Page 248 of Ruptured

Especially one with such a nasty ingredient.

Ryder smirked. Though golden-haired like Aunt Meggie, his smirk was trademark Uncle Christopher. And CJ.

Ryder, Ransom, and Axel were well on their way to being just as handsome, charismatic, and deadly.

CJ made his way to Turn Creek Bridge, not ready to go home yet. Dad insisted he go to school today, and Mom backed him up, though they were still barely talking. Of course, she didn’t knowthat CJ disobeyedOutlaw, regarding Rory, so Dad switched up on him, adopting a parental mien to exert his authority differently.

Stalking up the bridge and frustrated to fuck and back, he set aside his woes at the sight of Rory, Ryan, Devon, Kaia, Bishop, and Grant. CJ couldn’t see inviting Bishop but leaving Kaia out. Kayce was with Coach Yancy, like the rest of the team. Not practice but still football related. Ryan should’ve been there instead ofhere, but CJ didn’t bother to ask.

After walking onto the pedestrian deck where the guys stood, he sat his backpack on the ground, leaning it against a concrete pillar.

“What’s up, C?” Bishop asked, chilling against that same pillar. “Your text sounded ominous. We pulling up on a motherfucker?”

CJ withdrew his pack of cigarettes from where he made an improvised pocket in the lining of his school jacket. It was a new pack, so he offered cigarettes to everyone.

Only Grant declined.

“You have to jump me, CJ,” Rory said woefully. “It’s been six days and Uncle Christopher hasn’t allowed me at the club once. I don’t want to be away from the club for a month.”

“You prefer me beating the fuck out of you?” CJ asked impatiently.

“Yes! I have over three weeks to go.”

“You shouldn’t be so impatient that you can’t sit your ass down and wait.”

Maybe Diesel was right, though. Convicted motherfuckers didn’t choose their punishment. Choosing an option that Rory found less pleasant would help him remember the lesson and never repeat the mistake.

“I wasn’t even there to watch the fucking video.”

“A fucking win for you,” CJ told him, wishing he could scrub those images from his mind.

“Suppose something else important comes up and Uncle Christopher still plays hardball?” Rory asked. “Then what?”

“I’m not hitting you for no fucking reason.”

“Yeah, dude, you are. If I can go to the club sooner.”

CJ squinted at him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“No, cuck. What the fuck is wrong withyou?” Ryan demanded. “You’re too much of a pussy to lead the club?”

Bishop stuffed his hands in his pockets and glanced away.

“You think I’m a weak motherfucker, too?” CJ asked, outraged.

“Not weak, bro,” Devon said. “Nice.”

“Yeah, and nice don’t get you respect.” Grant added his two cents at the worse possible moment. “Outlaw can be harsh sometimes but just think about how the brothers were acting when hewasn’tharsh.”

“Am I the only sane one around? What is wrong with everyone? Rory’s my cousin. He did nothing to me!”

“Fuck, CJ,listento what the fuck you’re saying,” Ryan told him. “Why’d you turn your back on what we all know your mom wanted if you’re not going to fucking listen to Uncle Christopher?”

“Whatthe fuck did you say to me, motherfucker?” CJ demanded, filled with outrage and guilt.

“You fucking heard me, cuck,” Ryan responded, standing his ground.

“CJ, niceness isn’t a crime,” Kaia offered.