Page 54 of Ruptured

“Rebel wouldn’t cry like this?” Winnie asked around sniffles, ignoring her father just like Axel was.

“Sure wouldn’t,” Axel grumbled.

Squinting, CJ looked at his little brother again, unable to believe he seemed to be calming Winnie.

“If you stop hurting my fucking ears, I promise I won’t tell her.”

“I want to talk to her, and Mom and Dad won’t let me,” Winnie said, on the verge of tears again.

“She’smysister, and I haven’t seen her,” Axel declared. “And Mom’s with her now, so if you cry like that,mydad won’t let you see Reb.”

Sniffling hard and fast, Winnie sat up and wiped her cheeks, although it barely helped. Her face was red, snot leakedeverygoddamn where, and her brown hair was all over her head.

Axel lifted the hem of her shirt.

“No!” Aunt Ophelia cried. Too late.

Axel had already used it to wipe Winnie’s nose. She giggled.

For a little kid, Axel had amazing confidence and CJ stood a little straighter, proud of his brother. Sometimes, he wished he could be as unreserved. Mom and Dad insisted CJ respect adults as he grew up, but it seemed he was the only one with that hard and fast rule. At least, he was the only one who respected that directive.

Winnie rubbed her hand over her nose again. “Swear you won’t tell Reb?”

Axel held out his hand. “I’m a man of my words. Let’s shake on it.”

Winnie’s eyes rounded, but she accepted Axel’s hand. “You’re a grown man, Ax?”

“Uh huh.”

“I think you mean a man of your word, big head,” CJ said, hiding a smile at Uncle Cash’s appalled expression.

Axel tipped his head back to look at CJ. “But I don’t got just one word.”

“Another expression,” CJ said.

“Okay.” Axel jumped to his feet, leaned down, and jerked Winnie to hers. “I’m going to tell the Blonde Viper to call you soon, okay, Winnie?”

“Can I be called the Blonde Viper?”

“No, stupid,” Axel said, rolling his eyes. “You need blonde hair.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Uncle Cash barked. “Calling my daughter stupid is past the fucking limit. I’m sure even your father would agree with that.”

Axel stiffened his shoulders, a small kid unafraid of anything and unbothered by his size for now.

“How about I call him, mister?” Uncle Cash continued. “I’ll tell him what a little bully you are.”

Could a motherfucker get a headache on top of a headache? In addition to the throbbing, CJ’s head was beginning to pound.

“Call Dad,” Axel announced. “That wayyoucan explain why that bitch-ass baby is on the fucking floor instead of a bed,” he said, as if he’d read CJ’s mind.

Reddening, Uncle Cash made unintelligible sounds that CJ very much doubted he wanted to understand.

“Cash, it’s okay,” Aunt Ophelia started, seeing the explosion on the horizon.

“The hell it is, Fee!”

“Does Winnie got blonde hair, Uncle Cash?” Axel demanded.