Chapter Twenty-Eight – Christopher #3
“All right, boy,” he said when the chuckles died down. He glanced between CJ and Diesel. “How about the three of us sit down with Megan and see what she say?”
CJ looked at Diesel. “What do you say, big brother?”
“I’d like that.”
“You straight for now, Rory?” Christopher asked.
“Yeah, Uncle Christopher.”
He looked between his sons. “You two okay?”
“Yeah, Dad,” CJ said.
“We are, Uncle Christopher,” Diesel said, not looking particularly relieved because no matter what CJ thought, that motherfucker loved to play with fucking fire.
“Let’s get back to the fuckin’ meetin’—”
“Come on, Rory—” CJ started, clapping the little motherfucker’s back.
Well, fuck. Rory wasn’t so little anymore. CJ was still taller, but Rory was fast catching up.
“Not so fast, nephew,” Johnnie said, halting the boys. “I want fucking answers. You’re in charge of the children. Why the fuck didn’t you tell me or Kendall about Rory and Gypsy?”
“What did you expect me to say, uncle?”
“That my kid was fucking an old woman.”
“That wasn’t my fucking place.”
“The fuck it wasn’t!”
“What the fuck did you want me to say, you fucking asshole? Because, motherfucker, your kid was ten when you brought him into that fucking meatshack. That shouldn’t have fucking happened either and yet you did it anyway. Don’t put your fucking bad parenting on my motherfucking shoulders.”
Johnnie reddened. Christopher’s heart pounded and he prayed he didn’t fuck up this moment for CJ by stepping in. CJ beating the fuck out of Thumper was still fresh on everyone’s minds, but he needed to fight his own battles on all fucking fronts.
Clenching his jaw, Christopher looked at Mortician, so fucking sick inside. CJ was his boy, his precious son.
“You’re a disrespectful motherfucker,” Johnnie growled.
“And you’re just a motherfucker.”
“I’m your uncle and a fucking officer. You aren’t disrespecting me in front of the members. If they look at me wrong, I can kill them.”
That was past the fucking limit. Wouldn’t that count as a fucking threat? He could always tell Megan he had to shoot Johnnie because he was a danger to CJ.
“Well, motherfucker,” CJ said without missing a beat, “lucky for you I’m not a member of the club. I’m here to tie up loose ends and then I’m getting back into school. I’d like to know this, Uncle Johnnie. Why the fuck should I give you respect when you give it to no one?”
Johnnie smirked at him. “I just told you why.”
“Not good enough.”
“This is about Megan again,” Johnnie sneered. “Mama’s boy. You probably didn’t fuck Gypsy because you thought Megan would be disappointed.”
Some of the members snickered. Score for Johnnie. Christopher clenched his fists to keep from pulling his gun.
“I didn’t take Gypsy up on her offer because I didn’t want to get involved in her bullshit.
Mom had fuck all to do with it. The only motherfucker constantly concerned with what Megan Caldwell does is John Donovan.
Maybe if you stopped wishing Mom had chosen you and I was yours, you’d pay attention to your motherfucking wife and kids and leave my mom the fuck alone.
Because, fuckhead, I swear if she hadn’t come back, I would’ve fucking killed you.
I would’ve done to you every motherfucking thing I plan to do to Nardo when I get my hands on him.
Fuck what I should’ve done about Rory. That was your job.
Mine is my mother and my sister. If you ever look at her fucking wrong, hide, motherfucker.
Dad’ll just shoot you. I will torture the fuck out of you and dance in your motherfucking miserable fucking Logan Donovan blood. ”
If CJ had flinched, Christopher might’ve said he was bluffing, but he wasn’t, especially when he looked at Christopher and Diesel, imparting that same fucking message on the down low.
“Now, are we fucking clear about what my fucking role is in your fucking son’s life or are you ready for round fucking two, uncle?”
“We will discuss this some other time, nephew.”
“Not. Unless you intend to talk to a fucking wall, this is it.”
CJ looked Johnnie up and down. “I’ve said what the fuck I had to say and I’m not fucking repeating myself. Whatever the fuck else you do, remember my words.”
“He not forgetting them no time soon, little bruh,” Digger said, smiling broadly. “I’m so fucking glad you and me tight—”
CJ’s eyes widened, then narrowed.
Digger swallowed. “Outlaw already avenged Meggie. You don’t have to use me as a test subject.”
“You know what, Uncle Digger? I’m not even getting into that with you.
In case you and Uncle Johnnie forgot, this is fucking Church, not the fucking saga of the Caldwells, Donovans and the rest of our fucking family.
But you two fuckheads know exactly what the fuck you’re doing.
Trying to undermine Mom and minimize me.
You do realize she gave Dad his license to fucking kill?
