Page 149 of Relentles
He nodded. “Mom’s phone,” he said hoarsely.
Aunt Meggie’s arms tightened around him, and she ruffled his hair, just as she did when he was a small boy.
She sighed. “I suppose this is about Johnnie.”
He cried bitter tears. He hated his dad so much, even though he loved him. “I…he’s going to die, Aunt Meggie,” he sobbed. “If Uncle Christopher—”
The hand patting his back stilled. She stiffened. “Is Johnnie betraying the club?”
“No,” he said. Not in the way she meant. He sucked in tears. “But it’ll seem that way. He thinks…he thinks…” Rory didn’t know. Dad just wasn’t rational.
“Is Christopher in danger?”
If only. This would be a non-issue. Uncle Christopher would stomp the Scorpions like the bugs they were.
“No,” he said honestly.
“My kids? My nieces and nephews? The club?”
“No,” he said, another truth. It washer. She was in danger. She needed to know. Except he’d sign his father’s death warrant. He lifted his gaze and stared at her. He wanted her to see his sincerity. “Dad is in the crosshairs of another club, and he thinks he’s protecting Mom by not going to Uncle Christopher. It’s more a family matter than a club issue.”
That was a lie, but he wanted to protect her while saving his father’s life.
“You want me to talk to your dad or your uncle?”
“I just want him safe, Aunt Meggie.”
“Can you give me the name of the club?”
He was chickening out. His father was committing grave mistakes in the name of fucking stupidity. “I-I don’t remember.”
She lifted a brow, not buying his copout. “Is it the Scorpions?”
If he told her ‘yes’, he’d end up revealing everything. “No.”
“Do you swear?” she demanded. “This is important, Rory. Do you swear it isn’t Bash and the Scorpions?”
Uncle Christopher had already shot Dad. “I swear, Aunt Meggie.”
“Bash is dangerous.”
He nodded. “I would tell you if it was the Scorpions,” he said without flinching. He lied to protect a man who didn’t fucking deserve it because he was too ignorant to do the right thing. Involving Uncle Christopher wouldn’t have called Dad’s manhood into question. It would’ve shown his honor. Because of Dad, he too was being dishonorable.
“Let’s get the party out of the way, Rory. I will talk to your uncle and see what I can do.”
Chapter Twenty-Two - Christopher
Later that evening, Christopher sat in his office, double checking the monthly accounts for accuracy. Regular church was overdue as were the financials, so he’d scheduled a quick meeting for the day after his birthday.
He trusted Stretch. In all his years as treasurer there’d never been a problem, but Big Joe taught him to make a point of staying abreast of everything. Crooked motherfuckers wouldn’t get the idea to fuck over them if they knew there was a gatekeeper.
Another lesson Big Joe tried to convey but never fucking followed was keeping the club’s finances and personal finances separated. Motherfucker had alotof fucking nerve. He’d made Christopher not only kill him but left him to unfuck everything he’d fucking fucked.
Christopher blew out a breath. He didn’t want to start hating on the man again. He’d finally forgiven him and remembered all the good things about him.
Mainly, his love for Megan.
As if thoughts of her conjured her, his office door opened, and she sashayed in. She wore jeans and a white top. Her nipples poked the material and his cock stirred.
