Page 143 of Relentles
Blood pooled around his head, the sound of it leaking into the table’s drain another shock to CJ’s senses. The scent of urine and shit filled his nostrils and burned his eyes.
“Couldn’t you have waited, Uncle Chris?” Rory asked, the son as disappointed as the father.
“Nope.” Dad’s .9mm disappeared under his cut. “He was making my goddamn head hurt.”
“Val,” Uncle Digger called, nodding to where Ryan should’ve been standing but laid out in a dead faint on the floor.
“Take your son and leave, so I can get to work disposing this piece of trash,” Uncle Mort said.
Uncle Val frowned. “Can I move the van first? He big enough where nobody will step on him.”
Diesel walked to Ryan, bent and hefted him over his shoulder. “I’ll bring him to the clubhouse,” he grumbled.
After Diesel left with Ryan, and Uncle Val and Rule followed them out, Dad looked at CJ.
“You good, son?” he asked, unbothered by the smells or the body.
CJ could only nod.
“You did good, little dude,” Uncle Mort complimented.
“Next lesson is teaching you how to find pussy to get into after you fuck up a motherfucker,” Uncle Digger said.
Dad glared at him. “Why don’tyouteach CJ that, assfuck?”
“I got a woman!”
Growling, Dad stepped toward Uncle Digger.
“Goddamn, I didn’t mean that the way you taking it, Outlaw!”
CJ decided to intervene. “I may not have a girl to, uh,get into, but can I have a beer with you, Dad?” He still felt shaky. “I need one.”
With a last glower at Uncle Digger, Dad looked at CJ and smiled. “Yeah, boy.”
For now, the killer retreated, and he was back to beingDad.
Chapter Twenty-One – Meggie
Christopher allowed Torie to cash the check, instead of reclaiming it and reissuing it for half the amount. Meggie found out when the bank called and asked her for authorization. She knew it was his way of giving her control over how to handle the situation. If she declined, he’d let it go. So, too, if she gave the go ahead.
He had a soft spot for the gorgeous woman. Whether it was only because of Jo or the nurse’s son, Meggie couldn’t say. But with days separated between that situation and the bank manager’s call, some reason sank into her.
Her husband could’ve handled it so much differently. He’d been floundering for weeks, however, hit with one emotional upheaval after the other. Besides, the nurse’s little boy didn’t deserve to suffer because of Meggie’s anger and jealousy.
She should’ve put the matter to bed. Christopher gave her power over if Torie kept the money. She’d instructed the bank manager to release ten percent for the time being and put a hold on the remainder.
She was in her office to take care of a couple of things. Ophelia would return in an hour, and Meggie would go back to her bedroom. Although Christopher’s birthday was in two days, she didn’t have energy for much, so her sisters-in-law or Gypsy would oversee everything else.
Meggie also needed to check on her son. Poor Molly was gone, stolen by her father, the man who had helped to keep her drugged and who had beaten her baby out of her. CJ was beside himself. He really cared about Molly. Unfortunately, Meggie feared the worst.
Her feelings about Torie should’ve been ignored. One good thing that came of this was Meggie sitting down with Rebel and talking to her about authority and respect for it. Her children had gotten completely out of control. Or, maybe, they’d never been in control.
It was CJ who Meggie and Christopherraised. He got the guidance, the discipline, the patience, and the struggles. He’d gotten the best and worst of her and Christopher. She’d been an eighteen-year-old new wife when she gave birth to him. There hadn’t been much in Hortensia back then and enemies surrounded them. Not for nothing, she’d been kept on premises with her son. True, she’d gotten her GED, but the only thing she could do was be a mom and a wife.
She adored all her children. She cared for them, cooked for them, helped them with homework, and spoiled them. But itwasn’t until she’d heard Torie tellherdaughter that they could talk woman-to-woman and advise her on respect that Meggie realized she’d failed Rebel.
She’d made Rebel write a handwritten note that Meggie intended to mail to Torie once she got an address. Rebel hadn’t been happy, which couldn’t be helped. Life dropped many unpleasant things into your lap.
