Page 151 of Remorseless
Mattie placed a hand on Rebel’s shoulder and smiled at Harley. “Aunt Meggie’s his mom. She can bar anyone she pleases.”
“Exactly,” Bailey said coolly, back in Mama Bear mode forwhateverfucking reason. As far as Mort saw, Harley didn’t deserve defending. “She barred CJ from visiting Harley. Could this be karma biting her in the ass?”
Mort looked at his wife, unable to think of a fucking comeback. She couldn’t have been suggesting…? No, absolutely not. Bailey hadn’t lost her fucking mindthatfucking much.
“Sound like you trying to die by Outlaw, Bailey,” Digger said with disapproval. Prez had gone to the club, so Digger returned right before Bailey to check on CJ. “I’m not the smartest motherfucker, but itseemslike your ass saying little bro overdosed because Meggie stopped him from seeing Harley.”
“She didn’t by the way,” Bunny said quietly.
“You not saying that, are you, Bailey?” Mort asked. “No matter what Meggie did or didn’t do, I been knowing CJ since before he was born and you since he was a few months old. We have children. You want to talk karma? Try wishing death on another woman son. See what the fuck karma get you.”
“I’m not wishing death on CJ, Lucas,” Bailey cried. “I’m saying if Meggie hadn’t interfered with CJ’s and Harley’s friendship, chances are he wouldn’t have turned into a whoremongering drug addict on life support. Harley kept him grounded. Maybe, if he survives, he’ll recognize what a good girl she is. But we all have to pay a price for bad behavior and autocracy.”
Rebel growled. If Mort hadn’t been close enough to grab her, Bailey wouldn’t have stood a chance.
Bunny jumped to her feet and nodded to the hallway, then grabbed Mattie’s hand. Following his sister-in-law’s silent instructions, Mort carried Rebel out of the waiting room. She wiggled, cursed, and sobbed the entire way. Near the locked double doors of the intensive care unit, they halted. Dwellers and brothers from their support clubscrowded the hallway. Many of them had witnessed Rebel’s showdown with Torie. Seeing Mort carrying her and hearing her hysteria drew their attention.
It wasn’t until Mort released her and she turned and sobbed against his chest that he realized Mattie was crying too and Bunny was trying to console her, in tears herself.
“CJ isn’t on life support, baby,” Bunny said gently, hugging Mattie and whispering to her.
“He is, isn’t he, Uncle Mort?” Rebel wept. “That’s why Momma hasn’t come out.”
“No, Reb,” Mort said. “You heard the doctor. He waking up soon. I promise. Every overdose different.”
“Can I talk to her, Uncle Mort?” Diesel called from behind them.
Rebel jerked away from Mort, barreled to Diesel and shoved him. “No, fuckhead. I don’t ever want to talk to you again. If you stopped fucking everything, maybe you would’ve told our brother not to drink what that bitch gave him.”
“I’m sorry, Reb. I’m so sorry. I’d never do anything to hurt him.”
“No, you’d just ignore him because you’re a stupid, pussy crazed fuckhead. All you had to say wasonefucking word, jackass.Don’t. One. Or, Mr. Attorney, made an argument. Don’t drink fucking lean because it isn’t good for you, CJ, but you, motherfucker, didn’t say a motherfucking peep.”
“You weren’t there. You don’t know what the fuck I said.”
“Fuck you. I know what the fuck youdidn’tsay. After Daddy and Uncle Mort, CJ looks up toyou.”
“Rebel, shut the fuck up. We can discuss this in private. You’re a young lady and—”
If Diesel didn’t see Rebel’s punch coming, Mort sure the fuck did. He hurried to her and pulled her into his arms. Although she jerked around, she couldn’t throw any more licks.
“Fuck you with what the fuck I am, Diesel,” she snarled. “You’re comparing me to a cunt who lives in your motherfucking head rent fucking free because you’re a fucking ungrateful jackass. That bitch deserted you? Then fuck her.Welove you.Westand with you.Wenever deserted you. How do you repay Momma and Daddy? By letting miserable fucking bitches overdose our brother because they hate our mother. Congratulations, fuckface. You just won idiot of the fucking year.”
“Rebel—”
“Don’ttalkto me. Go talk to that cunt. Ask her if Bash paid her to kill my brother. Find that out, you miserable motherfucker, then bring me her fucking head and Imightspeak to you in a few months.”
Diesel paled. “What did you say…?”
Fuck, Mortician felt a little shaky, too. If motherfuckers had infiltrated the school, it made fucking sense they would’ve invaded the club.
Rebel’s words were rippling through the crowd. Then, reason invaded Mortician. Trusting that Rebel wouldn’t attack Diesel for the time being, he released her.
“Your words make sense, Reb,” he told her, drawing her attention. “Except the girls weren’t expecting CJ. He just dropped in. I might agree with your theory if they knew he was going to the club in advance.”
Rebel swiped at her tears and sniffled. “If they were planning something anyway, they saw an opportunity and took it.” She glanced from Diesel to Mort, all her anger gone. “CJ’s going to be okay, won’t he?”
“Bunny, baby, take the girls downstairs. Roxanne and Kendall waiting for you three,” Digger instructed, walking up to them, raining ashes from his cigarette along the way.
