Chapter 14 – CJ #3
“Yeah, Dad,” Ransom said. “Axel was everywhere. He told us he heard Fia saying how much she liked Kaia and wanted him for herself.”
Mom glowered. “Axel was the one who brought the rumor to you?”
“Yeah, Mom,” Ryder answered. “His intel is good.”
Fuck, why the fuck did that enrage Mom?
“Megan? Baby?”
She ignored Dad. “Axel heard Fia say she hated Rebel?”
“That was really a rumor, Mom,” Ransom told her. “It might’ve been from one of those stupid girls.”
“Yeah, it was,” Ryder confirmed. “But they said they hate Jana, too. That wasn’t because of Rebel or Jana. It’s because of Diesel.”
Torrin raised his hand like a jackass.
“What?” Mom growled, not up for the bullshit.
“It was about Fia, but it can wait,” Torrin told her.
CJ had an idea what he was going to say, but he refused to speak on that bitch’s behalf. Fia knew Kaia and Rebel were ‘together’ and she still fucked with him.
“Fia’s popular, Aunt Meggie,” Diesel said.
“So was Nyx. She’s been replaced,” Mom said. “You’ll find Fia’s replacement.”
“Megan, baby, you really want that bitch death on your conscience?” Dad asked her.
“No. Luckily it won’t be.”
Dad sagged in relief.
“Once she’s dead, I won’t think about her again,” Mom told him.
“How about I do my own intel?” Dad said. “If I find out anything that can hurt Rebel, I’ll kill her or any other bitch. But let me decide.”
“Christopher, hear me well. I’ll concede this time. Rebel is my daughter. I won’t have anyone hurting her in any capacity. If there’s a threat to her, I want them eliminated.”
“You always had such a pure soul, Megan,” Dad croaked. “You gave me my license to kill. I didn’t expect you to apply for yours.”
“Am I killing anyone?” she snapped.
“You orderin’ me to find that fuckin’ bitch and shoot the fuck out of her.”
“Am I picking up that gun and doing it myself?”
“You ain’t trustin’ me to protect Rebel? Just cuz we ain’t got the best relationship don’t mean I ain’t protectin’ her.”
Mom’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Let me get this straight, Christopher. You were willing to kill Diesel and Kaia. You’re willing to kill any guy who looks at Rebel, but you won’t kill a woman who disrespects her in the worst possible way?
Who wants to sleep with her boyfriend and make a fool out of her?
You’ll let that pass? You’ll let any woman who hurts Rebel get away with it.
Got it,” she said, not allowing Dad to answer. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Like he had with Torie. CJ didn’t know if Mom wasn’t thinking about the nurse, but that’s exactly what Dad had done.
She started to walk away, but Dad grabbed her.
“Megan, baby, listen to me. I hate how fuckin’ cold you sounded. If you want me to kill Fia and you wanna watch, let’s go. I’ll shoot the fuck outta her cuz I know what the fuck you thinkin’.”
Mom jerked away. “What am I thinking, Christopher?”
“About Torie.”
“Not everything goes back to her,” she snarled. “I was actually thinking about me and the hell I’ve gone through with some of the club girls. I was thinking the only buffer I had was you.”
“You had Mort and Roxy,” Dad told her.
“I was thinking about how I felt when Daphne tried to convince me you and her were having an affair. I was thinking about when I first left Seattle. I finally had the freedom to choose who I wanted to date, but how stifled and stunted I was by Mama and Thomas. Fia can stay alive, but I swear to you if she hurts Rebel, I will hire someone to kill her if you can’t do it and that’s a promise.
” She glared at Kaia, who looked on the verge of tears.
“Go pack now!” she ordered and stomped away.
Kaia looked at Dad. “Should I—”
“You heard her,” Dad said, following the path Mom took. “Go fuckin’ pack now,” he threw over his shoulder and disappeared.
For a few minutes after Mom and Dad departed, no one spoke or moved.
“Axel should’ve seen Mom,” Ryder finally said.
“The epitome of the Blonde Warrior,” Ransom decided.
“Was M-Meggie serious?” Kaia asked, his voice trembling.
Ryder smiled. “Fuck Fia and find out.”
Narci threw Ryder a look that shouldn’t have been given to a kid. “I don’t think that’s your business, kid. Besides, you shouldn’t have snitched to your mama about Kaia not returning home.”
Fuck. They were about to accuse his little brothers of being mama’s boys, just as they had CJ before he drank the lean.
“What’s wrong with telling Mom what happened?” Ransom asked.
“Telling as opposed to snitching?” Narci said.
Ryder nodded. “That’s what Ran meant.”
“Since you two are in this together, I’ll explain what the fuck I mean,” Narci sneered. “You’re mama’s boys. If you were loyal to your bros, you would’ve shut the fuck up. Your bullshit almost got Fia killed.”
Ransom looked at Ryder. “Rock, paper, scissors?”
“No need, bro,” Ryder said. “We can tag team.”
