Page 255 of Ruptured

Drawing in a deep breath, she pushed back from the chair and got to her feet. “I’m going upstairs until dinner is ready.”

Mort caught her arm. “Meggie, baby, I know I’ve already pushed the boundaries of our friendship today by using CJ—”

“You didn’t have to,” she said. “I would’ve done it with or without that, so save that trump card for the next time Digger screws up.”

Smiling at her, he nodded. “Thank you.”

“I love you. You’re the big brother I never had. I would never bring you that much pain.”

“Even though you in pain?”

“Christopher was right,” she said flatly. “I suppose I’m angry with him because I’m angry with myself.”

“Prez always been passionate. He react then think about what the fuck he did.”

A smile tipped up her lips. “Like Rebel.”

“Just like his baby girl.”

“His words still hurt me.”

“You told him?”

“Why waste my breath?” she sniffed. “He knows it.”

Once he spoke his next statement, she might slap the shit out of him or put him out. “We not getting him back until we getyouback.”

“I’ve cried buckets,” she said resentfully.

Without Mort saying it, she knew he wanted her to gentle down again.

“Angry, bitter tears, Meggie. Not gentle and cleansing.”

“I’m angry.”

He hadn’t released her arm, so he tugged her back to her stool and waited until she sat. “You told Prez about your new list?”

“I have to talk to him to tell him anything.”

Mort cocked his head to the side. “When you came up with the Maybe Survive list?”

“Two nights ago,” she said, confirming his suspicions. Probably after she discovered Digger’s theft. She didn’t say it, but the implication was there.

“Jo doing okay?” he asked, changing the subject and hoping his words sank in.

She nodded. “Kaia has been driving me to the hospital so I can spend the afternoon with her.”

“That’s tight. Maybe, I can stop in tomorrow or the next day.”

Meggie gave him a genuine smile. “She’d love to meet her Uncle Mort.”

Mort grinned, then cleared his throat, hating to circle back. But he had to secure her agreement. “I need you to find the old you, Meggie girl. Once Prez got his head on straight, fuck, order hits on any motherfucker that fuck over you, and I’ll carry it out on the down low.”

“Mort—”

“What I’m asking not fair, but no matter how the fuck Outlawalwayspiss you the fuck off, he adore you.”

Her lower lip trembled, but she glared at Mort. “I adore him. That doesn’t give him the right to scream at me when I only wanted to comfort him. Receive c-comfort in return.”