Page 147 of Ruptured
She sailed forward and tossed her hair, smirking at her husband. “I have five children of my own. I don’t need anymore.”
“Are you implying I’m a fucking child, Kendall?”
“That’s mild compared to what I’d really like to call you, Johnnie.”
“You little bitch,” he growled.
“Would you like a mirror, love? Your reflection will reveal who’s the bitch between us.”
Johnnie got to his feet. Rory rushed to his and hurried to her, planting himself in front of her and facing his father. He wasn’t as tall as Johnnie yet, but in the last few months he’d shot up. The top of his head reached Kendall’s chin.
“Back off Mom, Dad,” he said fiercely.
“You and me are talking later, Rory,” Johnnie said, missing the importance of the moment. He should’ve applauded their son for protecting her.
Wrapping her arms around Rory, Kendall hugged him tightly, grateful for him.
Rory shrugged her off, though she doubted he was conscious of his actions as he faced off with his father. “I don’t have anything to say to you, Dad. Ever again,” he added ominously.
Unlike the coldness in Johnnie’s eyes, Rory’s burned with dislike.
Kendall frowned. “What’s going on?”
Sidling an uneasy glance at Christopher, Rory looked at her and shook his head. “Nothing, Mom. Dad and I just had an argument.”
“About?”
“None of your fucking business, Kendall,” Johnnie snarled. “It happened days ago. If you hadn’t been so busy with Christopher, maybe you could’ve been there for your son. But it’s club business, so leave.”
“Club business,” Christopher echoed.
Closing his eyes, Johnnie mumbled, “fuck!” and blew out a heavy breath. He hadn’t meant to say all that he had, but his temper had gotten the best of him.
“Johnnie—” she started, panic slamming into her.
“What fuckin’ club business?” Christopher interrupted with the look of a man already on the verge of an explosion who’d just received more unwelcomed news. Or discovered a stupid motherfucker was operating behind his back.
“Answer me, Johnnie,” Christopher said, burning with scorn and cold with fury, two polar emotions converging into a frightening visage. “Ima give you to fuckin’ three. What fuckin’ club business? One…”
Rory’s nervous laughter drew everyone’s attention and stopped the countdown. “N-nothing, Uncle Christopher. Dad didn’t mean anything.”
Kendall swallowed her rising nausea.
“Ro, this isn’t our fight.”
CJ’s words as he waved Rory over to the chair next to himbroke through to Christopher.
Kendall gave her nephew a grateful smile.
“But this ismydad, C.,” Rory countered. “That makes it my fight.”
“Not if it’s club business,” CJ argued.
Christopher snapped his brows together.
“Club business or family business, my dad is always my dad,” Rory argued.
Johnnie slammed his hand down on the table. “Now I’m your dad, you little motherfucker?” he sneered, glaring at Rory.
