Page 125 of Relentles
“What the fuck did I tell you, Rebel? Now,apologize, or I will take every piece of equipment you have. She’s a grown bitch.Youa young bitch. Give her fuckin’ respect.”
“Christopher?”
The sound of Momma’s voice sucked his anger away, and he stilled.
Right. They were there because of Jo. Not this drama.
“Yeah, baby?” he asked warily as she closed the distance between them.
“Kendall showed me the contract.” Momma glanced from Torie to Rebel. She held up the papers. “And told me why it was necessary.”
Daddy’s jaw clenched. “You know me, Megan.”
Silent, Momma took her phone out of her pocket. She looked so defeated. “Look at the videos and then tell me that again.” Slamming her phone against his chest, she turned. “We can finally see Jo.”
She stalked away.
Chapter Seventeen - Ryan
Good job.
Ryan read Johnnie’s message. He’d done exactly as the motherfucker ordered. Get the hospital footage whenever Outlaw was with Torie, create a video, and send it to Meggie.
It was all in his quest to send her away. Or to die. At first, Ryan refused. His mother’s words kept replaying in his head. Willard’s shenanigans did, too.
Then, Johnnie hadn’t given him a choice. He was also insisting Ryan drive to Salt Lake City with him on New Year’s Eve to visit Bash. If Ryan didn’t do exactly as Johnnie said, he’d go to Outlaw.
Even if Ryan turned Johnnie over,hisass was still fucked. Rule would pray over him while Axel used his fucking slingshot and Ransom his arrow.
Or Bash would get Ryan. He’d been so fucking furious when he’d called and told him about the Bart brothers. They’d been left in the picnic shelter. They needed help. Although Bash was hundreds of miles away, Ryan refused to call their parents.
Who cared, though? If he revealed what they’d done to him, no one would care. Cavorting with the enemy had gotten him to that point.
No matter the anger and resentment that constantly flared in him, Ryan’s duplicity trapped him.
Johnnie took a long-ago used play out of his bitch’s book of schemes and decided to undermine Outlaw’s marriage. Stupid fuckhead. Didn’t that motherfucker remember what happened tothatgirl?
Ryan had heard bits and pieces over the years. If he were honest and not so frightened that he was considered running away, he might’ve basked in the knowledge that this bullshit would affect Prince CJ. He put Outlaw on a pedestal and thought that bitch who pushed him out could do no fucking wrong.
He’d all but taken Molly from Ryan. Sometimes, he felt vindicated for reaching out to her father and wished Tom Harris had swooped in and took her. Just so CJ wouldn’t have her. Then, Ryan remembered her daddy was psycho and, to protect her, he should’ve left well enough alone.
He just hated CJ so fucking much. Even when Molly went with Ryan into the club on Christmas Day, she wanted CJ. He was slowly being integrated into the club. Despite all his absences, he hadn’t gotten kicked off the football team, just demoted to the practice squad. Coach Yancy longed to have him back at starting quarterback. So, yeah, that motherfucker deserved fucking pain.
After erasing all the evidence from his hard drive and closing his laptop, Ryan stood from his desk chair. It was quiet in the house. Everyone was at the hospital. A couple hours ago, Pops called and said Jo survived the surgery. Ryan knew they’d head home soon.
He didn’t want to face them, especially his mother. He couldn’t look her in the eye and confess to what he’d just done.
It was too late for regrets now. They were suddenly there, all the same. He hated CJ. Meggie had never done shit to Ryan.
Except gave birth to CJ. That was a fucking crime in and of itself. No motherfucker should be that perfect and get to have peace and happiness, too.
Sighing, Ryan rubbed his temples and grabbed his jacket from the peg on his door. He had a decent sized room, but all the logs and wood limited his decorative choices. Besides, his mother didn’t change shit every so often.
Only CJ’s family had that type of fucking money.
In his almost seventeen years, Ryan’s room was changed four times. From baby to toddler; toddler to kid; kid to preteen; preteen to now. He had a double-sized bed, two nightstands, a desk, and a dresser. His private bathroom and walk-in closet were accidents since this room once served as a guestroom.
CJ had everything. Ryan bet he’d even have a Harley soon. He just wouldn’t have a happy family.
