Page 155 of Restless
“Can I come with you, CJ?”
He eyed his sister. She wasn’t the most patient with Molly, and he didn’t want Rebel to upset her right now. Besides, he intended to go to the ER first and see Harley.
She might not have been uppermost on his mind, but he was concerned about her. He didn’t need Rebel’s judgment.
“I’ll behave, CJ,” she promised.
He sighed. “I’m going to the ER first.”
Folding her arms, Rebel sniffed. “Give me Molly’s room number and I’ll wait for you there.”
“You beat ass to help Harley,” Dad pointed out.
“She’s my cousin, Daddy. I couldn’t let two raggedy heifers best her. It doesn’t mean I forgiveHarley’sraggedy-ness toward CJ.”
“First you, now Harley,” Rule said. “Once Mattie goes through her great change, things can get back to normal.”
“Dickface, we’re not going through menopause,” Rebel said tightly.
Rule stiffened and threw Rebel a dark look that only cleared away when Dad urged Rule toward the door.
“He’s going to put a fucking spell on you, Reb,” CJ said with a grin, once their father and brothers were out of sight.
“He’d never,” Rebel said.
Her certainty pleased CJ. If Rule was his twin, he might be sobbing like Axel.
“Molly’s on the third floor,” he said, starting toward the elevators.
“You know Mattie will never behave the way Harley and I have,” she remarked, following behind him.
“Mattie doesn’t have the luxury of such spoiled behavior,” CJ said as they arrived at the elevators. “She’s spoiled, but she’s not—”
“Daddy or Uncle Mort’s daughter,” Rebel said flatly. “She belongs to fuckhead.” She stomped into the elevator.
Sighing, CJ stepped beside her. “Uncle Johnnie,” he reprimanded as the doors closed.
“Fuck you. I refuse to call that unworthy motherfucker uncle. I refuse to claim Johnnie as a family member.”
CJ’s intention had been to continue to the first floor once Rebel got off on the third. However, he stalked into her pathway and glared at her. “Uncle Johnnie—”
“Save it,” she spat, her eyes blazing. “I willneverforgive him for what he said to Momma.”
At the moment, CJ didn’t have time to hear. He was exhausted. When Dad announced Mom would be released today, CJ had the briefest exhilaration and a hope that things would finally return to normal. By the time his father got behind the wheel after talking to Uncle Mort, CJ’s optimism had fled. His thoughts were so jumbled, he wasn’t sure if he still believed Mom would be released today or if he walked amidst a nightmare and he’d awaken to find hergone.
Swallowing, he rubbed his eyes. “I detest Uncle Johnnie, Rebel. I want to gut him. For laying hands on me. For coming between Rory and me, and you and Mattie. For what he does to Aunt Kendall.”
“Basically, for existing.”
CJ nodded, unable to keep his smile at bay.
“Then why are you on my ass because of how I feel about Johnnie?”
“Uncle Johnnie,” CJ gritted.
Her eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to speak.
“Whether we like it or not, there’s a hierarchy. Our job isn’t to like or approve of every motherfucker included. Our job is to support Dad. Disrespect sows the seeds of anarchy and we risk undermining Outlaw, Reb.”
