Page 84 of Ruptured

Over the years, Mort comforted and advised Meggie. He’d never been as free with his hugs to her as he was with Kendall. And even Zoann. But Meggie had needed a hug. She needed reassurance that everything would be fine. Hurt and in pain, she’d finally given into her misery and started to cry. After keeping her in a bear hug until she ran out of tears, Mort called for her nurse. Once Meggie gave into the sedative and pain medication and fell asleep, Mort turned to Rebel and finally had the chance to take a good look at her. His own heart broke a little and he’d understood everyone’s reaction, from Prez on down to Axel.

He’d bent and kissed Rebel’s forehead. “You going to be all right, baby,” he said quietly. “We all love you.”

Sighing, he went to the nursery and found Outlaw feeding Jo.

“Prez, we got a situation,” he’d announced, and apprised Outlaw of what Meggie told him.

At first he hadn’t said anything, then he sat the baby’s bottle on a small metal cart, laid a burp cloth on his shoulder, stood, and placed Jo on his shoulder. “Johnnie went to Megan with that bullshit?”

“Yeah, Outlaw.”

A thoughtful expression crossed his face, then he said, “Call Riley. See what he come up with. If there’s a connection to Bash…” He’d glowered. “If there ain’t, do whatever, Mort.”

“An extensive background check take several days.”

“If Riley find a connection to Bash at the end of the full check, then we fuck him, Johnnie, and Easton up.”

He’d patted Jo’s back. “What Megan said, Mort? Do she even care if me or Diesel fuck that motherfucker up?”

“Which one?”

“Who the fuck I’m kiddin’? She gave those assfucks up, instead of tryin’ to find a way to fix the shit and save their miserable fuckin’ lives.”

A burp escaped Jo, and Outlaw’s face softened.

Mort smiled. “Goddamn, that bring back memories.”

Returning to the rocker, Prez cradled Jo, adjusting her blanket. “You think if Megan got another baby in her, she’ll come back to me?”

“Prez, all you got to do is apologize to her and mean it. Let this shit settle down before you start manipulating her. Right now, she don’t see your games as a joke. As for a baby, you threatened Digger when you thought he might tell Meggie girl to have another baby.”

“That shit not up to no motherfucker but me.”

“And Meggie.” Mort looked at the infant, seeing himself instead of Outlaw with a newborn Bailey recently delivered. She wanted another baby, so if he suddenly got baby fever, she wouldn’t have a problem. But they still had so many unresolved issues. Kind of like Prez and Meggie girl. “A pregnancy a pregnancy. No matter who want her to have another baby, it might still risk her life.”

Prez flinched.

“Think about this,” Mort said quietly. “CJ. Her potato. If you don’t think he cut out for the life, then I applaud you for giving up a dream both you and him had since forever. I don’t know if I could do that shit. But, Prez,youcoming between him and his mama. She want Reb to do normal teenage girl shit. Think aboutwhat she want for CJ. One normal thing that I fucking know of. Graduate high school and walk across the fucking stage.”

“She’s seen two graduations for a son. Diesel’s high school and college ceremonies,” Outlaw grouched, gently rocking Jo.

“Meggie love Diesel, but that motherfuckernotCJ. What the fuck is wrong with you that you can’t see she madder than a motherfucker overCJ? Over the fucking reason CJ was brought into the club, which led to his decision to drop out of fucking school.”

“I didn’t sleep with that cunt!” he snarled. At his raised voice, Jo jumped, startled. He gritted his teeth. “I didn’t cheat, Mort.”

“I know, Prez.Meggieknow. Stop saying it because we been over this so many fucking times, I’m not only sick of hearing it, I’m sick of you having to say it. I’m fucking sick of anything connected to Torie.”

“Yet, you usin’ that cunt to blame me for comin’ between Megan and CJ.”

“Prez, what the fuck you been smoking?” Mort thrust his fingers through his locs in frustration. “You told CJ he not fit to join the fucking club, Outlaw. Meggie want him to finish school. The kid won’t ever go back if he think you can teach him to be a biker or if he can prove his worth by hanging around you. He choosing between you and Meggie out of fear.”

Instead of helping, Mort seemed to have made shit worse.

“It ain’tmyfault, Mort. It’sherfuckin’ fault.”

Mort gaped at Prez. “What?”

Nodding, Outlaw explained his theory, and Mort decided to end the conversation. He’d be there to pick up Prez’s fucking teeth the day he spouted his nonsense to Meggie.