Page 125 of Ruptured
Her low tone hinted she didn’t necessarily want to be heard CJ wanted her to expose whoever hurt her, but she wouldn’t, especially to him. Trust had been broken both ways.
She got to her feet. “I’m going to take a shower.” She glanced at CJ, then looked at her feet again. “It was nice seeing everyone.”
No one said anything as she walked away. Grant clenched his jaw and Devon looked at the place she’d sat with suspicion and dislike. She’d burned a lot of bridges.
“What was that all about, Uncle Val?” CJ asked. If not one else cared or was curious,hewas. “Is Nardo hitting her?”
Uncle Val shrugged. “The cameras in the auditorium are fucked up. I only had audio. They were arguing, that’s for sure. I heard what sounded like a lick, but she has no visible bruises.”
“So, wait, Dad.” Devon’s brow furrowed. “Harley wasn’t putting on an act.”
“Have you ever known her to act like that?” Ryan snapped. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Please don’t let this be a next gen love triangle,” Rory grumbled.
“At least this time you’ll be on the outside looking in,” Ryan said with biting sarcasm, and glared at CJ. “Besides, it isn’t a love triangle. My beautiful face wins every time.”
“But your delusional motherfuckery loses all the time,” CJ retorted.
Ryan flipped him off, then looked at Uncle Val. “I got a question for you.”
“Don’t know if I got the answer, boy.” Uncle Val replied, sipping his beer.
“I don’t think it goes like that, Pops,” Ryan said with a small smile.
“Yeah, it does, boy. What motherfucker got all the answers? Only stupid fuckheads think they know everything.”
CJ snickered. “Ryan came by his shadiness honestly, Unk.”
Grinning, Uncle Val gave CJ a two-fingered salute then looked at Ryan. “What’s up, boy?”
“Suppose I…suppose I start dating Harley? What, uh, what would Logan think?”
Rory snorted and shook his head. “Does it matter what that psycho would think?” Realizingsomething, he snapped his mouth shut and threw an uneasy look at CJ. He laughed nervously. “Or so I’ve heard.”
Very fucking interesting, considering Dad believed Uncle Johnnie knew shit that no one else did.
“Ryan heard different.” Uncle Val glanced between them. “He thinks Logan’s a great man. I know Willard filled his head with that nonsense. Who’s been talking to you, Rory?”
“N-n-n-n-no one, Uncle Val.” His stutter proved he was a lying motherfucker. “I just…there’s always rumors.”
About Dad’s grandfather? Really? “Rory, if you know something, speak up,” CJ ordered, wondering why he’d left the hospital. Beyond those walls, all kinds of bullshit were flung his way. Fuck,insidethose motherfuckers, too. At least there, he was with Mom and Rebel. “Because, I swear to you, if you know anything that can get my mom hurt, I will never fucking forgive you andthenI’ll kill you.”
Rory glanced away. “I don’t have a dog in this fight, C. I’d never do anything to betray you.”
“Betraying Mom, betrays me. If it’s a club matter, then I don’t have a dog in the fight either,” CJ echoed. “Not yet anyway.”
“Boy, if you want to join the club, any motherfucker that need handling is your fucking business,” Uncle Val told him.
“I don’t agree, Uncle Val. For instance, if Uncle Johnnie or Rory or anyone betrayed the club, it wouldn’t concern me because I can’t join yet. Mom isn’t a club member either, so if she’s targeted, especially by family, then it is my problem.”
“I have to say, cuck, your reasoning makes no fucking sense,” Ryan said with a snort.
“How?” CJ said irritably. “We aren’t patched in.”
“Not yet,” Rory said. “But we want to be. If I choose my dad over the club, that’s a clear violation.”
“Then Dad would beat the fuck out you,” CJ insisted. “Not me.”
