, I’d say she got the short end of the bargain. Who would’ve ever thought it? My children love and respect their mother. The club members respect Kendall. Your boys can take Megan or leave her. One of her sons tried to kill her. She’s such a slave to your cock, she couldn’t even get him fucking help. The club members thinkshe’s nothing but a fucking cocksucking slut. She’s a fucking pathetic wretch, toiling away in your house, at the club, in your fucking bed. So fuck you, Christopher. Fuck you and fuck her.Fuckher. You’ll lose her soon enough. She can’t keep cheating death, motherfucker.”

Throughout Johnnie’s tirade, Christopher stood quietly and kept his expression blank. Except at the end. Seeing that spark of fear, the worry, told Johnnie he’d gotten to him.

He smiled with vicious triumph.

Christopher left without another word.

Just as the door closed behind Christopher’s exit, Kendall let out a little snore.

March 2nd

“Hey, Reb.” Diesel bent and brushed his lips over her forehead.

“Hey, Dee,” Rebel greeted quietly, still a little groggy, even though her sedatives had been scaled back two days ago, rightafter her chest tube was removed because her lung had re-inflated.

She wanted to talk to Rule. Though Rebel understood why Daddy insisted she couldn’t—the psychiatrist didn’t think it was a good idea for him to hear from her or Momma—she’d wanted to say goodbye before they moved him to facilities in California.

Smiling, Diesel slid his fingers through Rebel’s hair, standing on the side of her bed closest to the door, allowing Momma access to Rebel on the opposite side. The one near the chair and closest to her own bed.

Momma leaned in and hugged Rebel, not caring that Rebel hugged her back and sobbed so fiercely, it wet her gown.

She stroked her hair. “I’m so sorry, my precious love,” she said. “Not only has my neglect of your brother almost cost you your life but it has taken such a great emotional toll on you.”

“I just want Rule to love me again.”

“Hewill,” Momma said fiercely. “We’re getting him the best care and he’ll be home again before you know it.”

Rebel nodded, trusting and believing her mother.

“We need to getyoubetter,” she said, thumbing away the tears sliding down her cheeks. “Zoann told me that Bailey suggested you get into counseling as well.”

“I don’t want to talk to Aunt Bailey.”

Momma smiled. “It would be unethical for a member of your family to provide psychiatric care on the record. Even if that wasn’t the case, I wouldn’t allow Bailey to do it.”