“You fuck over our women, you get fucked up.” Diesel chose to impart that. Ofallthe motherfuckers.
Ryan didn’t want to poke the bear, so he shut the fuck up.
“One other thing,” Uncle Christopher continued. “If you ever fuckin’ talk to any old lady with such fuckin’ disrespect, your fuckin’ privileges revoked and you barred from the club. Not only is Zoann married to an officer, she my fuckin’ sister. For her, Ima give a warnin’, but my woman not here for a fuckin’ reason. If you know what the fuck’s good for you, you gonna stop fuckin’ with my Megan for fuckin’ real. Not that fake fuckin’ bullshit you handed when she brought your bitchy ass back to the club. Underfuckinstand?”
Nyx nodded.Vigorously.
Outlaw giving an order was one thing. Outlawscreamingan order near a dead woman hit completely different.
It brought Ryan back to the day Outlaw beat him and Mom begged for his life.
“Is the party canceled, Prez?” Narci asked.
Uncle Christopher shook his head. “Mort, Digger, get rid of Eliza. Stretch, if she have a phone, analyze it and we’ll go from there. Potter, clean the fucking blood. Nyx, clean the fuck up. Val, take Bitsy home. The rest of you motherfuckers, do what the fuck you wish. I’m goin’ to my fuckin’ office ‘til CJ ready to leave.”
Pops wrapped an arm around Mom’s waist and started for the door.
“Wait!” Ryan called, racing through the press of people. Once he reached his parents, he hesitated, before he hugged his mother. “Thanks, Mom.”
There was nothing like the comfort of a mother’s arms. He’d forgotten that for a whileand rejected every overture. Now, when she hugged him, he kissed her cheek.
“I love you, son.”
He straightened. “I know.” He looked at his father, not knowing what to say.
Pops offered him the barest of smiles. “You’re welcome, boy.”
Ryan merely nodded.
Chapter Forty-Six
Well before Rule reached the indoor pool, sounds and scents floated through the door that was ajar.
Rule heard the music—The Summoningby Sleep Token—and smelled the cigarette smoke. Rebel was indeed in the room. Alone.
Harlot.
Kaia’s silly behavior, Diesel’s lack of control, and the deaths of Eric and Billy ran through Rule’s minds. It was all because of Rebel. He might’ve excused her, buttheycouldn’t. Especially after the clips of Rebel in her bedroom, prancing around without clothes.
Touching herself.
Stop!
Giggles reached him.
Rule paused and listened, breathing through his nose and trying to keep the voices in his head at bay. For the entire day, he’d stayed away from his belovedbible because scripture demanded he correct the wrongs of his mother and his sister.
Except he loved Mom. As far as he knew, she didn’t tempt men into turning into stupid motherfuckers like Uncle Johnnie. She was innocent ofthat. But Dad’s torment? His brothers’ out-of-control behavior? Jo’s suffering? All those stupid ‘R’ names?
Those crimes lay at Mom’s feet.
Kill her.Kill herrrrrrrrr. Killlllllllll her.
Rule clapped his hands over his ears.
Killllllllll herrrrrrrr.
The order was internal, so those two words kept echoing in his head.
