Page 69 of Ruptured
And why did he want Rebel? She was a child, his little sister, and so fucking spoiled she didn’t know life outside the insulated world they’d all created for her.
“Will you come soon?” Jana sat across from him in the hamburger joint Mortician once brought him to. She smiled. “To dinner. Mama and Daddy really want to meet you. They suspect it’s serious between us.”
It was. It had been. Regret filled him. Though he still had problems, he felt settled with his decisions and a future with Jana. He cared so deeply for her.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, happy, carefree, and unsuspecting of his changed plans.
Fuck, he hadn’t known his previous plans. Asking her to return, though, signaled a turning point in her mind. Lately, she drifted in and out of his life at her own discretion.
Leaning across the table, she poked him. “Cat got your tongue, mister?”
He forced a smile. “No, sweetheart. I…” He’d never been a lame motherfucker. Or particularly romantic, but he had to cover up his fucked up behavior. Before Rebel was released from the hospital, he’d see to Jana. He hadn’t told her he intended to propose, so he’d lie and tell her he just wanted her nearbyand intended to pay her expenses. “You’re beautiful.” It was the truth, and the best he could do.
She laughed. “My beauty has enraptured you. Stolen your ability to speak.”
“Something like that, sweetheart.”
“When I met you, it was the luckiest day of my life,” she said softly, tenderly. “Mom and Dad will love you! Now that you’ve found your tongue, answer me. When will you accept their invitation?”
Diesel’s ringing phone saved him from a response. Axel’s name flashed across the screen, but he had to see to Jana before he could take care of his little brother. Ax had a lot more support than Jana and she was so much more fragile.
Forcing himself to focus on Jana, he took her hand in his and squeezed gently. “As soon as I can, sweetheart,” he promised. “As soon as Rebel is out of the hospital.”
He still hadn’t seen her. She was probably mad as hell, but he needed to get his head on straight. He didn’t want her to pick up on his fury toward Rule. For whatever reason, she’d always tried to protect that motherfucker.
None of them should’ve trusted him. CJ didn’t blame Aunt Meggie, but Diesel couldn’t understand why she hadn’t locked Rule in a mental institution and thrown away the fucking key. They should’ve insisted Rule attend the party at the club.
Speaking of…
Why the fuck had they gone through with Nyx’s initiation if that cunt got herself killed anyway? Diesel knew he should’ve killed her after CJ’s overdose.
“Your mind’s a thousand miles away,” Jana scolded gently, her clear gray eyes lucid, her blonde hair and golden skin fresh and clean. She offered an exaggerated yawn. “I’m getting tired anyway.”
Diesel smiled. “Little liar.”
She giggled. “Maybe,” she drawled, twirling her hair. “On the other hand, I need all the beauty rest I can get.”
“Then that’s two hours tops. You’re gorgeous.”
She beamed at him as Diesel’s phone chimed with an incoming text. It wasn’t Axel’s sound or any of his other family members, so he glanced at it, surprised to see a message from an unknown number.
We must meet immediately. You are a highly recommended defense attorney and have a tendency to go the extra mile for your clients. I have been trying to get my brother out of jail since his arrest yesterday. He has a lung issue and I am concerned about the quality of air. He is very susceptible to pneumonia. Please help me, sir.
Scowling, Diesel glanced at his watch. Nearly 10PM.
He’ll last until tomorrow. I need information before I meet with you.
UNKNOWN: I can pay you. 20 bands.
That’ll last until tomorrow also.
UNKNOWN: What I am willing to pay will go down substantially.
What I am willing to do will become non-existent.
UNKNOWN: Please, Mr. Caldwell! I’m begging you. I can meet you wherever. Hand over what you’re owed and give you all necessary information. He can be home by morning. Please! I love my brother. If anything happens to him, I will never forgive myself.
Unless you’re responsible for his arrest, you’ll get over it.
