Page 16 of Ruptured

“Fuck you. My dad’s involved in this, too.” Fuck him for trying to gaslight Rory. “If Dad helps Tabitha get Aunt Meggie to some stupid cabin, that crosses a fucking line. He’s signing her death warrant.”

“The outcome would still be the same,” DeLuca said tiredly. “Your father dead and your mother not long behind.”

It felt as if a bucket of stones dropped in Rory’s gut, and he pressed his lips together.

“You involved yourself in this situation,” DeLuca said flatly. “Now, you have to deal with the knowledge or live with the fallout.”

Rory dropped his gaze. He didn’t want to give DeLuca the satisfaction of watching him fall apart, because themotherfucker was right. Rory had no backup, only an abstract plan that required the help of a man who’d been sent as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

A hand landed on Rory’s shoulder. “Johnnie doesn’t know Bash’s intentions, Rory. WhatIknow is he honestly wants to talk to Meggie without the fear of Outlaw or one of the other Dwellers rushing to take her away. Is it ideal? No. Is it smart? No. Not for Bash or Johnnie. If Bash is high, he’ll hurt her.”

“You just fucking told me Bash wants you to kill Aunt Meggie,” Rory yelled, offended DeLuca took him for an idiot. He knocked DeLuca’s hand off his shoulder. “It isn’t both, fuckhead. I think he does want her dead. No, Iknowhe does.”

“Ryan told you.”

“Did I say that?” He wouldn’t rat out Ryan and get him in trouble. “But it’s interesting you’ve backed away from your fucking about face.”

DeLuca scowled. “You will get yourself killed. Back off if you know what’s good for you.”

“Does my dad know?”

“Rory, for the last fucking time–”

“Shut the fuck up. You assholes want my aunt dead.”

“If you spout that bullshit, you’re going to be responsible for a fucking bloodbath.”

“Then fucking kill me–”

“Fuck!” DeLuca lifted his hand in the air. “Right hand to God, he just wants to talk to her. I swear. I’ve also been listening to see if they’ve managed to convince her so I can be there instead of Cleaner. Bashdoeslisten to me sometimes. But he has to be sober and he has to be away from those other violent pricks.”

“If you want to help her, why’d you agree to come—”

“I reformulated my plan after your dad took me to the old Donovan farmhouse and she was there. In under ninety minutes, she told off five bikers, put me in my place, listened toa bunch of smelly motherfuckers, beat the fuck out of Outlaw, absolved everyone, then calmed her husband down. It was fucking amazing. I decided to protect her as best I can. But if she can do all that with Outlaw, Johnnie, and those other fuckheads, I’m banking on her finally getting through to Bash.”

“You want her to meet with him at a secluded cabin?”

DeLuca nodded. “I do. Just to talk. I swear. I wouldn’t lead her to her brutal rape and gory death.” He offered a sad smile. “She’s the key to it all and the only hope to save not only your dad, but the club too, and avoid a bloodbath.”

Spending hours at the hospital awaiting word on Megan and Rebel’s condition wasn’t an exercise Johnnie wanted to ever repeat. Nor had he ever felt more of an outsider, relegated to the hallway outside the locked doors to the private wing or the waiting room with the rest of the family.

Outside of his sons, Christopher only allowed Morticianaccess to Megan and Rebel. Rarely had Johnnie felt as humiliated or overlooked.

He didn’t care if Mortician was family too–second cousin to him and Christopher. Perhaps, Christopher was aware of their biological bonds. He’d taken one look at Cleaner and knew that motherfucker was related to Digger and Mortician. With Kendall’s desertion to Christopher’s side, Johnnie suspected she’d told him Sharper and Cee Cee were cousins.

And if Christopher didn’t know but still allowed Mortician on the private wing but not Johnnie? That would be even more of an egregious affront.

It wasn’t as if he could ask. He’d only give himself away.

So he’d stayed at the hospital until Mortician brought CJ an overnight bag and returned with the news that Megan and Rebel were stable. Unable to bear it anymore, Johnnie left. Surprisingly, Kendall and the kids weren’t far behind.

By the time he awakened this morning, Kendall and Rory were gone and Mattie was asking permission to return to the hospital with Grant, who was back home because of yet another tragedy.

Johnnie almost sent her back to her room, but she’d looked so hopeful, he couldn’t decline the request. After breakfast, he took JJ and Blade to the clearing for target practice. Grandda handed Johnnie his first gun near his third birthday, too.

Except the outing with his sons almost ended in another tragedy. In the split-second Johnnie left Blade to his own devices, he’d pointed the gun at himself and tried to pull the trigger. The soft click of the blocked hammer made Johnnie focus on his youngest child. Blade still had the gun pointed at his face. If JJ hadn’t remembered to put the safety back on once they grew bored with the weapon, Blade would’ve been dead.

After swearing both boys to secrecy, Johnnie ended target practice. Back at home, he sent Blade with Ella, while JJdisappeared to wherever. Meanwhile, Johnnie went to the library, shaken at how close he’d come to being in Christopher’s shoes.