Page 169 of Ruptured

Snatching two label-less glass containers of yogurts, Diesel shut the refrigerator door and walked to the utensil drawer. Once he got two spoons, he returned to the breakfast bar, sliding into the seat next to Axel.

“What do you mean because he’s CJ?”

Axel frowned. “Why does this have no flavors on the jar?” he asked, ignoring Diesel’s question.

He didn’t bother correcting Axel’s speech. “Tabitha likes to repurpose the containers.”

“Repurpose?”

“Reuse.”

“Well, she can do it after the yogurt’s ate. A man wants to know what he’s eating.”

“I’m sure it’s fine. When I lived here, she always got flavors I enjoyed.”

“That’s surprising. You said your woman is mean and evil, so she wouldn’t have no flavors just for you. You don’t live here no more, so she especially wouldn’t buy nothing for you.”

“She’s been asking me to come back home. Just try it and see if you like it.”

“But—”

“Since we got in the fucking car, you’ve said you were hungry, Axel,” Diesel said in frustration. “This is all there is to eat for now.”

“Fine,” Axel huffed.

Diesel opened the containers, then slid one to Axel. They picked up their spoons, took a hefty helping, and shoved it into their mouths.

The assault on his tastebuds kicked up just as Axel gagged and the yogurt flew out of his mouth in a burst of spit and outrage. Droplets landed on Diesel’s face. Somehow, he swallowed, unconcerned by Axel’s reaction.

He commiserated.

“Motherfucker, you tried to poison me,” Axel accused.

Diesel got to his feet and wet paper towels to wipe off his face, then brought some to Axel.

“I wouldn’t have eaten any if I wanted to kill you,” Diesel reasoned.

“Objection!” Axel slammed his hand on the counter. “You could’ve tasted it firstandeaten from the same jar as me.”

Valid arguments. “Sustained,” he said with a small smile.

“Attempted murder is a big charge. I sentence you to death.”

“Goddamn, Ax. You won’t even let me off with a warning? It’s not acapital offense. Attempted murderis a felony with the potential for a long prison sentence. I was unaware of the jar’s contents, so I can’t receive a death sentence.”

“Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.”

A point he’d taught Axel. “Can I ask you something, little brother?”

“Yeah,” Axel grouched.

Smiling, Diesel leaned against the counter. “You want to be a prosecutor?”

“A defense prosecutor, but CJ said I need to think about something else in the law ‘cause we have a lot of them. You. Aunt Kendall. Brooks. Probably, Grant.”

Diesel couldn’t imagine Grant Harrington becoming a defense attorney. “There’s no such thing as a defense prosecutor, Ax. You either work to free a client or try to convict them.”

“If a motherfucker does something against me, I want to convict them. Otherwise, I want to get them off like you do.”