Page 260 of Ruptured
“Youhave a No-Kill list.”
“Doesn’t prevent anyone’s beatings,” she reminded him. “Sometimes severely. If it makes you feel better, my rule for you are the same as Diesel and your daddy’s. You or them, it’s them. Always. Every time. Wear a blindfold or cover their eyes, but take them down and carry on.”
“You won’t be disappointed in me, Mom?”
“I want you to graduate high school, CJ. Knowing you won’t isthe only thing that disappoints me. Other than that, I’m very proud of you.”
He studied her and she gave him a gentle smile. “Choose your friends wisely, love. You don’t have to please everyone to show you’re one of the guys. What Dementor and all those stupidly named men did to you altered your life view. We’ll get you whatever you need to help you through this.Youdid nothing wrong. It was all on them, son.”
CJ darted his gaze to Christopher, then back to her and swallowed. “I want to be like Dad.”
“You aren’t Christopher. You’re you. Respect him. Admire him. Take his advice but stand tall and become your own man. That lesson iswhat I hoped you leaned most of all. You have the best of me and Christopher. Use that to your advantage. But, son, sometimes the worst of us will be required. Do you understand me? Times when respect, fairness, and negotiations need to be tossed out. When fists and knives are thrown andguns blaze. If it takes bringing down a legion, I don’t care.Come home.Stay alive.”
CJ nodded.
“Learn how to strategize.” She thrust her chin toward Kaia and Bishop. “Buildyoursupport.”
“Okay, Mom.”
“Club life is hard. Your father is so good at what he does because he, despite everything,isfair. He uses cold logic until other means are required. Don’t be so impatient. You’re just learning the ropes. First rule is listen to your president and officers of the club.”
“Do you…do you agree with Dad that I’m not cut out for the club, Mom?”
Fatherandson winced at CJ’s question, pressed their lips together, and stared at her. Whatever she wanted, they’d do, and it was so tempting to say,yes, CJ, I agree.
“CJ, love, you convinced yourself what Rory did wasn’t about you because of me,” she said. “You told yourself punching Rory for a letter you never saw would open you up to retribution. You see yourself as his protector not his punisher. I think you need a break to really heal. A month or two? FindCJ. Not my son or your daddy’s.You. If you can’t do school, drop out. But no one will rush you. You still have over a year until you’re eighteen, so to answer your question. I think you’re more than cut out. I think you’re smart and brave and loyal. You’remyson. More than that, you’re my husband’s son. A Caldwell. A Foy.Christopher Joseph Foy Caldwell. You need a little fine tuning, but, CJ, you were born ready.”
“I love you so fuckin’ much, Megan.”
“I love you, too, Christopher.” Her stomach growled and she looked glumly at the mess of her kitchen and no food in sight. Just her cook and her cleaning guy hanging onto her every word. “We’ll order some pizzas,” she announced. “Digger, let’s go—”
“Mom!” Axel screamed, barreling through the crowd from the direction of the mudroom, although she smelled him before she saw him. “They want to give me a shit bath!”
Memories of PoopGate invaded her, and she recoiled at the slop covering Axel.
“We found the proper stabilizer, so we was gathering fresh manure to make our bombs to blow up Nardo and Uncle Cash and—”
Ryder and Ransom rushed in, buckets poised. If Christopher hadn’t planted himself in front of her, she would’ve been doused in poop again.
Luckily, he took the brunt of it.
In the ensuing chaos, no one questioned the Triplets about their fucking bomb. That was lost in translation as was the stench and soupy shit.
His little brothers had a fucking shit fetish. Bomb making aside, there was absolutely no goddamn reason for those little assholes toalwaysfuck around with shit.
Realizing they’d dousedDad–poetic justice somehow?—along with Axel, Uncle Johnnie, and Uncle Digger, Ryder and Ransom froze for a split second, widened their eyes and then screamed as if their lives depended on it.
If everyone hadn’t frozen in shock, theywould’vegotten fucked up. Instead, they threw the buckets, turned, and ran back the way they came, their screams trailing behind them.
If there wasn’tenoughfuckery, Rebel walked into the kitchen, stepped next to CJ and made a gagging sound.
“Come with me, Momma,” she ordered, assessing the situation and smirking at Dad’s back. “Let them deal—”
Mom glanced over her shoulder and shook her head. “I’m fine, Reb.” She poked Dad. “Go outside and hose yourself off. And I suggest you don’t speak if you don’t want poop in your mouth.”
Turning, Dad made a noise.
“Don’t you dare walk through this house dripping slop, Christopher,” Mom said firmly and pointed in the direction Ryder and Ransom escaped. “Go through the mudroom.”
