Page 204 of Ruptured

“Daddy, go downstairs with your sons, so I can take care of my momma,” Rebel ordered.

Meggie bowed her head. “It isn’t your place to take care of me, love,” she said hoarsely. “And I’ve put so much on you and CJ’s shoulders. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t you shed another fuckin’ tear, Megan,” Christopher commanded. “I’m sick of you fuckin’ fallin’ apart, showin’ how fragile you are. As a matter of fuckin’ fact, I wantcha to gain a hundred fifty goddamn pounds and I wantcha to get your legs extended. A motherfucker can’t fuck you up—I can’t almost kill my own fuckin’ son cuz you such a hardheaded lil’ motherfucker—if you not the fuckin’ size of a goddamn elf.”

“You’ve lost your mind, Daddy,” Rebel yelled. “But a goddamn hit dog will holler, you miserable motherfucker. You’re screaming at Momma because ofyourfucking guilt.”

“Rebel, shut the fuck up,” Christopher barked.

“Make me. Rule isn’t here,” she cried, her own tears starting, “and it’s killing me, but he can come back. You know it and I know it. If you’d shot him, though, there would benopossibility of him sleeping in his room ever again. He’d be gone. That’s what’s killing you most of all. And, yeah, you were fucking wrong to kill that cunt in front of Ransom, but that’s your goddamn fault, too, so shut the fuck up, go with Diesel, and leave my mother in peace, goddamn it.”

“Megan—”

“Out!” Rebel spat. “And when she’s feeling better and punches the fuck out of you for tonight, I’m going to laugh in your fucking face.”

“Listen up, Rebel—”

“Nope. If we’re playing the blame game, you deserve a fair fucking share. Torie was your fault. Uncle Johnnie is your fault.Jois your fault. She wasn’t made alone. Rule isallour fault, starting with Ryan, who I intend to punch the fuck out of the minute I have all my strength back.”

“How the fuck you figure Ryan got anything to do with this?” Christopher asked, calmer than he’d been since Meggie found him.

“He bullied Rule whenever he had the chance, Dad,” CJ said in a pained voice.

Rebel shoved CJ aside. “Move, doofus.”

“What’s that for?” CJ stood. “I’m on your side.”

“You have a cock,” Rebel retorted, sitting next to Meggie and hugging her. “That puts you squarely on Daddy’s side, so shut the fuck up and get the fuck out.”

But Meggie didn’t want to burden her daughter with adult problems. She’d go to her own bedroom, take a quick shower, and get into bed.

“I’m fine, sweetheart.” Meggie hugged Rebel tightly, threading her fingers through her hair, and revealed her plan. “So you get some rest, too.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” she said, forcing certainty into her tone.

“Don’t let Daddy get into your head. I don’t care what he says, you’re the heroine. You saved me.” Tears pooled in her beautiful eyes. “You saved Rule. And you saved you. Our family would’ve been destroyed. Even Daddy.”

EspeciallyChristopher. Meggie kept that to herself. Rebel had just forgiven him after the Torie situation. Tonight was a setback.

“Christopher’s right about Rule—”

“No, Momma. No. You have to take care of us, the house, the business, the club wives, deal with those scheming cunts, deal with those disrespectful motherfuckers, keep Uncle Johnnie alive for whatever reason, and you especially have to look after that big manbaby.”

“I fuckin’ resent that, Rebel.”

“As if I give a fuck what the fuck you resent, Father.”

Christopher blew out a breath. “We back to this—”

“Keep it up, and we won’t be back to anything. I’ll stop talking to you again. Now, for the last fucking time, get the fuck out.”

“That’s my fuckin’ wife!”

Rebel gasped. Stiffened. Meggie tried to grab her daughter’s arm but she escaped, ran to her father and stomped his bare foot. Luckily, she just wore fluffy slippers. If Diesel hadn’t grabbed her, she would’ve attacked Christopher again.

“Listen up, jackass,” Rebel said, struggling in Diesel’s hold, “you have been screaming at her about ignoring Rule and you have the fucking, stinking, unmitigated, motherfucking gall to claim her as your motherfucking wife because I, her daughter who should be beforeyou, want to protect her?”