Chapter 12 – Harley #2
“Harley is Mortician’s daughter,” Grant inserted.
“He adores her. Nothing and no one are above his children. He’s a damn good father and a wonderful husband, you delusional motherfucker.
He’d break all of you, then live with fucking guilt for the rest of his life because of Aunt Kendall and Aunt Zoann.
He wouldn’t realize he did the world a fucking favor. ”
Grant’s anger seeped into Harley’s brain and she blinked, unable to remember a time when he’d been so furious.
“You terrorized four innocent girls. You almost got your sister raped and strangled, Rory. I hope your guilt eats your fucking insides and spits them the fuck out.”
“Dude?” Ryan asked, ashen. “Are you okay?”
“Shut the fuck up, Ryan. Am I okay? Are you? Bailey was already an emotional wreck because of Rory’s beloved father…
” Grant glared at Rory. “Fuck you, dude. I’m the one who came across Mattie.
I saw that motherfucker strangling her and trying to violate her.
I have to watch my mom fall apart because Bailey is whatever.
What about Mortician? He doesn’t deserve any of this.
All he’s ever done is loved us and advised us. ”
“My mom’s gone. She devastated my dad so much that he had to leave too. I don’t know when he’s returning because Mom just walked the fuck away,” Rory said. “And you’re shitting on me?”
“I hope Aunt Kendall never returns,” Grant shot back. “She deserves some happiness. She should take Mattie, JJ, and Blade, and leave you two fuckheads to rot together.”
“If you feel so strongly, acting like such a tough man, why don’t you beat us?” Devon challenged.
“Because I don’t fuck up little boys with little dick mentalities,” Grant said darkly.
Well. Score one for Grant.
Devon flipped him off. “Come on, Ro. Let’s go before I really lose my temper.”
Grant got to his feet again. He was over six feet and muscular. His muscles weren’t gross with veins bulging but he was very well honed. He lifted his big fist. “You really want to eat my fucking knuckles?”
Instead of answering, Devon paled and nodded to Rory. They hightailed it out of the room.
Grant turned to Harley. “Why don’t you pack your things now? I’ll sleep on the sofa for the next few days.”
“Aunt Zoann’s letting me stay home tomorrow and I promised to help her clean up.
” Harley would wait until after Aunt Zoann’s doctor’s appointment before she left.
As much as she needed Mommie, if Harley left Aunt Zoann’s and Mommie refused to see her, it would crush her a little more. “I’ll be fine tonight.”
Hesitation crossed Grant’s face. “Call me if you change your mind. Or if you need anything. I know everything seems bleak and upside down, which I know all about. You’re going to be okay.
I was okay after my mom was killed, although it was long and painful.
But you have no better support system than Roxy and Mort.
And me. The past is the past. However you behaved is forgiven.
You apologized and that means a lot. Even if you hadn’t, we’re family and we’ll never desert you. ”
“Thank you, Grant. That means so much to me.”
“It’s the truth, Harley.”
Despite how much his avowal meant, she was almost afraid to believe his words. “Have you checked on Mattie? It sounds as if she can really use a brother, since hers has gone insane.”
“I thought about it,” he admitted. “I’m worried Uncle Johnnie will be there and also seeing me will trigger her.”
“You heard Rory,” Harley said. “He’s out of town.”
“Hopefully in hell and he plans to snatch Rory with him,” Grant grumbled.
“I’ve texted Mattie and Rebel, but they aren’t answering me. If Aunt Kendall left, Mattie is probably all alone,” Harley said. “She won’t mind a visit from you.”
“I’ll think about it,” Grant promised.
“She’s like Aunt Kendall, by the way,” Harley told him. “She loves red roses.”
“And Shakespeare,” Grant said with a frown.
“Shakespeare is brilliant.”
“Jesus Christ. If you say so. Dude wrote about men who were either insane or simps and women who were shrews or a step away from the fucking grave.”
“That’s why they are called tragedies. For your information, he wrote comedies, too.”
“Yeah, I know. By the way, I thought you were brilliant Friday night. You have a beautiful singing voice.”
“Thank you,” Harley said quietly. “At the beginning of the school year, I was looking forward to the production.”
“I know. God help us, but you’ve always loved Shakespeare.”
“I could read only his work for the rest of my life and don’t feel as if I’ve missed a thing.”
Grant grunted. “Now that the play is over, can we move away from him? I’m Shakespeared out.”
Harley giggled. “Probably not.”
Another grunt, this one resigned. “As much as I love reminding you of why you love the Bard, I have to go,” Grant said sardonically.
“Okay.”
Smiling, he leaned down and kissed her cheek, then started out. “Leave her the fuck alone, Ryan,” he ordered.
A moment later, the door opened and closed. Grant was gone.
Shifting his weight, Ryan looked at Harley, then rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m so glad Mom isn’t here.”
Harley was, too. She clasped her hands in her lap and bowed her head, ashamed all over again. “Yeah.”
“Harley…” Ryan heaved in a breath. She still wouldn’t look at him. “Come with me.”
Harley flinched. Although Ryan could’ve wanted her to go with him for any reason, she suspected what it was for. This was the first time in days that he’d been in her company. Even before the discovery of what he’d done, she’d been invisible to him.
“It isn’t for sex,” he said bluntly. “Just come upstairs with me. I want to show you something.”
Rooted to her spot, Harley shook her head.
“Just like I shouldn’t ask anything of you, I shouldn’t want you to trust my honesty.”
“Something you’ve been sorely lacking,” she told him.
“I have been, and I’m sorry. I never apologized to you properly. I’m so sorry for how I disrespected you. Please forgive me.”
