“If you track this phone, I’m never talking to you again.”
Diesel exchanged a glance with Ryan. “Aunt Meggie–”
“Don’t, Diesel.”
“We miss you,” he said softly.
“You do just fine without me,” she retorted.
“That isn’t true.”
“It most certainly is. I was in everyone’s way, son,” she said dully, and he thought–hoped–she sniffled. “C-Christopher refuses to even recognize our upcoming anniversary. I just wanted time alone…it doesn’t matter. What does?Allof you knew about Rule.Youwent to avenge him. What if something happened to you? I doubt I would’ve known why. I just would’ve had to live with the grief of losing another son.”
“I’m sorry. We just wanted to protect you–”
“As if I’m a wilting flower? As if I haven’t lived with the possibility of not seeing you or your father every time you walk out the door? Do you really think that little of me? Never mind. You do. You all do. Except Mortician, Stretch, and Val.”
“Come home, Aunt Meggie.Please,” Diesel begged.
“I will. I just don’t know when.”
“If I promise not to tell anyone, can I call you?”
“I don’t have my phone, Diesel.”
“You have a burner. Give me the number. I won’t tell Uncle Christopher or CJ.”
Silence and then: “How is he?”
“He’s suffering.” Diesel met Uncle Christopher’s gaze. “He misses you so much.”
“I suppose I’m wasting my breath, but I hope he goes to school Monday.”
“Uh, oh. I thought you meant Uncle Christopher.”
“How’s Ransom and Ryder?” she asked, instead of responding to Diesel.
He related to the panic dropping into Uncle Christopher’s eyes.
“The boys miss you,” Diesel told her, truly afraid that she didn’t intend to return anytime soon. “I miss you. We all do. Bishop.”
“And Kaia?”
“He’s here.”
“Make sure it stays that way.”
Diesel searched his mind for a way to reach her. He hated to use an underhanded move because he understood why she’d reached this point, but he didn’t know what else to do. “Are you truly deserting me too?”
She fuckinglaughed. “Don’t even try to play me, son. You deserted me a long time ago, aligning firmly with your daddy while you were still in college.”
“That isn’t true. Please–”
“I’m hungry, Diesel. This conversation is going nowhere. The surgery is scheduled for early April so I will be home by then.”
“That’s two fucking weeks away!” Diesel cried.
“You can communicate with Axel–”
