Page 87 of Ruptured

“Grant…” He scrubbed a hand over his face. Maybe, they needed to hold a class on the biker life. Call itNot Only Pussy and Parties. Fuck,something, because clearly motherfuckers weren’t getting the message that their club was into serious shit.“You don’t know…Boy, you can end up in prison or a cemetery—”

“I know,” Grant whispered fiercely. “I watched as Outlaw killed Brett.”

“That wasonefucking time. I don’t know what possessed that motherfucker to lose his goddamn mind and bring CJ–you–in the fucking meatshack!”

“Who?” Grant shifted. “Er, what motherfucker?”

Mort closed his eyes, drawing in deep breaths. Outlaw was his president and his friend, and he was going through shit he’d created. He didn’t mean to show him such disrespect. “Forget I said that, Grant. I…” He blew out an irritated breath and met Grant’s gaze. “One motherfucker with a bullet between the fucking eyes is nothing. Usually, you have to scoop up the motherfucker yourself for the meatshack. Even then, you have to earn the fucking right to go in there. Wait…fuck…” A horrifying thought rose in Mort’s head and he narrowed his eyes. “Fuck, Grant, you turning into Johnnie? You like blood and gore?”

“What? No! And don’t you like it if you’re the Enforcer?”

“Only from enemies. From myself, my family, or friends? Not at all.”

Grant’s eyes widened. “And it doesn’t matter to Johnnie, er, Uncle Johnnie?”

“Fresh blood is fresh blood to that insane fuckhead.”

Grant opened his fucking mouth to ask more questions, but Mort raised his hands and shook his head.

“You not a club member, little dude. I shouldn’t have said all that I did. My concern caused temporary insanity.”

Amusement lighting his eyes, Grant snickered. “I’ll drop that subject, but not my determination to join the club. I’ve been there for a lot since Uncle Christopher brought CJ onboard. This world, your world,CJ’sworld, is where I want to be.”

CJ might not be in this fucking world, if Outlaw went through with his threat.

“Please? Help me.”

Convincing Knox that Grant joining the club would be a good thing required focus and patience. But, maybe, if CJ built his own support system with the same aspirations of joining the club, he would have an easier time. The boys were getting to an age where mimicking their fathers wouldn’t be enough. They’d have choices to make.

Mort believed CJ truly wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. He also believed the kid more than capable. But he needed to depend on the boys who were serious about the Death Dwellers and understoodheshould be president.

“I’ll do it on one condition.”

“Anything, Mort.”

“Finish the semester.” That should be enough time to knock sense into Knox.

“But—”

“Extend your staythistime. When you come home for summer break, shit should be settled.”

“The summer?” Grant cried. “That’s almost three months away. Not only don’t I want to go back to schoolat all,I don’t want to go back to Boston for awhile.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Prez had lost his fucking mind. Johnnie was on the loose. CJ was floundering. Bailey was distant. Red was distraught and Meggie was devastated. Did he really need to addKnox was in a comafor the bullshit that motherfucker would hand him? “Have you talked to Roxanne?”

“Dad and Granddad didn’t consult Roxy or Grandma for my college choices, Mort. I tried to include them, especially Roxy. That’s my mom, but Dad they wouldn’t understand the deep meaning behind the Harrington traditions.”

“Did Knox say that to Roxy or Hal to Joan?”

“Fuck no! Dude, they’re still alive, right?”

“You right,” Mort said, joining Grant in laughter.

“Roxy’s smart, though. She knows I want to come home. She’s been dropping hints to Dad, but it’s going over his fucking head.”

That tracked. “What kind of hints? Maybe, they not strong enough?”

“Try:Knox, maybe, Grant should withdraw this semester because he’s home more than he’s away.And:Knox I miss Grant. Maybe, he needs to start fresh in the fall semester.If she flashed a fucking banner in front of him, he wouldn’t get a clue.”