Chapter Two – Christopher #3
“Listen up, boy. Ain’t puttin’ up with you and CJ bein’ whiny fuckin’ bitches.
You still sufferin’ cuz of the abandonment.
I get that, but you adapted pretty fuckin’ quick to gettin’ whatever the fuck you wanted.
Megan spoiled the fuck outta you, made you feel as if you could have whatever the fuck you wanted.
If she couldn’t get it for you, she made sure my ass got it for you.
You drive a motherfuckin’ Maybach. Top of the line.
Fully loaded. You want me to fuckin’ remind you how fuckin’ much your fuckin’ condo cost?
Your fuckin’ clothes? Your watches? Your guns?
Your motorcycle? Your education? Your vacations?
Your expense accounts? Let’s fuckin’ forget shit.
Money. What about the emotions? You just got a couple rules.
Mainly about Rebel. Anyfuckin thing else, except disrespectin’ Megan, we ain’t ever turnin’ our fuckin’ backs on you.
You a role model to your brothers and some of the younger members.
You an asset to me, the club, so fuck you.
If you a spoiled, entitled fuckhead, own it.
Don’t act like I ain’t earned the fuckin’ right to call you that, a whiny bitch, and a miserable cunt. ”
Diesel lowered his lashes, misery written all over his face.
“You want Jana with you or you need her, son? You want her because your entire body come alive when you see her or you need her to act like a buffer between you and your fuckin’ demons?”
Glancing away, Diesel shrugged.
Christopher drained his glass, folded his arms, and leaned back in his seat. “I got a scenario for you,” he said, using the same approach he did when Diesel was a traumatized teenager, unable to get over his mother’s desertion.
“I’m listening, Uncle Christopher,” Diesel said softly.
“Suppose you wasn’t Rebel’s brother and didn’t watch her grow up?”
“Wh-what?”
“Suppose she was eighteen and she met you wherever?”
Interest flickered in Diesel’s eyes, an answer Christopher didn’t like, but one he’d ignore for now. “I don’t follow you.”
“You think I’d still fuckin’ gut you if you touched her?”
“Would I still be me?”
“The only thing different would be me and Megan ain’t adopted you. You’d still have motherfuckers for parents, and you’d still have access to the same shit you do now.”
“Would I be a Death Dweller?”
“Nope. But you would be a biker.”
“A rival club or a friendly club?”
“It don’t matter. What you think my reaction would be?”
“You wouldn’t care as long as she was happy.”
Pouring another drink, Christopher gulped from his glass, then set it on the table. “Wrong. I’d still fuck you up. Cuz you don’t deserve her. You can’t hide behind a fuckin’ girl, fuckhead. You gotta face your fuckin’ demons like a fuckin’ man.”
“Rebel isn’t Jana,” Diesel said irritably. “Jana is manageable. Rebel is the most hard-headed little termagant I ever fucking met. Jana is who has to be with me.”
Interesting choice of words.
“Whether it was your scenario or my reality, I can’t have Rebel.”
Even more interesting. And a little fucking death wishy, but what the fuck ever.
Diesel drained another glass, emptying the bottle. “I hope Rebel never fucking talks to me again, Uncle Chris. I don’t want her.”
He was a lying motherfucker.
“If she starts with her bullshit, I swear I’ll describe how I fucked Torie.”
“Yeah, if you like your fuckin’ tongue in your goddamn head, I suggest you don’t.”
“If Rebel wasn’t my little sister and we met, I would work my ass off to be worthy of her.”
“Ain’t you just fuckin’ told me you don’t fuckin’ want her?”
Diesel scrubbed a hand over his face. “These are just scenarios. None of which matter, since no one wants me with her.”
“You’re her fuckin’ brother and my fuckin’ club member. Either punishable by death.”
“Jana loves me,” Diesel said. “She’s a sweet girl and I can use my money to help her. I want to shower her with clothes and jewelry. She can’t wait to meet Rebel and Aunt Meggie. Jo. The boys. She loves me and she wants me.”
“You love her?”
“I care about her. I want to protect her. I swear I’ll never do anything to hurt her. I won’t cheat on her and embarrass her. She needs me to be my best self.”
“Diesel, if Bash tellin’ the truth, Molly’s dead.
” He sidled a glance at CJ, who was talking to Rory.
Christopher didn’t necessarily believe Ryan had nothing to do with her disappearance.
Bash was an unreliable narrator, and his stories changed according to his state, just like he’d told Diesel.
“If you don’t think that motherfucker won’t find a way to fuck with Jana if shit still goin’ in his fuckin’ favor, then you a stupid assfuck. ”
“If he’s telling the truth!”
