Page 159 of Restless
“Don’t go, Dad,” Lou begged once Mort imparted his plans. “We don’t want to stay with Mom and Harley. We want to move to the club with you.”
“We’ll talk about it when I get home, little bro,” he promised. “In the meantime, listen to your momma. Don’t give her grief.”
“We’re not talking to her or Harley,” Lou grumbled.
Mort had grinned. “I appreciate the loyalty, son, but that’s still your momma and your sister. Respect them, especially Bailey. I won’t tolerate your disrespect.”
“Kaleb wants to talk to you,” Lou said, not commenting on Mort’s order.
“I love you, boy.”
“I love you, too, Dad,” Lou responded glumly. “Here, Kaleb, talk quick. Dad’s leaving town.”
“No! Dad, don’t go.” Kaleb’s little voice wobbled.
He and Axel had been the youngest for several years, until Bunny turned up pregnant with Cove, followed a year later by Meggie with Gunner, and then Red with Blade.
Now, there was Baby Jo.
Kaleb sniffled. “Lou and me don’t want you to leave. We can’t visit you at the club. Don’t go, Dad. Please.”
“Dad, when are you coming back home?” Lou asked, taking over the conversation again. “We miss you. We…please don’t leave us.”
It was because of his sons that he was still close by when Prez called and told him about Harley’s fight. He’d been sitting at the burger joint he’d met CJ at to question him about his intentions toward Harley. It had been a favorite spot for him and Harley too, until she saw their waitress, Symphony, flirting with him.
Symphonystillflirted with him; he continued to ignore her. By the time he arrived at the hospital, Harley was being discharged. She gave him the cold shoulder, though Bailey was so distraught she collapsed into his arms and sobbed.
Until Harley asked what had taken him so long to arrive and he’d mentioned he’d been on his way out of town.
“CJ deserted me and left me to get beat up. Now, you’re leaving me, too?” Harley started to cry.
Bailey turned away from him and ran to Harley. “Hunny bunny, it’s okay—”
“CJ hasn’t deserted you,” Roxanne said, then told Mortician how CJ, Rebel, and Mattie helped Harley.
Mort’s second mistake had been praising CJ. Harley hadn’t taken kindly to his happiness at the kid’s intervention or that of Reb and Mattie.
“You traitor!” she cried.
“Oh, baby,” Bailey said tearfully, hugging Harley when Mort felt like shaking the fuck out of her. Which was when he knew he had to leave. He’d lost his fucking mind to even consider spanking Harley. “Your daddy doesn’t mean it. He knows CJ is worthless.”
Mort frowned at Bailey. “That’s going a step too far, baby.”
His words destroyed any progress he’d made with his wife in the last few minutes, especially when Harley cried harder.
“Mortician, go outside and wait for us,” Roxanne suggested. “Let me talk to these two.”
After their conversation the other night after the poker game, he eyed her with suspicion. “What—”
“Make them leave, Mommie,” Harley managed. “They’re going to be mean to me and I’m in so much pain. I can’t bear it right now.”
Mort discovered Roxanne had brought his baby girl to the ER and Bailey arrived a little over an hour later, a few minutes before Mort. Harley’s melodrama angered Roxanne. To keep the peace, he’d guided her outside where they waited for Bailey and Harley, then Mort hopped on his bike and led the mini caravan of two SUVs back to the club. He’d gone home to make sure Harley was comfortable but left soon after. She’d gotten Bailey firmly back on her side.
Roxanne took Lou and Kaleb to her house, so they could eat with her, Knox, and Grant. He was home from Boston for the holidays.
When Mort walked in the club house, it was crowded and loud with a mixture of brothers, probates, old ladies, hangers on, children, and the girls the club owned. It took him a minute to thread through the crowd. He intended to go to his room and drink his fucking troubles away. Instead, seeing Cash, Stretch, Val, Digger, Cameron, Johnnie, Rory, JJ, Derby, Diesel, Devon, Brooks, Knox, Grant, and Boy at or around Prez’s table halted him.
“What—”
