Page 266 of Ruptured

“Biker by day. Family man always. Outlaw and Christopher.” She gave him a pointed look. “All fiction has kernels of truth, potato. Truth is stranger than fiction. You can’t make this up. All applicable. Use whatever metaphor that pleases you.”

“I don’t want a counselor, Mom.”

“Perhaps, but I think you need one. Who knows? Maybe we’ll all benefit. Ransom saw a woman die. The Triplets are obsessed with poop. Rebel is like a zombie. I’m overwhelmed and trying to hold it together. You’ve lost yourself. Christopher has gone insane.”

“Dad doesn’t seem any different.”

“Wanting me to lengthen me legs, son? That’s madness!”

“He wasn’t serious. Besides, you’d weaken them by compromising the bone, muscle, and sinew.”

“I doubt he’s aware of that. My point is, something has to be done to put our family back on track. I’ll talk to Jordan. For obvious reasons, we can’t pick up the phone and schedule appointments with just any civilian.”

CJ thought of Skye. He wasn’t sure why she crossed his mind, but he’d been quite mean to her. He owed her an apology. “Mattie introduced me to a transfer student today. Her name’s Skye. Mr. Billson is replacing Molly as my partner, which I thought was settled and I’d enter for both of us.”

Mom gave him a thoughtful look. “What’s her last name?”

“I didn’t get it.”

“Get her full name, CJ. If she checks out, work with her no matter how hard. Mr. Billson probably paired her with you because it’s late in the school year and she needs the grade. Ridge Moore has very rigid academic requirements.”

“You think she’s a plant?”

“Anything’s possible. Bash is outsmarting the entire club. He covered his tracks with the Byrd brothers quite well. It took forever to learn they were Barts.”

“Bash is a drug addict.”

“It makes no difference, son. Everyone’s underestimating himbecauseof his addiction. He’s still a Caldwell. Cee Cee’s son. From what Christopher told me, Cee Cee raised Bash. He knows what to do. Remember the chess match? Christopher is also engaged in one with Bash.”

“What can I do to help?”

“As long as you can’t get your head straight, there’s nothing you can do.”

“I could always befriend Skye,” CJ decided.

Mom sighed. “Unfortunately, that would require you going to school. We both know you’re already checked out.”

“No…I mean…well, yeah, but school isn’t the same. It’s different without Molly there and without me and Harley close. I can get to know Skye and…” He flushed. “I mean, I know it’s more like club business than actually for school. But I promise I’ll focus on my lessons. Mattie said she’s on the cheer team and everything. I’ll get back into football.”

“I don’t know, son…” She glanced away. “It’s a lot to put on you.”

For the first time in days, CJ perked up. Originally, he’d returned to school to watch the Barts. Then, Willard fucked with Rebel, and they both went underground.

“Please, Mom?” Skye was gorgeous, so the assignment would be so much easier. And, maybe, Mr. Billson would still allow him to enter Molly’s name, too. “Dad will send me to school anyway. I might as well—”

“Fine!” she huffed. “If I think your mind isn’t in it, I’ll tell your daddy what we’re doing and let him make the final decision.”

“I’ll get myself into shape.” Football took discipline and focus. He’d probably benefit in returning to the team, which was what Dad wanted.AndSkye was on the cheer team, so he’d see her more often. “I’ll speak to Coach Yancy.”

“Okay,” Mom said, sighing again.

CJ slid from the stool. “I’ll email him tonight so he’ll see it first thing in the morning and expect me.”

Mom gave him a skeptical look, but CJ knew she wouldn’t stop him. “I’ll walk up with you. I need to check on Rebel.”

Staring at himself in the bathroom mirror, Ryan thought a monster reflected at him. It washisfault Molly was…gone. And gone meant differently than it had just twenty-four hours ago.Then, gone meant taken by Tom Harris because Ryan called him out of spite.Now,gone meant forever.

Dead.