Page 40 of Ruptured

Hiding in the bathroom stall at the hospital, Harley drew in deep breaths, competing images running through her mind. CJ covering her eyes as he led her into the treehouse on his sixteenth birthday. All the flowers and the lights. His beautiful smile and handsome face.

That scene morphed into Harley at target practice withDaddy that last time, when he’d allowed her to hold his Rossi 12, his prized shotgun pistol. His hurt when she’d turned so mean and evil and said unspeakable things to him. Mommie’s anger during her fight with Harley. Lolly tugging her close on the sofa in Uncle Digger’s den to try and reason with Harley. Lolly’s fist when Harley cursed her.

She’d been in the bathroom for so long, reliving all her past transgressions and thinking about some of the people she’d wronged, she’d lost track of time. But one face kept morphing into the other.

CJ. Daddy. Mommie. Lolly.

Ryan. The last time they’d had sex when he’d taken her up to CJ’s treehouse where they smoked a joint before doing the deed. Then, he’d walked her to the log cabin and went to his room, while she headed to the sofa.

Aunt Zoann had merely yelled from the kitchen, “Harley, the permission slip for your field trip is next to your book bag.”

Once Harley responded, she hadn’t spoken to her again.

Half an hour later, after Harley had showered and gotten ready for bed, Pillar of Earth demanded…

Demanded…

Harley sobbed, so very miserable. She’d given him what he wanted. Yet, today, he demanded more. The moment her phone beeped in the cafeteria she knew who it was. Nardo never texted her. Since she stopped being friends with CJ, Rebel, and Mattie, they didn’t either. Mommie, Daddy, Lolly, and Aunt Meggie left her alone, too.

When CJ took her in his arms and hugged her, Harley thought she was dreaming. It had been so long since he’d touched her with real friendliness. Even after his overdose, he’d pushed her away.

Perhaps, though, Rebel and Aunt Meggie’s near deaths had as profound an effect on CJ as it had on Harley. The news shenever expected to receive jolted her. Made her consider her own mother and their fractured relationship. Reminded her of all the times she’d spent with Aunt Meggie and Rebel as part of their family. For the first time in forever, real concern for CJ overrode Harley’s animosity.

Molly didn’t matter. Nor did Jaleena. Or any other girl CJ might’ve been interested in. It was all him. CJ.

She wantedhim. Not Ryan. Not Nardo. She didn’t want to undress in front of a camera or live in fear of what Pillar of Earth might do. She didn’t want to expose herself.

Another message came through and she started trembling. She didn’t have to read it to know the filth it contained, directing her to shameful acts made worse by all the bruises Nardo’s fists created.

Another message arrived. Then another. And another.

“NO!” she screamed, sobbing wildly, pounding her fist against the stall. “Make them stop!”

But she had no one to help her. She either had to comply or suffer even more dire consequences.

Pops stepped aside so Harley could enter the cabin first, although Ryan wanted to shove her aside, run to his room, and never look at her again. He could barely stand the defeat in her pretty eyes or the slump in her shoulders. Nor could he think about Willard’s other demands. Pig-eyed motherfucker was unhinged. Harley’s continued torment aside, Willard insisted Ryan find a way to invade Mattie’s privacy.

“I have to get to the rectory,” Pops said, watching Harley trudge into the house and nodding to Ryan and Devon to follow her in. “Outlaw driving Meggie’s Lexus, and I don’t know if his mind is on anything, especially the fucking road.”

Pops closed the door but didn’t move out of the hallway. Sniffles punctuated the silence.

Devon rolled his eyes. “She’s crying again,” he said with disgust.

“Girls are emotional,” Pops replied.

“Harley’s dramatic,” Devon said flatly. “She wants attention.”

She needed help, but Ryan couldn’t blurt that without incriminating himself. Once he got Molly back, he’d undo all the hurt he’d caused Harley. And Rebel for that matter. CJ didn’t know half of what Rule saw and still he’d accused Diesel of adding to Rule’s distress because of Rebel.

If CJ ever found…ifDieselever found out…Ryan shivered.

“You cold, boy?” Pops asked.

Unable to do much more, Ryan shook his head. He needed a redirect, so he changed the subject. “Did you know Uncle Christopher killed Nyx?”

“No shit?” Devon said.

Pops widened his eyes. “When the fuck he saw that bitch to fuck her up?”