“The peace agreement the club demandin’ with the Scorpions becomin’ more likely. I think it’s a big fuckin’ mistake, but Bash, whether he a lyin’ motherfucker or the most honest assfuck alive, holdin’ all the fuckin’ cards. We gotta be careful and look at the big picture, boy.”
“If there’s a peace agreement, he won’t break it for Tabitha,” Diesel said.
“You want Jana with you? Move her in, but I ain’t dividin’ my fuckin’ resources until I know my Megan really safe. You responsible for Jana’s safety. Her survival–or death–on you. Underfuckinstand?”
Diesel nodded. “Thank you, Uncle Christopher.”
“Keep her the fuck alive. That’ll be my goddamn thanks.”
“I just can’t abide Tabitha. She was fucking Shine. A Scorpion spy–”
“What up, Prez?” Digger interrupted, breezing to the table as if he hadn’t royally fucked up. “I met Mort on the trail. He said he was heading here for dinner.”
“I didn’t tell you to come, fuckhead,” Mortician growled, storming to the table and glowering at him.
Potter rushed over, carrying a tub filled with ice and beer. “Sorry it took so long, Prez. Crowd just picked up.”
Christopher glanced around, surprised to see how many of the brothers had arrived.
“I got your message, Outlaw,” Val said, walking to the table, grabbing a beer, and taking his seat. He sniffed the air. “I thought Meggie was cooking. All I smell is grease. Not nothing good like onions and garlic or even cinnamon and vanilla.”
Fuck, that explained the crowd. Someone had erroneously circulated the news that Megan was cooking, a rare occurrence nowadays.
“Megan not cookin’. It’s Fia and Tennysee. Shit should almost be ready. They been in there for almost two hours.”
“Harley and Puff out too,” Val said. “I guess they all together.”
“Guess so.” Christopher tried, and failed, to sound nonchalant. He grabbed a beer, opened it, and swigged, then changed the subject. “Kendall meetin’ with Bash set up.”
“Just let me know the date, Prez,” Mort said, sitting next to Diesel, across from Digger when usually he sat next to him. “She can’t meet him alone.”
“I agree. Perhaps, when her meetin’ done, Ima snatch Bash and dangle him from the roof of the hospital.”
They all snickered.
“Once I get my fuckin’ answers, I’ll accidentally let that motherfucker drop.”
“We can toss him off together, Outlaw,” Mortician said happily.
“Don’t talk too loud,” Val advised. “We don’t want motherfuckers to decide Kendall can’t go.”
“She ain’t a club member,” Christopher said. “We can’t fuckin’ stop her from doin’ whatever she want.”
“A sound argument,” Diesel said.
“Yeah, Outlaw, you couldn’t even stop that bitch when you didn’t want her doing shit,” Digger said.
Holding that assfuck’s gaze, Christopher drank his beer, hoping his intent for a near-death beatdown registered.
“Mind if I join the fun?” Cash asked as Stretch stalked to the other side of the table and sat.
“My husband doesn’t want me here but Fee is out.
” He nodded toward the kids’ table, now filled with Ryan, Devon, and Grant, in addition to Cash’s sons.
“I can sit next to Knox. He’s at the bar, ordering his wine. ”
Preppy fuckhead.
Christopher glanced around and spotted Ransom and JJ at a pool table.
“I-I’ll just hang outside until dinner is ready,” Cash stammered.
No one stopped his departure.
“I called Derby this morning.” Christopher finished his beer and grabbed another one, then signaled Potter for another tub. “I told him to be on guard since Bash and company would be in the area.”
Diesel lifted a brow. “They’re not going on lockdown?”
“Derby said they refuse to fuckin’ think about lockdown until after the next distribution at the end of the month,” Christopher explained. “Dez and company don’t want to stay at Derby’s clubhouse because of their wives and children.”
“Fuck, what the fuck they want?” Val demanded. “Beggars can’t be fucking choosers.”
Truth. “I opened safehouses for them since I was the one who told Derby to bring them in. If those motherfuckers leave and get fucked up, that’s on them. But Ima be madder than a motherfucker since the locations of those houses compromised. They gotta abide by my rules or die. By Bash or by me.”
“Well, most of them already died by the Scorpions,” Digger said. “I don’t know why we have to go out of our way for five fuckheads.”
Christopher ignored him. “With sixteen days left in March, the Dwellers would be impacted if the Burnin’ Hounds went on lockdown before distribution.”
“Yeah, we’d have to do it ourselves,” Mortician said. “We’d be more vulnerable. They hit one of us while we have either the merchandise or the payment in our possession…”
“I’m hungry, Prez,” Digger whined.
Fuckin’ starve. “It’s almost cooked,” Christopher barked. He’d gut punch that motherfucker once food stuffed his belly and when he vomited on him, he’d stomp his fucking jaw.