“Call Ax?”
“Let him pack. We got this.”
“Ignore me with a fucking game—” Narci started.
“Listen up, fuckhead,” Ryder interrupted. “I don’t have a clue who the fuck you think you’re talking to.”
“Yeah, we’re Dad’s sons,” Ransom said. “He tells us to protect Mom. Protecting Rebel, protects Mom. Besides, Dad wants us to protect Reb, too.”
“Call us what the fuck you want, but we will kill you and Fia if you fuck with us,” Ryder said.
Narci laughed. “If you weren’t children, I’d take that as a fucking threat.”
Ransom smirked. “You sound like the threat, fuckhead.”
“We’ll steer clear of you, if you steer clear of us,” Ryder promised. “Because you’re in our fucking house. You don’t have a motherfucking say over how the fuck we act.”
“Even when we’re out and at the club, you’re not a part of our fucking family and your fucking insults don’t phase me. We love our mom. There’s no shame in that. Maybe if your momma didn’t have cocks stuck down her throat on the regular, she’d tell you she loved you, too.”
“My mother’s dead,” Narci snarled. “Respect her.”
“Fuck you,” Ryder said. “You get the fucking respect you fucking deserve. That goes for your dead momma, too.”
“You don’t respect our mom,” Ransom said. “We don’t give a fuck when, why, or how your momma died. You fucking remember that before you fuck with us.”
As tough as Ryder and Ransom tried to be, they were kids. CJ already knew Narci had all types of bullshit brewing underneath his surface.
“That’s enough, you two,” CJ said calmly. “Tone it down. We all got your point. You aren’t mama’s boys.”
Ryder shook his head. “Didn’t say that, C. I’m proud to be Mom’s son and I don’t care who knows it. If that makes me a mama’s boy, then that’s what I am.”
“As me, Ax, and Ry see it. Mom loves Dad. She knows who he is. She just ordered him to kill Fia. As long as we love and respect her, she won’t care what we do away from her. We will always have her support. Just like Dad does.”
Diesel’s annoyance had long ago slid away. Now, he nodded. “She’d defend any of us so fiercely.”
“She would,” CJ agreed, absorbing Ryder and Ransom’s words, suddenly proud of Mom.
“If I walk out, I won’t get shot in the back, will I?” Kaia asked hesitantly.
“Not today,” Diesel said ominously.
“You better lose Fia’s number, Kaia,” Ryan told him.
“I will,” he said in a tone that CJ called bullshit on.
“Newsflash, fuckhead, if you piss off Mom, not only will she had Fia killed but if you escape with your life, she’ll fire you,” CJ said with certainty.
“Leave Fia alone,” Diesel said with distaste. “We’ll find you a girl to fuck behind Rebel’s back.”
Kaia glared at Diesel but before he spoke Jana stood from her seat, turned to Diesel, and kissed him tenderly.
“I never thanked you for finding me so irresistible that you had to fuck me by the pool.”
Bro.
“You’re such a fierce big brother,” she continued. “I love you so much.”
“I know,” Diesel said irritably.
“Maybe I can talk to Meggie about how mean she was to you?” Jana asked.
“No, bae,” CJ said. Diesel looked ready to blast her, on edge because of Rebel. “The quickest way to stir up more bullshit is to confront my mom. Not only would Dad take issue, but Rebel, too.”
“Aunt Meggie wasn’t mean to me,” Diesel pointed out. “She was protecting her daughter.”
“She was so unfair to you,” Jana protested.
“She was quite fair to me. We all know not to fuck with Rebel. We just have to do a better job of covering it up.”
“I have an idea,” Ryan sneered. “Don’t fuck with Rebel.”
“No one asked you, Ry,” Devon said again. “Seriously, dude, you’re turning into a spoilsport. What Rebel doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
“When’s our flag football starting?” Rory finally piped in. “Both Mom and Dad are gone. Mom and her games. Dad left because Mom announced yesterday that she was going on a business trip and leaving today.”
“How is that Aunt Kendall playing games, cuck?” Ryan asked, frowning.
Axel raced in, heading toward Kaia. “Reb’s coming,” he said, grabbing Kaia’s elbow. “She’s looking for you. Get up and tell her you were going to pack.”
“Uh—”
At Rebel’s arrival, tension filled CJ. Her skirt and top bared too much fucking skin. Bishop and Grant merely nodded to her and pretended not to notice her. Torrin, Diesel’s bestie, eyed her with appreciation. Narci lowered his lashes, then turned his head. Miserable fuckheads.
Ryan smiled. “Hey, Reb.”
“Hey, fuckface,” she greeted, the words infused with fondness. “What’s up?”
“A game of football,” Diesel answered. “Go put some clothes on.”
Axel frowned.
“We’re leaving in like, an hour, Kaia,” Rebel said, ignoring the fuck out of Diesel.
“You’re dressed like a fucking hooker,” Diesel continued.
