Page 109 of Relentles
If CJ had doubted him, his father’s indignation would’ve killed it.
“What happened? How’d you go from texting her about Jo to…to whatever Rebel said?”
“Rebel got it all wrong. I gave Torie money—”
After a last drag on his cigarette, CJ tossed it. “Dude.” Had Dad lost his game or his sense? “If Rebel misunderstood, imagine what’ll happen if Mom finds out?”
His father’s eyes widened, then he shook his head. “I’ll show Megan the texts. She’ll understand.”
“No, I guarantee you she won’t.”
“Your ma been knowin’ me almost eighteen years—”
“Yeah, Dad, and Harley’s been knowing me all my fucking life. She saw fucking photos where I was innocent and she’s has turned into a fucking monster. If Rebel gets angry enough to tell Momherversion, you, my dude, are fucked.”
CJ might’ve laughed at the dawning panic in his father’s eyes.
“Torie got a kid. She said he goes to bed hungry sometimes. I hate that thought. Once or twice, your grandma left me with her parents. Motherfuckers sent me to bed hungry. When I moved to the club, it was bad for a while. Rack and Snake.” He tossed his cigarette, though he barely touched it. “I know what it feel like, bein’ a kid, and going to bed hungry.”
“I understand. Mom will understand but tell herfirst.”
When his father hadn’t been sleeping or eating because he was worried about Mom and Jo, sleeping pills, food, and rest were an easy fix until Dad started thinking straight again.
This wouldn’t do. Dad was innocent, and CJ, his brothers, and his uncles not only knew another woman was texting him but had encouraged it to ease his mind about Jo.
Fuck, he hadn’t been thinking clearly either. Mom would feel so betrayed by all of them if Dad didn’t fix this shit.
“I thought about who I could set up Torie with,” Dad confessed. “And I told her I’d talk to Megan about her bein’ Jo and Gunner’s nanny. Her and her kid could move in—”
“And get killed by Rebel?”
“She wouldn’t hurt a small kid. That was before she walked in.”
“Apparently, while she was watching, though. Let’s forget Mom for a minute. There is absolutely nothing you could say that would appease Rebel where we could live in fucking peace with Torie and her kid living under our roof.”
“Your ma knows me, even if Rebel believe the worst. Megan knows me and she knows Torie.”
“Mom has never gotten jealous?”
“Fuck, yeah. She’s human.”
“She doesn’t know Torie. She knowsofher. Big difference.”
Dad closed his eyes. “I gotta fix this.”
“You do.”
“No matter how Torie was tryna pitch pussy at me, I don’t want her.”
“You’re very protective of her. When the fuck have you inserted yourself in anyone’s love life? In my memory, I don’t remember you playing cupid.”
“It’s nother.”
“I know, Dad,” CJ sighed. “It’s her son.”
“It’sJo. It’s her kid a little. I don’t want him hungry. But I want the best for your sister.”
“And you think Torie’s the best?”
