Aunt Meggie lifted a brow, so Diesel told her what happened when he went to Brookings and found the courage to knock on his father’s door.
He was vaguely aware of CJ’s hand on his shoulder as Aunt Meggie hugged him.
“It’s okay, son. You did right. He deserved exactly what he got.” She kissed his cheek. “I want you to tell Christopher everything you can remember about her, so Riley can find her.”
“I couldn’t do that to you or to her,” he said. “If that motherfucker was believable, she wouldn’t even know me.”
“You aren’t doing anything to me,” she said. “Even if she doesn’t know you, you’ll know her. Depending on her circumstances, we can set up an anonymous trust for her.”
He swallowed, unable to think of anything to say except, “You’d do that for me?”
“I don’t think you will be happy with this life until you resolve that life.”
“I’m so sorry, Aunt Meggie.”
“If you’re apologizing because of that open wound, there’s no need. If you’re apologizing for Rebel…” Sighing, she got to her feet. “When she’s older, you’re going to have a choice to make. You’re either going to be a member of this family or you’re going to be an outcast and Rebel’swhatever. You will have no access to any of us or all the perks of being a Caldwell. Christopher will let you live, but you won’t be in the club anymore.”
“Mom, I thought—”
Aunt Meggie shook her head at whatever CJ was about to remind her of, because that motherfucker always stuck his nose in everyone’s business as if he had the fucking right to. “I’ve tried to accept the idea of Rebel and Diesel, CJ.” She looked at Diesel again. “But you won’t behave. You even moved Jana in here against my wishes. You know why? Because she’s your buffer.” Her look turned severe. “You can’t even give yourself a real chance with her.”
“I want to marry her.”
Aunt Meggie glowered at him. “Her?”
He flushed. “Jana,” he clarified.
“Mom, I understand how you feel.” CJ’s interference irritated the fuck out of Diesel and he regretted allowing him to listen. “I swear I do, but unless you plan to disown Rebel, it won’t matter. As a matter of fact, you’ll just make her want Diesel more.”
“CJ—”
“We already lost a lot,” he interrupted Aunt Meggie. “I don’t know when Rule is coming back. Jo isn’t home yet. Do you really want to risk losing Rebel too? If she still wants Diesel when she’s eighteen—”
“You told me twenty-one, son.”
“Yeah, well, I was fucking delusional. If you would’ve seen those two… If she’s eighteen when they get together, it’s because Diesel has self-control.”
Aunt Meggie recoiled and Diesel scowled at CJ. The fuckhead pretended he didn’t see.
“I’m marrying Jana,” Diesel said quickly, wanting to throw CJ out to talk to Aunt Meggie alone. He had so much he’d like to get off his chest about Theresa, his memories of her, and his anguish now. Not in front of CJ, though. Either he’d brush Diesel off or hit him with some type of ‘wisdom’. “I don’t intend to touch Rebel,” he said, sticking to the matter at hand.
“Mom—”
“Enough, CJ!” Aunt Meggie ordered. “They are brother and sister. Both of them as stubborn as Christopher. You know? Liketheirdaddy?”
CJ gave her a disapproving look. “You said that to Rebel, didn’t you?”
“It worked,” Aunt Meggie sniffed.
“Only for a little while,” CJ argued.
“I can’t believe you’re making a case for this jackass and Rebel,” she said. “What about Kaia?”
“What about him?” CJ said irritably. “He’s kind of like Jana. She’s grateful when Diesel smiles at her and Kaia almost swoons when Rebel looks at him. Kaia isnotthis fuckhead.”
Diesel frowned at them.
“Oh, shut up, Diesel,” Aunt Meggie snapped. “You know I think highly of you, but you’re a jackass in this situation.”
