Chapter Twenty-One – Christopher
That fuckhead.
The pathway where he attacked Mattie was now completely cleared. Some of the Ridge Moore kids wouldn’t like it. They used that pathway—a longer route in Christopher’s estimation than following the goddamn street—to hide cutting their classes.
They walked along the banks of the creek and checked the two old picnic shelters. Although they found a backpack with clothes, a lighter, and unopened beer, it could’ve belonged to anyone.
Right before Christopher called off the search and rounded up everyone to head home, it crossed his mind to shoot the fuck out of Johnnie, but he ignored the urge. Besides, Johnnie would help with that cunt, Charlotte.
Problems for another day, so he went to the club and made several phone calls.
He’d rescheduled tonight’s DNA tests to next week and also called emergency church for tomorrow evening.
He reviewed Stretch’s budgetary report and signed off on it, giving him the go-ahead to run it and present it next week at the regular meeting.
Then he headed home, anxious to see Megan.
When he walked into the foyer, closed the door, and leaned against it, Christopher waited to hear her footsteps.
The silence in the middle of the fucking day panicked him.
As far as he knew, the kids were home. They should’ve been running through the house, tearing shit up. Had Megan left again?
He hurried to the kitchen. Clean but empty. No food cooking or no evidence of what was planned for dinner. The den—empty.
Mancave—fucking empty. Dining and breakfast rooms—motherfucking empty.
Heart in throat, he rushed to the backstair case, the silence fucking unnerving. Reaching the small landing on the third floor and opening the door to the hallway, he stepped toward the bedroom when CJ’s door opened, and Axel stepped out, carrying a half-empty bottle of baby oil.
Christopher and Axel stared at each other. The little motherfucker clamped his mouth shut, so Christopher caved.
“What the fuck you doin’, boy?”
“A mission.”
Did he want to know? He sure the fuck did, but he wanted to find Megan more. As long as Axel didn’t blow shit up, Christopher couldn’t care less. But Megan would want him to ask. His heart pounding, he scrubbed a hand over his face.
“What fuckin’ type of mission?”
“The fucking kind that’ll remind CJ not to make Mom mad,” Axel growled, then spat, “Diesel’s next.”
Megan was mad? All types of scenarios ran through his head, repeatedly landing at the same conclusion: She had left him again. He couldn’t imagine what he’d done after she’d promised he had nothing to worry about.
Axel squinted. “Are you okay, Dad?”
“Where you ma went, boy? I know I ain’t paid you the money—”
“Mom’s in the bedroom.” He pointed to the door. “She’s not mad at you. At least not yet. She’s mad at them. I don’t know why and I don’t fucking care, Dad. I don’t want Mom to cry again and those two motherfuckers are too fucking hard-headed to take me seriously.”
Christopher’s tension and worry evaporated and he sagged in relief, starting to laugh. He bent and laid his hands against his thighs, still laughing and even more relieved.
Axel’s suspicious look sobered Christopher, though, and he straightened, clearing his throat.
“Why the fuck it’s so fuckin’ quiet?”
“Not because Mom left,” he said in exasperation. “What did you do to make you think that?”
“Ain’t done a fuckin’ thing.”
“Keep it that way. Or else,” he added darkly.
Christopher stiffened. “You fuck with me afuckingain and I ain’t only beatin’ the fuck outta you, I’m groundin’ you for fuckin’ life.”
“Keep it up, Dad, and the next time I will tie you up and hold you fucking hostage, torturing you forever. Until you fucking die. If you and those two motherfuckers don’t want me to spray paint the fucking walls, behave.
Otherwise, I got to put up fucking reminders that my mom is untouchable. If you make her cry, you die.”
“That’s my fuckin’ wife!”
“Only if you fucking deserve her. She’s my mom first and we both know that’s the truth. She’d push you off a fucking cliff if it meant saving her babies.”
Axel was right, but Christopher refused to admit it, so he glowered, hoping to intimidate his boy into backing down. It just angered the little motherfucker more.
“Keep it up, Dad,” Axel repeated like a goddamn overgrown parrot that didn’t know other words, “and you’ll get the same fucking baby oil punishment as CJ and Diesel.”
“Baby oil…?” Christopher couldn’t imagine how baby oil fit into revenge. “What the fuck you did, Axel?”
“We can work together or you can be my enemy.”
“I’m not your fuckin’ enemy.”
“Then see to your woman while I take care of stupid jackasses.”
“Axel—”
“Shut up! I got to do everything around this motherfucker and it wears on a man. You, CJ, and Diesel didn’t see Mom or miss their men or worry about never seeing them again if Mom didn’t come home and she didn’t want them because they always side with you.
