Page 110 of Relentles
“When your ma not around or—” He glanced away— “me,” he mumbled, “then I thought she was the best one.”
“She was willing to upend her life to move her and her son?”
“After I showed her the house. She wanted to make sure we had room for her.”
“Okay, yeah, Dad, uh—” He needed Uncle Mort for this. Although he’d been married for years, his judgment was clouded by a sick daughter and a psychologically tortured wife.
Only fear and lack of rest.
He put an arm around his father’s shoulders. A few more inches and he wouldn’t have to reach up.
“Let’s talk about the birds, bees, bank accounts, and brats.”
Obviously, Dad learnednothingfrom Rebel’s avarice. If she found a man who spoiled his wife as his father did his mother, she do her best to sink her claws into him at all costs.
A couple hours later, Rebel, Mattie, Winnie, Harley, Brynn Mason, Ava Baptiste, Lolly, and the aunts handed out gifts to the brothers, their old ladies, and their kids. When Molly joined in, Harley walked off.
Not long after, Lolly left with Molly to get a head start on the evening’s dinner and his parents’ house.
At seven, the Bobs arrived. Dad rounded up the younger kids, swept Mom into his arms, and left, ushering away his aunts, uncles, and many of his cousins. When the dust settled, CJ, Ryan, Rory, Devon, and Grant were left behind.
The message was clear:Feel free to indulge.
CJ was the first to leave, and he did so not five minutes after his parents. Ryan and Devon caught up with him in the forest.
“My girlfriend’s at your house,” Ryan grumbled. “I’m not leaving anything to chance.”
“She’s your girlfriend, dickhead.” CJ lit a cigarette and puffed on it. “And you’re my cousin. Do the fucking math.”
“Why did you make me leave, Ryan?” Devon asked, stomping beside them.
“If I’m not getting pussy, you definitely aren’t.”
“Killjoy,” Devon muttered.
Ryan swung at Devon, but he ducked and ran ahead. “Say that to my fucking face, cuck,” he screamed.
Devon gave no indication he heard.
CJ flicked away his cigarette. “Can you ever not be such a fucking psychopath?”
“Can you ever not be so self-righteous?”
Sighing, CJ shook his head and sped up his pace.
“Wait, CJ! I wanted to talk to you about Bash.”
CJ froze. With everything going on, he hadn’t thought of Bash today. What game was Ryan playing? The motherfucker never wanted to discuss anything with CJ. “What about him?”
“He’s gone for good. I think,” Ryan added, dodging CJ’s gaze.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Ryan bristled. “I’ve told you everything, beta boy.”
If that was the case, Ryan wouldn’t have a problem meeting CJ’s eye. He wouldn’t fidget. But it was Christmas, he was cold, and enough bullshit had happened. One good thing was that CJ enlisted his uncles to help Dad come up with a solution regarding the Torie situation.
Uncle Mort advised Dad to find her another position ASAP.
