“Why fight to be appreciated when I’m valued elsewhere?”
CJ stiffened, recalling the accusation he’d pinned on Ryan. “Like the fucking Scorpions?” he snarled, low. “You’rewhy Molly’s gone, motherfucker.”
“Molly?” Harley spat.
CJ and Ryan ignored her, facing off. Ryan glanced away first and shook his head.
“I am not,” he said quietly. “I wouldn’t subject her to their form of brutality just to get back at you.”
Remembering Mrs. Harris’s headless body sent a wave of nausea through CJ. So many times, he imagined Molly meeting a similar fate. He vacillated between acceptance that he’d eventually receive word of her gruesome death and rejecting the idea that was to be her end.
“Do you need help finishing the science project?” Rebel asked softly.
CJ glanced at her. Her eyes were gentle, her smile kind. He didn’t want to worry her, so he forced a smile of his own and shook his head.
“If I’m wrong about you, Ryan, I’m sorry,” CJ said. “But I swear to Christ if I ever find out you’re the reason she’s gone, I’ll kill you.”
Ryan met his gaze. Smirked. Nodded.
Harley made a noise, drawing both their attention.
CJ raised a hand. “Not a motherfucking word, Harley. Molly was my friend. Believe me. Don’t believe me. I don’t give a fuck. If Ryan used her vulnerability to get back at me out of jealousy or dislike or whatever, that’s a step too fucking far.” He glared at Ryan, not believing him. Or, maybe, notwantingto believe him. “If that day ever comes, run, motherfucker.”
The sneer didn’t leave Ryan’s face. “Ember sucking your cock swelled your nuts, huh, incel?”
Mattie and Rebel burst into a fit of giggles again. Harley looked apoplectic.
“Ember’s a cool name,” Axel piped in. “We got a teacher in Middle School named Ember. I can’t wait to get in her class.”
The girls screamed with laughter, while the boys snickered, including Ryan and CJ. It reminded him, however, they needed to get back on course. Axel would get the woman fired.
“Back to the professions,” CJ said.
“Diesel is a lawyer.” Axel’s eyes lit up. He loved the law. “Grant is studying to become a lawyer. I don’t know if they’re going to be the same type. We’d have too many then.” He sounded so disappointed.
“Grant wants to be a corporate attorney,” Mattie volunteered in control of her giggling, although amusement lit her brown eyes. “Diesel is a defense attorney like Momma.”
“The club is big, Ax,” Ryder consoled. “You can still be a defense attorney. Or what about a finance lawyer? Mom does her trading stuff. You can help her and save her money.”
“There’s also worker’s comp attorneys, mergers and acquisitions, real estate…” Rebel’s voice trailed off. “There’s many types of lawyers to choose from.”
“Nuh uh! I want to be the type that puts people in jail. The defense kind,” Axel added.
CJ shook his head, ignoring the laughter of the other boys. “No, big head. You have to choose something in the club’s favor. Not try to throw us in fucking jail.”
Axel frowned.
“You’re thinking about a prosecutor,” Mattie told him. “Theyprosecutecriminals. Defense attorneys try to keep them out of jail by arguing in favor of their innocence.”
Axel looked at Rebel.
“If Daddy ever went to jail and was tried for anything, Diesel, Aunt Kendall, and Brooks woulddefendhim. He’d plead not guilty. A prosecutor wouldtry to prove he did the crime to convict him and send him to jail.”
Harley leaned forward. She hadn’t cried once that evening. CJ considered that a win.
“If Uncle Chris went to jail, what would you want to do?” she asked.
Axel didn’t hesitate. “Bust him out!”
