“Yeah, I heard you were patching over.”
“Diesel’s my sponsor.”
CJ grinned. “Motherfucker, I pity you.”
“Fuck, I pity myself,” DeLuca said, barking a laugh. “Any advice?”
“Stand up to him. He might beat the fuck out of you, but he’ll respect you in the long run. Treat him like one of Dad’s sons, not like an adopted one, lucky to be a Caldwell.”
“Is it lucky to be a Caldwell?”
“It’s better than being a goddamn Donovan.”
DeLuca snickered. “Johnnie and Rory are Caldwells.”
By any other name, they were still fuckheads. “That’sUncleJohnnie to you, asshole. And don’t fucking remind me. We need to drum them the fuck out of the family.”
“Seriously, CJ, what did Rory do to you?”
“It’s all wrapped in with Ryan and those two overgrown motherfuckers in Utah.”
“Same with Devon?”
“Yeah. Ryan’s behavior was foul, but he had a fucking reason, though I still hate to admit that. Those other two? Fuck them.”
“Care to tell me everything?”
“No. I’m sure you’ll hear it at the clubhouse soon enough.” Out of Diesel’s earshot so he wouldn’t go berserk again and throw another motherfucker into the goddamn crematorium. “Just keep it to yourself.”
“Will do.”
CJ looked at the clock on the wall. He’d spent half an hour in DeLuca’s doorway, time he could’ve spent with Molly. Now, he’d have to cut the visit short because of the dinner at Aunt Celia’s. “Will you be at the big DNA thing tonight?”
“Definitely,” DeLuca said. “Some motherfucker already came and swabbed me, though. So I guess my results are already in.”
“Mine, too.”
“The mysteries of the world will finally be solved.”
“Yeah, but not who owns the fucking club,” CJ said and backed into the hallway. “Later.”
Without waiting for a response, he continued to Molly’s room, nodding to one of the medicalassistants who always made it a point to hold a conversation with him. This time, he didn’t give her the chance. The fucking world wouldn’t fall apart if he wasn’t nice to everyone. Besides, what the fuck had niceness gotten him?
Seeing all the bouquets in Molly’s room pleased him. He’d sent several, trying to ease his guilt for not coming to see her.
He walked to the side of her bed, ignoring all the monitors and the IVs, then bent and kissed her temple. Her eyelids opened slowly and she blinked. She was drowsy, unfocused, studying him.
CJ heaved in a breath, remembering all the times he’d spent with her. Their kiss. All the ways she’d brightened his day. He wasn’t sure what to say to her, which was why he hadn’t come, and why he couldn’t stay.
She wasn’t a freakshow for him to gawk at. He kissed her again, this time on her forehead, the scent of sweat and antiseptic tickling his nose.
He started to turn away.
“CJ?” she croaked, soft, hesitant, as if she wasn’t sure.
He froze.
“CJ.” She said his name with more certainty this time. And something else—a hint of relief.
