Page 199 of Ruptured

“I need your help. I…Molly…” He fumbled in his jacket pocket for his phone, then pulled up her most recent photographs, sent this morning.

She was nude, covered in blood, and blindfolded. They’d also sent a video with a timestamp. That was the only reason he believed she was still alive.

Johnnie studied the photo a moment, then shoved it back to Ryan. “I can’t help.”

If he didn’t fear a gruesome death and his mother’s hatred, he would go to Uncle Christopher. He’d hoped Johnnie had developed some compassion. “Please—”

“You should’ve told me it was about Molly. I would’ve saved you a trip.”

“You didn’t ask,” he said in frustration.

“I can’t help you. Don’t bring her up again.”

“If I go to Outlaw, he’ll end up figuring out my role in her disappearance.”

“I don’t care. About Molly. About anything—”

Ryan’s eyes widened. “Because ofLogan?”

“He was my grandfather.”

His hope dwindling, Ryan stood and started to walk to the door, but he paused and turned back to his uncle. “I know you’re upset. I was, too. Logan’s dead. He can’t comeback to help you through this—”

“He would never,” Johnnie spat. “He was too cold for such kindness.”

“Then why are you mourning him?”

“Watch it before I cut your tongue out. I won’t allow you to blaspheme him.”

“He wasn’t God. Obviously, Logan had flaws, but you’re deserting your family for shit that happened decades ago.”

Clenching his jaw, Johnnie turned his head, dismissing Ryan.

Seeking Johnnie’s help had been a waste of time from the very start. For whatever reason, Johnnie wouldn’t negotiate Molly’s return. His rigid stance left Ryan no choice.

He headed to the door he remembered belonging to Mattie, pleased when he discovered his accuracy. Maybe Willard and Wally would finally capitulate and return Molly to Ryan ifhesurrendered and put the cameras in Mattie’s room.

Showing Kaia around the house exhausted Meggie and took longer than expected thanks to her crutches. One benefit of Christopher strong-arming the physician and hospital administrators into keeping Meggie and Rebel for so many days was they were both physically stronger. An orthopedic boot had replaced Meggie’s ankle cast and most of her bruises were gone, though she still wore a cast on her hand.

Still she stopped several times during the tour because shehadn’t had a lot of physical activity in recent days, but she wanted Kaia set up as soon as possible before Christopher scared him off.

She never appreciated the size of the house until she had to walk through the entirety of it in one go. Though she avoided the natatorium, she pointed it out as they passed by.

Kaia asked pertinent questions and kept a steady conversation. He was surprisingly intelligent, far removed from his godawful poetry.

From her hospital bed, she’d set up his debit account and deposited money. Although the contract Kendall drew up wasn’t yet signed, Meggie withdrew the card from her pocket at the end of her tour, along with a door key.

“Talk to Christopher about using one of the spare cars at the club. One of us will buzz you in and out of our gate.”

She’d learned her lesson and trusted very few new people with the security codes. She wished she could revoke the privileges of others without them ending up dead, but if she told Christopher to change their security code and Johnnie or Digger—for argument’s sake—shouldn’t have the new information, he’d deem them a threat to her.

Kaia seemed a little overwhelmed, so she didn’t linger once she showed him to his quarters. After, she ignored her pain, and headed to Rebel’s room to check on her, finding her daughter curled up on her bed.

“Reb?”

She didn’t turn. “Do you think Rule misses me, Momma?”

“I don’t know, love,” Meggie said softly.