Page 208 of Restless
“If I wanted the table at large to hear, Uncle Johnnie, I would’ve spoken up,” Rebel snapped. “You don’t get to come in here and order me around. It won’t work on me. I’m not afraid of you. I don’t like you. And I don’t give a good fuck about your opinion, so you can huff and puff until your fucking lungs collapse, it makes no fucking difference to me. I willneverforgive you for what you did to my mother while she was in the hospital, you fucking prick.”
“What are you talking about?” Kendall asked.
“Tell her, Johnnie,” Christopher said.
“You’re making that demand in front of strangers, Christopher?” Johnnie asked. “You’re not chastising your daughter?”
“You should be thanking my sister,” CJ said, eyeing Johnnie with distaste. “While she was talking to you, Mom was wrestling a knife away from Dad.” He smiled. “It was probably intended for your throat.”
“Whatever,” Johnnie barked, reseating himself.
“What did you do to Meggie, Johnnie?” Kendall asked.
“Nothing,” Johnnie said. “Right, Rebel?”
Rebel glanced at Meggie.
“Right, Reb?” Meggie encouraged with a nod.
“Yeppers,” Rebel said, overly bright. She leaned forward. “Yo, push down, everyone. I want Mattie to sit next to me.” She smiled at Christopher as everyone did her bidding. “Sit, Daddy. Take a load off your feet.”
“We talkin’ later, Reb.”
“I’m sure we are, Daddy.”
Christopher scowled at her.
She smiled. “I love you.”
“Nice try, Reb,” Axel said. “Dad’s still going to beat your ass. Uncle Johnnie’s an adult. If we can’t call him stupid,youcan’t.”
“Daddy won’t beat me. I was defending myself. That’s what enforcers do. Defend themselves and everyone else.”
Mortician laughed. “I’m not ready to retire yet, Reb.”
“Bitches can’t join the club, Rebel,” Digger said. “You can’t be no enforcer.”
“I can be a special assignment enforcer.” She shrugged. “Or I can start my own club.”
“That’s fucking bad ass, Reb,” Grant complimented.
“Dude, you’re old and pathetic,” Ransom said. “First Brynn and now Rebel. You’re going to be locked up yet.”
Laughing, Grant flipped Ransom off. “I’m twenty, and they are my friends. Nothing more.”
“Grant’s like a brother to me,” Rebel said. “As much as Dieselismy brother.” She smiled at him.
Unaware that he was being played, Diesel returned her smile, beaming with pleasure.
“You have an interesting family,” Jeremiah said.
Meggie sipped from her water glass. “I do. We’re rather loud and opinionated.”
“Rather is a relative term,” JaZuria said.
“Umkay. Right. We’reveryloud and opinionated.”
“Even the children,” JaZuria said with distaste. “Cultural differences at work again.”
