“Easton is Bash’s son,” Rory admitted quietly. “Our cousin.”
Ryan and Rory both stepped back at the unholy fury dropping into CJ’s eyes and twisting his face.
“Motherfucker!” CJ rushed Rory and socked him in the gut. “Bash sent him to kidnap my mom and you didn’t fucking say anything?”
Coughing and sputtering, Rory shook his head. “No! No! He sent DeLuca to fuck with my dad.”
“Liar!” CJ spat, smarter than Uncle Johnnie ever could hope to be. With all the rumors that were circulated about Aunt Meggie, along with Bash’s intentions, a fucking blind man could see the truth. “Do you think that motherfucker’s going to announce he wants to hurt Mom, motherfucker?”
“Rory’s telling the truth,” Ryan said, stepping in for so many different reasons. The jig was up, anyway. He’d confessed to Uncle Christopher, though he still hadn’t said that, as far as he knew, Aunt Meggiewasprobably in danger. Ryan just didn’t know. Besides, that seemed like an automatic death sentence and he was as afraid to die as he was of prison. “Aunt Meggie wasn’t in danger from DeLuca. He doesn’t like killing women. Bash sent him to see how much he could get Johnnie to do.”
“Go the fuck inside and tell Dad about Easton, Ryan,” CJ said in a hard voice, then transferred his glare to Rory.
“I’m sorry, C.,” he said, on the verge of tears. “I just wanted to help get Molly back. You’ve been so upset and…I’m sorry.”
It no longer mattered to Ryan if they got Molly back for him, CJ, oranyone. As long as she was safe.
“You also wanted to protect your dad,” CJ spat, guilty and livid. Rory’s devotion to his father was well established. When CJ had his chance to pound their cousin into the fucking ground, he hadn’t. He’d said it wasn’t personal enough. But thiswaspersonal. This directly affected his mother. “It’s always about him with you.”
“Not at the expense of Aunt Meggie!” Rory protested. “I promise if she was in danger, I would’ve t-told.”
“You’re a lying motherfucker, Rory. Everyone’s expendable as long as that fuckhead is safe. Fuck you. My mom could’ve been killed or hurt or raped, so—”
“Is it so fucking bad that I don’t want my dad to die?” Rory exploded. “Fuck you, you spoiled, selfish prick. Fuckyou. My dad is as important to me as your mom is to you.”
“You know why, Rory?” CJ said, not backing down.
Ryan would bet money that if his cousin was packing, he would’ve shot the fuck out of Rory.
“Because you’re as pathetic as that motherfucker. You risked your own fucking life for a man who doesn’t have the fucking brain to see a fucking setup or the heart to care.”
“That’s my dad,” Rory said tearfully.
If Ryan and Grant hadn’t grabbed CJ, he would’ve pulverized Rory.
“And that’s my mom.” CJ strained against their hold.
Ryan and Grant struggled to contain him. It dawned on Ryan that his cousin was now close to six feet. If he still worked out as he was once had, they would’ve been fucked, even with Grant being slightly taller and more muscular.
“No one came for your dad, Rory,” CJ said, growling in frustration. “Every motherfucking thing that’s happening to that fuckhead, he brought on his fucking self.”
“I keep hoping—”
“What? That he’ll get some fucking sense? Not happening. Whatwillhappen is you will fuck up yourself if you don’t step out of the fucking way and let that fuckhead face the consequences of his own fuckery.”
Ryan’s hold slackened. Or Grant’s. Fuck, CJ had been struggling so much, Ryan was surprised they’d held him back as long as they had. Rory screamed and darted behind Grant.
CJ started toward Grant.
“Fuck him up later, CJ,” Grant advised. “Think about Molly.”
“CJ, I promise I’ll do better,” Rory called, still using Grant as a shield. “But if we tell the truth, both my dad and DeLuca will die. As fucked up as my dad is, I don’t want to lose him. I hate him so fucking much, but I love him, too.”
Releasing a roar—slightly unhinged—CJ gnashed his teeth together.
Grant and Ryan exchanged wary looks.
“If Bash sent DeLuca only to fuck with Johnnie—” Grant started.
