“I have more than I ever fucking care to say to you, fuckhead,” CJ spat.
“Move out of Roxanne’s way so she can get to Harley, then I’m beating the fuck out of you.”
“Fuck you. I had to come and get her becauseMattiesaw your fucking Navigator, you miserable motherfucker. Aunt Kendall isn’t at the office so we had to come here. Wally, Jr.attacked your daughter and she’s hysterical because of you. Not because that motherfucker tried to rape her. Not because he punched her. Becauseyou’rea piece of garbage who made her think you’d hate her because of what that motherfucker did. You know what? Fuck. You.”
Over the months, Johnnie’s relationship with CJ had disintegrated into nothingness. Much like every other relationship Johnnie had ever had. But hearing CJ’s anger and seeing his look of disgust would’ve been just another thing for Johnnie to brush off. If not for the reason why his nephew was so angry.
“Lolly?”
Harley’s pitiful voice seeped into Johnnie’s brain. He turned, almost as if he were the villain in his own movie, and the camera slowed everything down for maximum effect. One side of Harley’s face was swollen and her eye completely closed. Dried blood caked her lips and—
“Mattie needs to use the bathroom,” Grant said quietly, and it took Johnnie a moment to realize the comment was for him. “She’s afraid to come in.”
If Johnnie could feel any lower, those words pierced his soul.
“Bring her to me,” he croaked.
“Fuck you. Fuck no,” CJ blared, starting off. “I’ll drive her to my house—”
“CJ, please,” Johnnie said, on the verge of tears. “I swear—”
“Why the fuck should I trust you? Marvey told us what you did. Why? How the fuck can you constantly undermineeverymotherfucking thing?”
Johnnie closed his eyes. “CJ—”
“Why don’t I go ask her if she’ll see you?” Grant suggested. “She’s very traumatized, so if she doesn’t want to talk to you, can you not say anything to her while she goes to the bathroom?”
Johnnie nodded, and Grant left.
Minutes ticked by, while the heat of CJ’s hate and anger lasered Johnnie. For once, he didn’t blame his nephew. He hated himself at that particular moment. More than that, though, CJ’s fierce protection of Mattie impressed him.
“Oh, baby,” Roxanne said.
“Hey, Lolly.”
Mattie’s hoarse, tired voice hit Johnnie in the center of his chest and he was barely able to look in her direction. He knew if he didn’t, however, Mattie would think he was angry at her and CJ would probably punch him.
Drawing in a deep breath, Johnnie lifted his gaze. Mattie’s face was bruised, but it was her throat and the obvious signs of strangulation that horrified him.
He didn’t know what to do or what to say. He wasn’t good at this. Not like Kendall. He heaved in another breath, blinked away his tears, and swallowed the bile rising in his throat.
He opened his arms, the only thing he knew to do. “Come here, sweetheart.”
She didn’t hesitate to run to him, lay her head on his shoulder and…cry. Gut-wrenching,heart-wrenchingsobs, drawn from her soul. He hugged her, as he’d once done, before Bash. Before he wanted to play the hero. Back when things had still been good and she’d been his princess.
“I’m so sorry, Mattie,” he whispered, meaning it. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I have to use the bathroom,” she mumbled long moments later, a fact Johnnie had almost forgotten.
“I-I’ll go with you,” Harley said.
Johnnie watched his baby girl, unable to remember the last time she’d had a real pep in her step. Or true joy.
“Roxanne, can you take them to your place?” he asked once they went into the bathroom.
She nodded.
“CJ?”