“I already—”
He shook his head, the movement interrupting her.
“No, not now. I hurt you. Nardo hurt you. Willard hurt you. Process everything then decide if you can truly forgive me. Even Rebel, who came to visit me, hasn’t fully come to terms with what happened to her.
What I did to her. All four of you almost died because of me.
Rule tried to drown Rebel. Molly was shot and abused.
You were beaten and abused. Mattie was almost strangled and sexually assaulted. ”
Harley nodded, pretending she was okay. When she was guilty and ashamed and hurt to her soul.
“It wasn’t even the fucking videos that got Molly returned,” Ryan continued. “It was Rory asking DeLuca for help.”
“Who’s DeLuca?”
“A long story,” Ryan said with a bleak sigh.
Yes, she was angry with Ryan for what he’d done. She maintained, however, it was her behavior that led her to the end result.
She stood. “Show me whatever it is you’re talking about.”
He remained still for a moment, then searched her face and nodded. “Follow me.”
He led her to his bedroom door. Once more, fear settled into her and she bit her lip. Instead of following him into his room, she peeped in. His bed looked freshly made, his nightstand and desk were bare except for lamps, and the items he kept on his bureau were gone.
“It isn’t much,” he muttered. “Not compared to what I did, but I want you to have my room until you’re ready to leave.
Mom likes having you here a lot. If Mom’s happy, Pops…
” He swallowed. “My dad…if Mom’s happy, my dad is, too.
He’s so fucking angry with me. I don’t know…
I don’t know if he’ll ever forgive me. He probably hates my fucking guts. ”
“He doesn’t, Ryan,” Harley said softly. “He loves you very much. Parents are our moral compass. When we disappoint them, they have every right to let us know and steer us in the right direction. It’s up to us to really take their lessons to heart.”
Ryan nodded. “I like you, Harley. As my friend. As my cousin. Just like I like Rebel and Mattie. And CJ,” he added. “For so long that motherfucker was the bane of my existence.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“He hates me. All the cousins do, except you and Rebel.”
“Mattie probably doesn’t hate you, either. She’s just been, uh, hurt a lot.” That was one way of putting it. “As for CJ, he is very protective of Rebel. And Mattie.”
“He’s protective of you, too, Harley. Don’t ever doubt that.”
Harley wouldn’t debate that, though she wasn’t so sure. She hadn’t heard from him since Friday night when he took Nardo’s place at the play.
“Give him time,” Ryan suggested. “He’ll come back to you.”
“I’m damaged now.”
“You aren’t. I…just like with Molly, I didn’t realize how special you are until I fucked up. You’re gorgeous and smart and fiery. He saw it. I exploited it.”
“You’ve grown up a lot.”
“So have you. Fallout from bad behavior changes you for the better or makes you even worse.”
“I guess so.”
Ryan hesitated. “What’s wrong with your mom? Why doesn’t she want to see you? It can’t be because of my mom. Bailey, uh, Aunt Bailey has to know how much you love her, so what’s up?”
“Simple answer? Me and Uncle Johnnie. Deep answer? A lot. The pressure of her career and chasing her dream of a big city practice. Motherhood and her desire for another baby. Worrying about Daddy and always trying to be nonchalant about it all. And then me. Everything about me.”
“I’m so sorry, Harley. No wonder Grant was losing his shit. He loves his family and he admires your dad a lot. It must be cutting him deeply to see how his stepsister has turned her back on you.”
“I think so.”
“Is your dad moving back to the house now that all this went down? Are you moving back?”
“I don’t know.” She’d already tried to return home, which was a disaster.
Mommie didn’t want anyone near Harley and she’d threatened to have Ryan and CJ arrested.
Of all the things to think of doing. Harley wasn’t sure if her presence at the house would lead Mommie to a stupid decision where she’d get herself and Daddy killed.
“I wish I could stay here. Aunt Zoann is a lot of fun and very easy to talk to.”
“Yeah, because you’re a girl. Mom will kick me and Dev’s ass in a fucking heartbeat. Quicker than my dad.”
Harley giggled. “True.” Thinking of Devon killed her smile. “It’s probably best if I leave anyway. Devon doesn’t like me.”
“Devon can fuck himself.”
“He and Rory let you face the consequences alone. They are little boys with little dick energy.”
“Mentality,” Ryan corrected, grinning.
Harley laughed. “Right. Grant scored with that one.”
“Grant’s a bad motherfucker. You ever saw his fucking wrestling matches? Dude was fucking brutal. One punch would’ve knocked Devon into Rory and broke both those fuckheads.”
“You’re funny,” Harley said, giggling again.
“Seriously. Watch them one day. They are on YouTube.”
“Wrestling is too violent.”
“You’re such a fucking girl.”
Ryan came toward her. Subconsciously, Harley was still afraid of him, so she backed up, then laughed nervously at his wince. He reached for her hand.
“I’m not going to do anything but hold your hand. Okay?”
“O-okay.” Her fingers trembled as she held her hand up.
Taking it in his bigger one, Ryan squeezed gently.
“Thank you, Harley. Thank you for sharing that beautiful voice with us at the play. Thank you for your grace in giving me the time of day and hearing me out. It means so much to me. One day, I hope you can truly forgive me and not look at me with fear and suspicion.”
“Thank you,” Harley whispered, her tears starting again, still wanting her mother but knowing being around her wouldn’t be good for Mommie’s stability.
Harley’s presence would be a liability.
Ryan kissed her cheek. “I’ll get your things and bring them up here,” he told her.
“Thank you,” she responded, walked into the room, and closed the door. Welcoming the privacy, she allowed her misery to flow freely and pour out of her.