Chapter Twenty-One – Christopher #2
CJ still refused to eat, though he was more than happy to play music. Even after Christopher fucked up those two fuckheads and his confrontation with CJ, Celia and the three girls somehow relaxed the mood and livened the atmosphere.
He found his big sister to be funny and upbeat. She could dish insults with the best of them, crack the raunchiest jokes, and absorb a conversation before offering her take.
“One dance, Outlaw,” she pleaded later that evening. “Bash dances with me sometimes.”
“Good for motherfuckin’ Bash,” Christopher said. “Only girl I dance with is Megan, so—”
The door opened and Axel barreled in, screeching, “Diesel!” and running straight to the motherfucker.
Diesel got to his feet and opened his arms, encompassing Axel in a bear hug before Ransom and Ryder rushed over and joined in. Christopher allowed his boys to have their moment, but immense relief settled into him. He could barely focus on Axel, anticipating when Megan walked through the door.
“Where’s Mom, big head?” CJ called as he hurried over and ruffled Axel’s hair, grinning happily. “Did they go to the house?”
“Mom and Reb stayed in California,” Axel said.
Christopher started and CJ froze. Diesel, Ransom, and Ryder paled.
“She ain’t with you?” Christopher asked, all his joy evaporating.
Axel started to respond, then saw Celia. “Who are you?” Not allowing her to answer, he threw an accusatory gaze to Christopher. “Look here, motherfucker. You need to get senile medicine ‘cause you in here with another girl again.”
“That ain’t a girl,” Christopher snapped. “That’s your aunt.”
“I only got two aunts, Dad.” Axel stomped over and held up his hand. “Do you know what this is called?”
“I ain’t fuckin’ senile!”
“You’re forfeiting the answer. I’m giving you one more fucking chance. I’ll make it multiple choice. Am I holding up a hand, a foot, or a cock?”
“Ax,” Diesel chided. “Enough.”
“You didn’t watch Mom cry over this motherfucker, Diesel, so shut up. And I asked a fair question. I got two aunts. Either Dad’s senile, a liar, or a senile liar. ‘Cause she don’t look like Dad. She looks like Bash.”
“That’s my fuckin’ brother,” Christopher said, entertaining Axel because his heart was broken and the argumentative little motherfucker kept his mind off the reality of the situation.
“You can claim him all the fuck you want,” Axel said. “I don’t and if she’s really his sister, she’s probably his alley.”
“Ally,” Diesel gritted.
Flipping Diesel off, Axel walked to Celia and studied her. “From over there, your eyes looked paler.”
Amusement lit her face. “Like Bash.”
“Yeah.”
She held out her hand. “I’m your Aunt Celia, Axel.”
Instead of taking it, Axel folded his arms. “Do you like Bash?”
“I love him very much. He’s a very good big brother.”
“He’s not a good uncle or a good brother-in-law, so I can’t be your friend.”
“That’s our aunt,” CJ said. “And she’s really nice.”
“Then she should’ve come when Mom was here,” Axel said flatly, then shook his head at Christopher. “You don’t fucking learn, Dad.”
“I ain’t takin’ no fuckin’ disrespect from you and you ain’t disrespectin’ your fuckin’ aunt.”
Axel looked Christopher up and down like they were equals. “Diesel, I need you to start preparing for my trial.”
“If you’d shut the fuck up, Uncle Christopher won’t punish you, Ax.”
Ignoring the advice, Axel dug in his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, then handed it to Christopher. “That’s the list, Dad.”
“Of motherfuckers who disrespected your ma?”
“Uh huh.”
Annoyed with his son, Christopher threw it on the table. “You ain’t usin’ that as a diversionary tactic. Say hello to Celia and you ain’t gettin’ in trouble.”
“Nope, ‘cause see if you were thinking right, you wouldn’t just break the table with her. You’d want more information.”
“Break bread, and I got more information. You need to trust me.”
“You need to earn my fucking trust, Dad. I just spent three days with your woman. She’s sad over you and mad over everyone else. Do you really think welcoming her, when that motherfucker wants to kill her, is a good idea?”
