Page 151 of Restless
Aunt Zoann jerked CJ away from Rebel and punched the side of his head.
“Ow!” He started to place a hand over his injured temple, but she hit him on the other side and he stumbled back. “Ow! Fuck, Aunt Zoann.”
She went for him again, but CJ dodged her hit.
“You fucked Molly! My son’s, your cousin, girlfriend.”
“I…what?I—” He glared at his brothers. “I’m fucking you three up!”
“We’re just the messengers, bro,” Ryder said, unrepentant. “You’re the bozo who fucked an idiot and got her pregnant. We overheard Bishop and Potter talking about the money Dad gave you to take care of the problem.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” CJ snarled. “Is nothing secret around this motherfucker? Molly’s baby wasn’t mine, and Ryan and Rory was with me, sinceyou, Aunt Zoann, might’ve been a grandmother. Except we aren’t sure since an old motherfucker has been assaulting her! Goddamn it! By the fucking way, I didn’t take her for the abortion, because her father beat the baby out of her and killed her fucking mother. I’ve been at the hospital with her all goddamn day. Half the fucking club is at the Harris house to—” All at once he realized how much his word vomit revealed and he snapped his mouth shut. He kicked a locker. “Fuck!”
“Even my daddy is helping her?” Harley gasped.
CJ glared at her.
“I didn’t know Ryan missed school,” Aunt Zoann said.
CJ transferred his glare.
She sniffed. “Sorry for trying to knock you the fuck out.”
“Make it up to me by knocking out Ryan again,” CJ grumbled.
“What do you mean again, baby?” Lolly asked.
“Motherfucker…saw, er,something, and fainted,” CJ said.
“What?” Aunt Zoann gasped. “Ryan fainted? What…?” She snapped her mouth shut and tightened her lips.
Mattie licked her lips, wanting the details, but knowing she’d never get them.
“Dad’s here,” Ransom said, mimicking Ryder’s earlier actions and holding up his phone.
Rebel started. “He is?”
CJ dropped onto the bench closest to him. He looked exhausted. Mattie’s heart went out to her cousin. After their initial greeting yesterday, her father barely spoke to her, and her mother still wasn’t back to normal.
After dinner, Gramps locked himself away with Daddy, while Grandma Charlotte coddled Maman. When they returned home, Maman and Daddy went to their room. Rory stomped to the library. JJ stole chocolate ice cream he shouldn’t have taken because it was way after their snack curfew. Ella carried Blade to the nursery and Mattie was left completely alone.
Lolly must’ve been alerted to their return because she’d called Mattie and talked to her for an hour.
Today, at school, Mattie put on her usual airs to protect herself. She was used to surviving in such a manner. On the other hand, CJ had always had a great support system. Until recently. Now, he looked so stressed and no one seemed to notice to ask about his well-being. Though she worried he’d reject her, she tipped closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “How’s Molly?”
He smiled at Mattie. “I’m fine,” he said softly. “Molly’s hurt really bad, Mattie.” He hung his head. “Worse, she doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
“I have more than enough room,” Lolly volunteered. “As soon as we straighten this out with Harley, I’ll go to the hospital.”
“No!” Harley cried. “You can’t take Molly in. She stole CJ from me.”
“For the last fucking time, Harley, Molly is myfriend!” he said, eyes blazing. “She’s Ryan’s girlfriend, and she cares about the dickhead when he’s nice to her. She didn’t steal me from you. Until Saturday, you had my fucking devotion.”
Ariana and Erin, both resembling freaks from a horror show, almost swooned. Even Mrs. LeBan licked her lips and she stared at CJ.
“Lolly—”
