Page 189 of Rebellious

“Goddamn, my phone died,” Ryan said a moment later.

“C’mon, let’s go. You can charge—”

“I’m an Android man, apple. The ports are slightly different.”

Fucking lovely.

“You found my boy?”

Standing from the chair behind his desk, Christopher looked at Bishop with hope. He’d been calling CJ since 3:15, hoping to catch him before he went to practice. When 5:30 rolled around and CJ hadn’t responded, Christopher called Ryan. Discovering his son hadn’t gone to practice frightened Christopher. More than that, he thought about Megan and her reaction. Mort hadn’t answered so he’d tapped Bishop, Ryan, Easton, Torrin, Narci, Val, Kaia, Diesel, and Grant to search, swearing them to secrecy. He hoped he hadn’t cast too wide a net. The more motherfuckers who knew, the greater the chance it would get to Megan before he figured shit out.

Before Bishop answered, Diesel stuck his head in. “He’s at your table, Uncle Christopher.”

Closing his eyes, Christopher dropped into his chair and cradled his head, so great his relief he couldn’t hold up his weight.

“Where’d you find him, bro?” Bishop’s voice seeped into Christopher’s relief. “I scoured this place…” He paused. “It’s 6:30. If Meggie doesn’t hear from us by 7—”

Those words urged Christopher to his feet. “Where’d you find him, Diesel?” he asked, curious.

“I didn’t, sir. Grant went to Skye Ratcliffe’s place. She said he’d been there but left about 4:00. Grant relayed the information to us. Ryan found him at Turn Creek Bridge.”

Christopher hurried into the main room, finding CJ in the spot where his ma usually sat and Ryan next to him, while Val sat in his usual seat and Grant took Mort’s chair. Kaia sat at the far end of the long table. Easton, Torrin, and Narci were at the bar. They only sat at the table when Christopher was gone and Diesel was there. Bishop remained standing.

Christopher approached CJ, stopping himself from hugging his son at the last minute. He wasn’t a little kid. Diesel dropped in the seat across from CJ, at Christopher’s left.

“What’s up, son?”

CJ lowered his gaze and blushed.

What the fuck…?

Oh, fuck. He’d been with Skye.

“You used protection, boy?”

“We didn’t have sex,” CJ mumbled.

Then, why was CJ unable to look at him? And why the fuck did he look so embarrassed?

“His one-eyed monster needs a little first-aid,” Ryan announced, the laughter in his eyes matching the tone of his voice. “She bit him.”

“Fuckhead,” CJ said, elbowing Ryan, which prompted the little motherfucker to laugh and CJ to cringe.

Christopher exchanged a glance with Diesel.

“She’d never gone down on anyone,” Grant told him, and pressed his lips together. Clearly, he wanted to laugh, too.

“How the fuck you know that, Grant?” Christopher demanded.

“Because Skye has a big fucking mouth,” CJ exploded. “I knew I shouldn’t have even kissed her. Everybody will know by the time first bell rings in the morning.”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “That’s not how that works, cuck. Girls don’t tell on themselves. Jaleena might know, but no one else. They’re on the cheer team together.”

Panic crossed CJ’s face. “Harley’s on the cheer team, too.”

“You’re like a fucking baby, CJ,” Ryan said, disgusted. “Harley isn’t your girlfriend. You don’t owe her anything. Not even a fucking explanation.”

“You don’t understand!”