Page 50 of Ruptured

Glee surged into Rule. “I’m killing him next,” he gloated.

CJ kissed his cheek again, but Rule grabbed his wrist.

“Don’t leave me. Please. I want to come home. I’m hungry. Mom and Rebel cook so good.”

“How about I leave Dad with you while I drive to a fast-food place for burgers and fries?”

“And a milkshake?” Rule asked hopefully.

“Definitely,” CJ promised.

“Will you and Dad eat with me?”

“Yeah, boy,” Dad said gruffly. “But then—”

“Christopher, the ambulance is outside,” Aunt Zoann interrupted around tears. “You need to sign the necessary papers.”

“I’m gonna be right back, son,” Dad said. “None of us leaving until we eat together. Hear me?”

“Don’t send me away, Dad,” Rule begged around tears. “Please. I’m sorry.”

“Goddamn, this shit so fuckin’ hard,” Dad said, and walked out.

“How about we watch videos until Dad comes back and then I’ll get our food?” CJ suggested.

“Can you read the bible to me?”

“Is that what you want, brother?”

Rule nodded.

“Then that’s what I’ll do.”

“When is Diesel coming back, C.?”

Axel’s little voice, filled with sadness and misery, touched CJ. He wanted to comfort his little brother, despite his own fatigue,trauma, and heartache.

Yawning, CJ halted, forcing Axel to stop, since he held his hand as they walked through the forest on the way to Uncle Cash’s house. He could’ve curled on the ground and slept for hours.

Until recently, CJ couldn’t remember so much activity crammed into one day. Maybe he’d never paid attention. Or, maybe, Mom had shielded them by limiting their club time. Not only her sons’, but Dad’s. Most of the time, Dad left at eight in the morning and returned home no later than six, almost as if he had a normal job. Dad spent half a day on Saturdays at the club, then came home to spend the evening with them. On Sundays, the entire family went to the club. Mom scheduled monthly barbeques that served as a celebration for whoever had a birthday. Of course, the holidays were endless rounds of parties and gift-giving, but she made sure the family socialized at the house. She insisted CJ and his siblings enroll in school activities. She’d always been more lenient with bedtimes than the aunts. On weekdays, the younger kids had to be in bed by ten. On weekends, she allowed an extra hour. During the rare times Rebel went out with someone from outside the club, such as her date with Kaia, she had to be home by eleven.

Unlike his siblings, CJ didn’t have a curfew. Oldest child privilege, he supposed.

No matter what time their children went to sleep, though, Mom and Dad usually managed to score hours alone. Whatever went on at the club, Dad discussed it with Mom during their daily private time. Life had been simple, structured, and not as exhausting. Days filled with hours of activities never felt like a chore because it was all fun and games.

CJ had been awake since early. Instead of looking forward to turning in and resting, he had another problem to solve. Diesel dropped him off at the house because he had somewhere to goand he couldn’t bring Axel. It probably meant sex, although CJ kept that to himself.

“Can we call Diesel?” Axel pressed. “When is he coming back?” he demanded again.

“Soon.” CJ hoped he spoke the truth. Diesel wouldn’t put anyone else’s needs above his own, even Axel’s. If that meant staying out all night, he’d do so. “Until then, I’ll hang out with you, Ransom, and Ryder, when we get back to the hospital.”

Sniffling, Axel hugged CJ. “Call Diesel. Tell him to come and get me.”

Admittedly, CJ felt a way about Axel’s preference for Diesel. On the other hand, Diesel humored their little brother more, talked about the law, which Axel loved, and taught him about the Crusades. CJ usually tried to corral Axel’s mischief, and didn’t indulge his whims half as much.

“I want Mom if Diesel won’t come back,” Axel whined. “Why do we have to see Winona?”

“Because she’s upset over Rebel. Aunt Fee asked us to come and talk to her. Besides, don’t you want to see Gunner?”