Page 39 of Ruptured
“We’re speaking the God’s honest truth, Ryan.” Fia slid into CJ’s lap and hugged him. “You’re beautiful! A fine, grown man. I’ll suck your cock. I-I know…you have…whatever you want. Justplease. Please, please, please, please–”
“What are you begging me for?” CJ asked, interrupting her annoying chant.
“Anything! Everything!Please!”
“Bro, shut up!” Mattie ordered.
Taking his face between her hands, Fia pressed her lips against CJ’s mouth. He gasped and she seized his shock to slide her tongue in his mouth and her hands underneath his shirt.
Grabbing her arms, CJ tried to pull her away, but she slid her tongue deeper. He attempted to move his head; she sank her fingers into his hair and held him in place. As a last measure, he gently pushed at her, not wanting to use too much force and hurt her. Nothing worked. He was just about to tug her hair and, if that didn’t work, swallow his revulsion at using force against a girl and shove her as hard as possible, when she suddenly jolted back.
No.
Diesel did what CJ had hesitated to do–snatch her by her hair and shove her so hard she fell to the ground.
Crouching near her, Diesel leaned in. “Unless you’re fucking stupid, you knew CJ was trying to get away.”
Fia’s sob drifted to him and broke into his fucking shock. He was used to having his every move followed by the brothers and being the center of attention as Outlaw and Meggie’s son. Thatscrutiny didn’t always bode well for him. However, girls using their sexuality to manipulate him was a new experience.
“Aunt Meggie is everything Tennysee described.” Diesel jerked Fia to her feet, unmoved by her weeping. “We don’t need to hear it from you, cunt.”
Mom was so much more than a bunch of words insincerely thrown together. She was first and foremost a survivor. And a fighter. She’d been through a lot in her life. Most people were unaware of Mom as anything but a mom, a wife, and an aunt, but CJ had vague memories of superficial scars on her arms and thighs. Not long after his tenth birthday, he remembered his mother starting treatments for two in particular, ones that wouldn’t respond to oils and creams.
No one told him she’d been a cutter; he’d heard it by listening in on conversations between Mom and Dad, and Mom and Aunt Bunny.
CJ never revealed he knew that secret. In his eyes, Momwasan amazing woman. When he was a kid, he hadn’t understood her meaning when she’d said cutting allowed her some control over Thomas’s vileness. Now, he did.
She’d found a way to survive and thrive.
Mom had stood strong then, and she wasstrong now. Her strength and resilience allowed her to save Rebel and herself.
Over the past weeks he’d let her down. She wanted him to finish high school, and he’d brushed her off. He’d forgotten what she’d endured,survived, to enjoy a place of contentment.
Maybe Dad had, too.
“We can cook her favorite meal,” Fia offered.
Mattie rolled her eyes. “Do you even know her favorite meal?”
“Yeah, cook her favorite meal,” Ryan added with sarcasm, “so you can fucking poison her.”
Horror washed over Fia, Tennysee, and Tauriel’s faces.
“No!” Fia cried.
“Never!” Tennysee added.
“We love Meggie and Reb,” Tauriel swore again.
“Do my fucking ears a favor and love them from afar,” Ryan said.
“I’ll pass it on to Aunt Meggie,” Mattie promised. “I’m sure Rebel won’t care.”
Mom probably wouldn’t either. She wasn’t Dad’s sweet angel anymore, but then everyone got tired. Perhaps, Mom turning into hell goddess—Dad’s new nickname for her—was long overdue.
Before he commented, a text came through.
Dad: Ride with me to the rectory to see Rule.