“Axel, shut the fuck up and sit the fuck down.”
“No.”
“Ax, remember, he’s Outlaw, not Dad,” Diesel said harshly.
“Not to me. He’s Dad all the time because I’m not a member of the club, Diesel, so don’t try to fucking play me.”
“Big head, I know you’re upset, but Outlaw…Dad is too. We all are. We miss Mom.”
“Then act like you have fucking sense when she gets home.” Axel turned to Dad. “As for you, make sure you repay everybody who upset her in front of her. You’ll win a lot of points that way.”
“Your ma ain’t gonna wanna see no blood and gore.”
“Mom wants retribution. She was nice for a long time, and nobody appreciated it. She won’t care, Dad. Trust me,” Axel said with pride.
“Mattie!” Rory cried.
Suddenly, Mattie, Kendall, Blade, Roxanne, Zoann, and Ophelia were there. Kendall, Mattie, and Blade hugged JJ and Rory, but barely acknowledged Johnnie. Roxanne reunited with Knox and Grant, then hugged Mortician. Zoann greeted her sons with open arms, then ran to Val.
“Where’s Winnie, Fee?” Stretch asked after she hugged and kissed him.
“Bunny took Gunner and is walking Winnie and Harley to their respective houses before she goes to Christopher’s.” Ophelia’s gaze fell on Celia. “Who are you?” she asked, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Celia,” Kendall answered around a sharp gasp.
“You would know her, Kendall,” Johnnie sneered.
“Who’s Celia?” Fee demanded.
“My big sister,” Christopher answered offhandedly, still reeling because his Megan hadn’t returned.
“What?” Fee rushed up to him and grabbed his hand. “You can’t just suddenly take another sister. I won’t allow it!”
“Shut the fuck up, Ophelia,” Zoann snapped and nodded to Celia. “I’m one of his younger sisters.”
“You shut up, Zoann,” Ophelia said, shocking the fuck out of everyone. Fee was the quiet one, the reasonable one. “You know you’re seething inside as well.”
“Bitch, I’m only seething over you and Cash. I want to stomp that motherfucker—”
“Outlaw beat you to it,” Val said.
“What?” Ophelia gasped and turned to Christopher. “You beat up Cash?”
“Didn’t you hear me, babe?” Val asked, frowning. “He stomped that motherfucker.”
“The boys are with him,” Stretch told her, rushing to her side and absorbing her sobs against his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go home. He’ll be happy to see you.”
“I’m tired, sugar,” Roxanne said once Stretch and a sobbing Ophelia left. “But I want you to come over tomorrow morning for breakfast.”
“Megan might be back,” Christopher croaked.
“She won’t,” Kendall said crisply.
“I’m not taking no for an answer, Outlaw,” Roxanne said. “You need to hear what I have to say.”
“Fuck, fine,” he grouched.
“I’m tired too,” Zoann said. She waved at Celia. “Nice meeting you.”
“Zoann,” Christopher called, rushing over. “Call Megan and tell her how much I miss her. Fuck, never mind. I’m heading to Cali—”
“She isn’t at the house any longer, Christopher. She and Rebel checked into a hotel.”
“Mom actually lost herself, so Dad wouldn’t find her,” CJ said dully.
“Zoann—” Christopher shoved a hand through his hair.
“I-I’ll…whatcha want? Anything, and it’s yours if you tell me where she’s at.
” He thought about the five million dollars Mortician was going to give to him tomorrow.
“I’ll give you five million dollars. Mort repayin’ a loan.
I’ll give you everything if you just tell me—”
His little sister’s annoyance dissipated. She closed the distance between them, placed her hand on his cheek, and gave him a gentle smile. “She’s coming home, Christie,” she whispered. “Give her the space she needs, then cherish her for eternity when she gets back.”
He nodded woodenly, barely feeling her kiss to his cheek, and watched her walk away with her husband and her sons.
“Dad?” Axel called.
Unable to speak, Christopher turned.
“You know what you did last week. Prepare for fucking war,” he said and gestured to Ransom and Ryder.
The Terrible Triplets walked out, Axel’s warning ringing in Christopher’s head.