You fuck up and she’s not stopping him from ripping your goddamn head off.
Know what else? She told me the same thing she told Dad and Diesel. ”
“You or them, it’s always you,” Johnnie croaked.
“Exactly, fuckhead. If Dad and Diesel won’t kill you, I’ll be happy to.
Maybe then I’ll feel fucking safe in this motherfucker again.
Or, maybe, I should shoot the fuck out of every motherfucker who laughed at me because of the overdose or because of how much I love my mom.
You all want me to be Outlaw. Why don’t I fuck you motherfuckers up like Outlaw? ”
“CJ—” Cash started.
“Shut the fuck up. Please? Do me that fucking favor, Uncle Cash. You want to see my motherfucking bruises because Axel is so fucking scarred that we ran Mom away, he thinks he has to fucking disable any threat. And, you, motherfucker, sat in that fucking chair and voted against Dad because of Mom.” CJ glowered at Cash.
“He should’ve fucking stomped your fucking head.
Flattened that motherfucker. You’d be the first fucking asshole, demanding assistance if Aunt Fee was a target.
And, yet, you had the fucking gall to turn your fucking back on Mom.
Really, fuckhead? Really? She saved your fucking miserable life once or twice and you repaid her by claiming Dad wanted to betray the fucking club just to protect her. ”
“Get your fucking facts straight, motherfucker!” Cash spat. “I never accused Outlaw of betraying me. I didn’t want my son put at risk. I wanted to vote with your father. No motherfucker could quell a threat like him, with or without us.”
“Fuck you, Uncle Cash,” CJ said, ignoring the grumbles.
“Fuck you. My dad was at his lowest and you betrayed him. Motherfucker, I’d draw and quarter you.
Unlike you and unlike Uncle Johnnie, unlike your fucking faction, Dad fucking knows you all are better together.
You fuckheads divided the fucking club. And what the fuck was the result?
Who was the fucking casualty? Mattie. I hope you’re fucking proud of yourself.
You almost got a girl raped and strangled just so you could fuck over my mom. ”
“I’m sorry,” Cash said.
Christopher hadn’t reconvened the meeting and if Digger hadn’t opened his fucking mouth, CJ wouldn’t have gone off a little more.
But he could already see some of the members looking at his boy in a different light.
The outburst didn’t change everyone’s opinion and even those who were flipping would need more convincing.
A fierce reputation took time to cultivate.
“For the record, CJ, I’m not like my grandfather,” Johnnie started with bitterness, a haunted look in his eyes. “I’d never let a motherfucker in a wolf costume fuck me.”
CJ squinted.
“Johnnie, you might want to fucking repeat that in your head,” Val said, frowning.
“You’d like a motherfucker not in a furry costume to fuck you?” Digger asked.
“Would a rabbit costume be okay with you, John Boy?” Bowlie called.
“No! I’m not gay!” Johnnie’s face crumpled. “WHY, Grandda? Why?” he howled, stunning the fuck out of some of the younger members.
Mortician rolled his eyes.
“How could he dress up like Little Red Riding Hood and let Sharper fuck him?” Johnnie doubled over and sobbed like a bitch.
“Dude,” CJ said, “have some fucking self-respect.”
Ryan rushed to him and grabbed his arms, trying to force him to straighten. “Uncle Johnnie, everyone’s looking at you like you’re insane.”
Grant approached, holding a cold bottle of beer. “Drink this.”
Johnnie fell to his knees and stretched out on the goddamn floor, pounding it like a miserable fuckhead and shocking the living fuck out of everybody.
“I love that motherfucker! I loved him even when he wanted you dead, Christopher. How could he? How could they have planned everything that they were thinking of? How could Grandda betray me so fucking much? He knew…he knew how fucking much I love you. How much I’ve always idolized you.
He wanted you dead. He wanted Megan dead.
Big Joe. If it wasn’t for Cee Cee…Grandda was Sharper’s bitch! ” he rambled.
“He was the wolf’s Little Red,” Digger said. “He let that motherfucker piss on him and everything.”
Eyes widening, Johnnie stumbled to his feet and hurried behind the bar, vomiting in the sink and sobbing so much, Christopher felt a tiny bit sorry for him, although he regretted Rory’s mortification.
“Prez, I want to check on Red,” Mort whispered.
Christopher nodded, then stood. “Call to fuckin’ order,” he said, ignoring Johnnie’s howls and banging the gavel. “I’m gonna make this short and fuckin’ sweet. I named Kendall as our new lead attorney,” he announced.
Johnnie’s noise abruptly stopped and he straightened, staring at Christopher with as much shock as he’d sobbed with despair. If Christopher had known that would’ve shut Johnnie the fuck up, he wouldn’t made the announcement sooner.