Page 66 of Ruptured

“Are we talking about the same fucking Diesel?” Easton demanded. “From the little I know about him, I guarantee he can’t be forced into anything.”

“Anyone can be convinced to follow orders,” Tabitha cried.

Aunt Celia rolled her eyes. “It’s my experience that if a man doesn’t want you, he’ll make your life miserable, Tabi. Maybe,this is best. You’ve been fighting to make him feel something for you from the beginning of your marriage.”

“I-I thought cutting out Meggie would be the right thing. He’d see how invaluable I was. All it’s done is make her dislike me and turn Diesel away from me. He’s loyal to her.”

“She’s his mother,” Aunt Celia said.

“She’s six fucking years older than him. Unless she’s a medical anomaly, she’s far from his mom.”

Aunt Celia glared at her. She’d perfected that Caldwell glower that sent shivers down the spine. “You’re right, Tabitha,” she said coldly. “She’s hismom. The bitch who gave birth to him and then abandoned him is his mother.”

Blinking, Tabitha glanced away and her shoulders slumped. Not going to lie—the realness of her dejection surprised Easton.

“I might not act like it, but I love Diesel,” she whispered.

Fuck him, if she didn’t look and sound sincere. He’d witnessed more moods from her than he ever needed to. She was spoiled, overly dramatic, and hypersexual. Her bought tits and ass turned motherfuckers stupid. She was reasonably intelligent when she wasn’t scheming to have her fucking way. He’d never seen such raw pain or heard such sadness.

Her brown hair was pinned up and she went without makeup. She looked young and devastated.

His heartalmostwent out to his cousin. Even if she truly loved Diesel, she was still a viper underneath.

She leaned across the little table and grabbed Aunt Celia’s hands. “Please, Aunt. Ask Uncle Bash to make Diesel stay married to me for another six months. If I can’t change his mind by then, I’ll concede and walk away.”

Easton finished his beer and set the empty bottle on the table. “May I make a suggestion?”

Tabitha straightened. “Anything, if you think it’ll help.”

“Stop fucking with Rebel and you might win over your husband.”

“It’s because ofherthat Diesel hatesme,” Tabitha snarled, swiping at her tears. Anger flushed her cheeks and she narrowed her eyes. “She wants to fuck him. Her own brother.”

Tangling her fingers through her hair, Aunt Celia groaned. “Our family tree has enough overgrown brambles, so don’t make it worse. He’s her adopted brother.”

“I don’t care! I hate that he fucks everything he sees, but I hatehermost of all. Spoiled little rich slut.”

Easton understood why she’d gone from gathering information for Bash to actively helping to set Meggie up to be brutally raped and killed.

Easton pressed his lips together, hoping Rory bought his lies. All the kid would do was get himself killed if he kept digging.

“Bash has already told you not to fuck with Outlaw’s children,” Aunt Celia snapped.

“And I listened! I’m not trying to sendherto the fucking cabin, although I’d run naked through a field of wildflowers if Uncle Bash agreed to the switch.” She poked out her lip. “Here’s my good news.”

Wild subject change.

“Rebel might not be an issue anymore.”

“Why is that?” Aunt Celia asked suspiciously.

“Because her crazy twin almost drowned her.”

Fuck. He glared at Tabitha, cursing her to fucking hell for opening her fucking mouth. If Bash got wind of this, he might use it as an opportunity to strike. Meggie was currently out of reach, but Kendall and Mattie went on about their lives.

Why did everything concerning Bash have to be so fucking complicated?

“I’ve been waiting for word that she fucking croaked, but I guess Uncle Christopher’s money is keeping her alive.”