Page 64 of Restless
There were at least twenty brothers in her immediate vicinity. The same silence that befell them when her father first appeared overtook them now.
“You want to drug Uncle Chris?” Diesel asked incredulously.
Unrepentant, Rebel nodded. “He needs to fucking sleep.”
“And I need to breathe,” Potter retorted. “He’ll fucking kill me.”
“Fine. Givemethe pills and I’ll do it myself.”
“Do what?” Uncle Mort’s voice rose above the sudden chatter.
The guys parted to reveal her uncle.
Seeing his haggard appearance made Rebel wonder what anomaly was going on. It was as if a portal to another dimension had opened and driven her father and uncles insane.
Goddamn, but old age was proving rough for them.
Out of everyone, Uncle Mort was always the coolest and chillest, and that included her father. She understood Daddy was diving off the deep end because of his worry over Momma, but she’d never seen Uncle Mort look so sad and tired. If Rebel still received an allowance, she’d bet a year’s worth of the money that Uncle Mort’s condition had something to do with that raggedy Harley.
Rebel knew raggedy. She’d been afflicted with it herself. In hindsight, she remembered her mother’s hurt and her father’s anger. Not for the first time, she wondered if she was the reason Momma and Jo had almost been taken from her.
She shoved her hands in her pockets and shifted her weight. “Daddy hasn’t slept, Uncle Mort. I wanted Potter to put Xanax in his Coke, but he’s afraid Daddy might fuck him up, so I told him to give me the pills and I’ll do it myself.”
“You a ruthless little motherfucker, huh, baby?” Uncle Mort said with a fond grin. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “CJ asked me to come and check on Outlaw. He that bad off?”
“Mort, I’m not sure how Outlaw is still alive,” Bishop admitted woefully. “The first two days after Meggie got here, he didn’t sleep at all. Since then, he’s slept an hour or two. When he’s not in her room, he’s in the nursery. He must drink a gallon of coffee a day.”
“Did you ever think to open your fucking mouth and tell someone what was going on?” Rebel demanded.
Bishop scowled at her. “Motherfuckers got eyes, Rebel.”
“First, don’t talk to me like that. I’ll fuck you up. Second, motherfuckers’ eyes were focused on my mother and little sister, asshole.You’rehere to protect my parents. The fucking president of the fucking club.” Rebel glared at him. “Yourfucking eyes are supposed to see what he needs.”
“You’re a child, Reb,” Bishop complained. “I’m ten years older than you. You’re supposed to respect me.”
“Wah, wah, bitch. Whine to somebody else becauseIdon’t give a fuck.”
“Rebel—”
“Shut the fuck up, Bishop,” Uncle Mort said. “Reb’s right. You should’ve called me, John Boy, Val, or Ghost.”
“Digger’s the SAA, Mort,” Bishop argued. “He should be here watching Prez, instead of playing nursemaid and chauffeur to the children.”
“Get the fuck out my goddamn face,” Uncle Mort growled. “You don’t have shit to say about what Digger doing.”
“I don’t mean no harm,” Bishop said, backtracking. “Shit just feel sideways. I’ve never seen Prez…fuck, I don’t even think he visits the baby because he wants to see her. He goes to the nursery because he gets tired of staring at Meggie. I know that’s crazy because he’s a father and he loves his kids—”
“He adores us,” Rebel cut in, “but Momma is his world. If there’s a choice between saving us and her, it’s her hands down. Now, stop talking. This isn’t about you. This is about my father.”
“You don’t have a dick, Rebel,” Bishop grouched. “You’re supposed to be soft and gentle.”
“Bishop—”
“You’re a sexist idiot,” she said, interrupting Diesel. “I didn’t come for any of this. I came to see my mother, which I have yet to do. Uncle Mort, can you tell Potter to get me the pills, so—”
“I’m not letting you drug your old man, Reb,” Uncle Mort said.
She wanted to punch away Bishop’s smug look.