CJ applauded Rebel’s dedication to not talk to Diesel, but she was making the situation worse.
“Hey, Reb,” Jana greeted, smiling.
Rebel gave her an exaggerated wave. “Yo.” She nodded to Kaia. “Come on. I’ll help you pack.”
“Absolutely not,” CJ said. “I’ll help him.”
“How does what you say hold more weight than what I tell him?” Rebel demanded.
“Because we’re your big brothers and he’s him,” Diesel spat. “He listens to us or he suffers.”
“That isn’t how that works,” Rebel said with a snort.
“I think it does,” Rory said.
Folding her arms, Rebel narrowed her eyes at Rory. If CJ wasn’t mistaken, shame crossed Rory’s face. What the fuck was CJ missing?
“Oh no,” Devon bit out. “She’s about to give you the talk, cuz.”
“Oh no, it’s better I give him the talk than anyone else,” Rebel retorted.
Devon smirked. “Newsflash, Uncle Christopher already talked to us.”
“Newsflash, I’d tell Momma, Aunt Kendall, and Aunt Zoann.”
“Tell them what?” CJ asked, truly lost.
“Nothing!” Rory cried.
Losing his steam, Devon swallowed, wariness replacing his smirk. Ryan looked on the verge of tears.
“I’m not doing it, Ryan,” Rebel snapped. “For you. If only because you’re trying to protect fuckheads who are too chickenshit to take the heat after they knew what the fuck was going on and looked at the fucking proof.”
CJ considered Rebel’s words, her teary-eyed vulnerability, her blush.
Devon and Rory knew about the videos and kept their fucking mouths shut?
“I’m sorry, Rebel,” Rory croaked.
“Shut up, fuckhead. You’re a fucking pussy-faced, brainless jackfuck just like Uncle Johnnie.
You didn’t care if it was me and Harley because you didn’t think Mattie was involved, you miserable motherfucker.
When Axel, Ryder, and Ransom protected Mattie from Willard’s brother until you all arrived.
They would’ve found a way to target her anyway.
We’re the princesses of the club, motherfucker.
Three of us. Three. What happens to one of us, happens to the other for the biggest impact, you stupid jackass. ”
“Uncle Christopher already…” Rory swallowed. “If Uncle Mort finds out… If my dad…”
“If Uncle Mort finds out, he’ll put you out of your fucking misery,” Rebel snarled.
“If Uncle Johnnie finds out, he’ll congratulate you, so fuck you.
Ryan was so fucking wrong and I know what I did is gross, but at least he had a reason for his stupid criminal violation.
You and Devon had no fucking reason except that you’re sexist jackasses who see girls as commodities. ”
“Can I ask you something, Reb?” Kaia said, while CJ reeled from Rory’s betrayal. He’d never thought much about Devon’s loyalty. Other than recent developments where he suggested a new position when CJ took over, he was just a cousin. “Have you ever seen an adult film?”
“What fucking kind of a question is that?” Diesel demanded.
“I have,” Rebel answered Kaia.
“Do you think those girls were gross?” Kaia asked.
CJ squinted. Wait, what?
“No.” Rebel heaved in a breath. “I’ll talk to you about it later. I’m so fucking sick of having an audience to my fucking life.”
“Princesses live in a fishbowl,” Devon declared.
“And fuckheads live with the fucking fish,” Rebel responded.
“You talked to my father and he absolved you, so you forgot our conversation. Fuck you now, then, and forever. I can make you look like a guilty motherfucker and Ryan like a saint. Fuck with me one more time. That’s your fucking warning.
I’m not repeating myself, so I’d take heed if I were you. ”
She swept them all with her watery gaze and ran out of the room.
“You really knew about the videos, Dev?” Ryder asked.
“And why ask Reb if she watched porn, Kaia?” Ransom asked. “That was pervy.”
“You really want my answer?” Kaia said.
“My men asked, didn’t they?” Axel said.
Fuck. They didn’t need him involved.
“She thinks she’s gross for what was on the video. What she was doing on the video,” Kaia amended. “I told her she wasn’t. Fuck, we all masturbate.”
“What?” CJ exploded.
“I didn’t bring it up,” Kaia cried. “She asked me!”
“She asked me, too,” Ryan said morosely.
CJ didn’t even need to look at Diesel to know she’d asked that motherfucker.
“Uh, well.” Grant shoved his chair back and stood. “TMI and wholly uncomfortable and inappropriate.”
“We didn’t bring it up,” Devon pointed out. “She did.”
“Kaia, pack,” Axel said, focused on Devon before smiling at Ryder and Ransom. “Men, I need to give you some instructions. Come with me.”
The moment Ryder and Ransom stood, Axel said, “Mark time, MARCH!”
They began marching in place.
“Forward, MARCH!” Axel ordered, and the three little fuckheads marched out.
“What are they doing?” Devon asked.
“Planning your gruesome death,” Diesel said calmly. “I’d tell you to hide, but I taught Axel to never give up until all threats are annihilated.”