Page 189 of Restless
Mom meant no one would fuck with her children, and she’d do whatever she must to underscore the point, including this bad ass power move.
“Thank you,” she said with a laugh, though CJ wasn’t sure who she spoke to.
“You got any Christmas nougats, Meggie?” Uncle Digger asked. “I’m hungry.”
“I put some in the mancave just for you, Digger,” Mom answered.
Dad’s brows snapped together. “What the fuck you meanyouput them in there? I only agreed to this cuz you promised you had help.”
“I did, my love,” Mom said. “Either Kendall or Bunny did it for me once I asked them.”
“Kendall?” Uncle Johnnie asked. “MyKendall? She doesn’t work for you.”
“Nope, but she works with me,” Mom said cheerfully. “We all work together, Johnnie.”
“She has her own household—”
“Red part of the family, Johnnie,” Uncle Mort said. “Roxanne got all the girls here to help Meggie with the dinner.”
Mom glared at Uncle Johnnie, then she noticed Dad’s attention on them, and she plastered a smile on her face. She cleared her throat. “Rebel—”
“Meggie?” Uncle Digger called. He walked to the table near the door and grabbed a handful of M&Ms, then stuffed them into his mouth. “I got a question,” he said around a mouthful of candy.
“I’m all ears.”
“If Prez wanted to shoot me, you wouldn’t let him, would you?” he asked, crunching through the question.
Mom’s eyes widened. “Ibegyour pardon.”
“Can we talk about this some other time?” CJ asked hastily, seeing his father’s eyes frosting and his entire body stiffening. “We have a crowd milling about in need of refreshments until dinner is served. And—”
“The night is important to CJ,” Mom said to no one in particular, though CJ knew she was talking to Dad. “We will resolve family issues later. After the holidays…no, after the Mardi Gras Ball—”
“Too fuckin’ long,” Dad grumbled, “but I don’t want to stress you the fuck out, so fine, Megan.”
“You and Roxanne cavort with these people, Knox?” Mr. Davis asked with distaste. “Criminals?”
“Your bitch cavort with the Grevenbergs,” Uncle Digger replied. “And that little motherfucker got my niece all fucking twisted, saying her daddy—” He pointed to Uncle Mort— “My big brother, not a real ‘G’ because he never been in the tank. If you want tocavortwith criminals, cavort with smart motherfuckers.”
“Or lucky ones,” Jaleena said. She gave CJ an indulgent smile. “My parents earned their money through education and hard work, CJ. We own our stuff legally. It won’t ever be in jeopardy of confiscation because it was unlawfully gained.”
“If this place is theirs, pumpkin,” Mr. Davis said. “It might be rented.”
Rebel snorted. “Even if what you said was the case, Jaleena, which it isn’t, my parents, my brothers, and me can buy and sell you and your entire family a dozen times over and still have money left. But this house belongs to my mother. My father purchased it with money helegallyobtained through a medical lab that my Uncle Johnnie is the CEO of. Uncle Digger and Uncle Mortician can buy and sellusa dozen times over. Their money was inherited from their parents. My Uncle Cash is the brother of Georgiana McCall Mason, and also comes from money. If you want to compare bank accounts…?” She marched to CJ and held out her hand. “Your phone.”
“You don’t have to do this—” CJ started.
“Oh, yes, I do,” she said viciously. “Give me your phone, CJ.”
None of the adults were stepping in and, honestly, CJdidwant Jaleena to eat her words for the disrespect she was showing them.
He took his phone from his jacket pocket. “I’ll do it—”
“Nope,” Rebel said, snatching his phone from him. “You had your chance, brother. I’ll take it from here.”
It only took a moment for Rebel to log into her account. Smiling with the same indulgence Jaleena had bestowed on him, Rebel held the phone in front of Jaleena’s face.
Jaleena squeaked.