Suppose she said I couldn’t talk to Diesel?
That time was your fault, but I don’t want her to get tired or upset again because they won’t listen and you’ll ignore what she tells you.
Or get mad at her.” He narrowed his teary eyes.
“And putting your fucking hands on her. Mom would probably never come back and our entire family would be messed up.”
Christopher could remind Axel they’d cleared everything up. He’d gotten justice for his ma and it was over. Obviously, it wasn’t. Axel was as scarred by Megan walking away as Christopher. He was a grown motherfucker, but Ax was just a kid, coping as best he could.
He walked to his boy, ignoring how Axel braced his legs and stood his ground.
Kneeling, Christopher hugged his son. “I’m sorry, boy. Hear me? I swear I am. I ain’t ever doin’ nothin’ that make your ma leave.”
Axel sniffled and wrapped his little arms around Christopher’s neck, one hand still holding the baby oil. “They might do something, though. If you don’t respond right and make Mom mad, she might leave again.”
“Did you talk to your ma?”
“No, Dad,” he said in a watery voice. “She might get guilty.”
Feel guilty, but Christopher didn’t correct his boy. “You right, and we don’t want that.”
“Mom loves you a lot. That’s why she cried so much when she was gone.
But she’s real brave ‘cause she still won’t let you do her stuffs without sticking up for herself.
” Stepping out of Christopher’s embrace, Axel ran his tongue along his upper lip.
“She needs backup, though. CJ is no longer qualified.”
Axel needed to back off CJ, but detailing why would take too long.
“If he just remembers he’s Mom’s son before he belongs to anyone else, except himself, he can get the job back.” Wiping his arms across his snotty nose, Axel held out his hand. “Until then, we can be a team and share responsibilities. Deal?”
“If you target me, that turn you into a traitor.”
Axel dropped his hand and narrowed his eyes. “If I target you, that means you’re a stupid motherfucker.”
Sighing, Christopher stood and Axel tipped his head back so their gazes met.
“How about you and me choose a wall in this hallway and one downstairs in the East Hall where we can put up your rules?”
“I like the way you think, little dude.”
“How the fuck I’m a lil’ dude?”
“Only one Big Dude, Dad.” Axel pointed up. “Lolly told me all about the Big Man Upstairs. She said to ask Him to fix everything for me and He did. He sent Mom back to us. I could call him Big Man and you Big Dude. Would you like that more?”
Christopher smiled, accepting Axel’s explanation. “Whatever you like, boy.” He turned toward the bedroom door and placed his hand on the knob.
“Dad?”
Glancing over his shoulder, Christopher lifted his brow.
“I know you think I love Diesel more than you, but I don’t. Okay? He likes to be around me and my men. Me especially, though. I don’t have to repeat with him like I do with CJ and Reb for you.”
“You mean compete?”
“Uh huh. I know you’re so old and don’t have much longer to live. You’re fifty and senile. Hopefully, your brain won’t make you forget this conversation.”
Scowling, Christopher dropped his hand and faced Axel again. “Roxanne ma about eighty and you know her.”
“She’s a walking miracle. Her lungs still work and she remembers a lot of stuffs. You don’t. If you had, Mom wouldn’t have left.”
“I ain’t gonna forget again, boy. Your ma schooled my fuckin’ ass and I ain’t ever fuckin’ with her again. Realizin’ she left me was the worst fuckin’ thing in the fuckin’ world.”
Axel smirked. “She’s awesome.”
“You admire your ma for what she did to me, huh, son?”
“Don’t you?”
Smiling, Christopher nodded. “Yeah, boy. Ain’t no finer woman than one who stand up for herself.”
“And love her children and her husband so much.”
“Yeah.”
“I want a woman like Mom. One of the beautifulest girls in the world who likes to have fun, loves her family and the club, and puts me in my fucking place.”
“That might change.”
“Nope. A man knows what he wants.”
“He do,” Christopher agreed.
Axel gave him a quick hug again. “Gotta go, Dad, and take care of Diesel.” He turned and raced toward the main staircase, since Diesel’s room was right near the second-floor landing. “Bye.”
Christopher thought about stopping him, then decided he’d check to make sure his wife was in their room before either finding Axel or warning CJ and Diesel to watch out.
The moment Christopher opened his door and walked in, Megan stood from the bed in all her naked glory, her golden hair flowing around her. Slamming the door closed, he turned the lock, his breath hitching. He forgot everything except her, his little goddess.
“Outlaw,” she greeted, sashaying to him and dropping to her knees.