Chapter Twenty-Two #2
CJ wouldn’t admit to any confusion over Diesel mentioning Outlaw and not having the type of blowback CJ had. Laughter rose around him. A glance at Diesel showed him at ease again, lacking the intensity of the past few minutes.
Maybe, CJ was blowing shit out of proportion. Perhaps, he was just a little kid, pretending to be a badass and would never be a legend like his father.
“We can move this party to my room,” Narci said lazily. “I have excellent nose candy, Diesel. Just the kind you like.”
CJ froze. He looked at Diesel, whose mood swung again. He seemed both stricken and angry. “You snort blow?”
Shame crossed Diesel’s face and he glanced away. “Only recreationally.” Sighing, he met CJ’s gaze. “I can take it or leave it.”
“You can OD, you stupid motherfucker.”
“I haven’t, and I won’t,” Diesel said, as arrogant as ever.
“If anything happened to you…” CJ swallowed, unable to imagine how it would feel if he ever received wo rd that his big brother had overdosed. He didn’t even want to consider what it would do to his parents, especially Mom. “I can’t believe you use coke.” Accusation burned in his tone.
“What did I just say to you?” Diesel snapped. “Recreationally. What’s it to you how much I use?”
He got to his feet, adopting the same intimidation tactics he used with Dementor. Instead of only words, he loomed over CJ. But Diesel was CJ’s brother. Two months before Dad’s 49 th birthday, they’d beaten each other bloody.
“Motherfucker,” CJ snarled, shooting to his feet and shoving Diesel.
They both ignored the gasps and surprised laughter.
“You’re a miserable fuckhead,” CJ roared.
“Fuck you,” Diesel responded, swinging at CJ.
He bobbed, dodging Diesel’s punch and shoving him again. Chairs scraped and girls squealed. “You and Dad taught me to fight, fuckbag. Be fucking careful about swinging on me.”
Narci stepped between them. “Boys, enough! You two go home all bruised, how the fuck will you explain that to Outlaw?”
“CJ’s probably telling Outlaw anyway,” Joplin said, her high-pitch nasally laugh a classic airhead’s.
“You’re probably right, Joplin,” Diesel snarled, then glowered at CJ and pushed him so hard, he went stumbling back. “Are you, fucker?”
CJ grabbed a handful of Diesel’s shirt and threw him over the table. “I should. If anything happened to you, he’d be devastated.”
Diesel landed on his feet and threw his fist in CJ’s direction. He jerked back just in time.
CJ threw his own punch, clipping Diesel’s jaw. “I would be devastated, too, asshole. You’re my brother.” He ducked, but not fast enough. Diesel’s hit landed on his jaw. “I love you dearly, motherfucker.”
At the last minute, Diesel turned. Instead of flattening his fucking nose, CJ hit the side of Diesel’s head.
“You love me? You see me as your brother?” he asked, blowing hard and searching CJ’s face. As if he couldn’t fathom anyone loving him. Even his own family.
CJ nodded. “Axel would be inconsolable. He idolizes you.”
Eyes flaring in surprise, Diesel shook his head. “Ax idolizes Uncle Christopher.”
“We all love Dad, Diesel. There’s no greater man in my eyes. Uncle Mort comes a close second. For Axel, it’s you. Rebel wasn’t the only one who missed you when you moved out.”
Uncertainty clouded Diesel’s eyes. CJ hated using Rebel to get through to Diesel. No matter how he framed it, Diesel would take it another way. But he had to reach the stupid motherfucker. “Think about how Rebel would react if you overdosed. Do you want that for her?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw; he shook his head. “No.”
“She’s our little sister,” CJ said, helpless. He had the feeling he couldn’t stop the disaster in the making that was Rebel and Diesel, although he’d try like hell to talk sense into him until her eighteenth birthday. “She’d be devastated.”
Diesel thrust his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, your point is made. I’ll stop.”
“Can you?”
“Yes, I swear. And, if I can’t, I’ll seek help.”
“Did you miss dinner tonight to get high?”
“I was with Jana—”
“Who the fuck is that?” CJ demanded. “We had to put up with that bitch while you were fucking another girl?”
The tension eased from Diesel’s shoulders. “Better you than me.”
CJ snickered. “That’s your wife, asshole.”
“More’s the fucking pity.”
“Promise me no more coke, Diesel.”
Diesel blew out a heavy breath.
“You’re interfering with my money, C.” Narci’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Diesel’s my best client.”
“He said he uses recreationally,” CJ reminded them.
Joplin and Diana giggled. Not the happy sound like Mom. It was the kind that called Diesel a lying motherfucker.
“Your business must not be that good if a recreational user is your best customer, Narci,” CJ pressed.
Narci stiffened. “You aren’t a member, CJ. Despite what Outlaw’s been pumping into your fucking head, so watch yourself.”
CJ waited a heartbeat to see if Diesel would step in on his behalf as he had with Dementor. But nothing. He had to defend himself. “Is that a threat, Narci?” he asked, sick and tired of all these motherfuckers, Diesel included.
“Of course not,” Narci said, like a split personality motherfucker. “I’m just pointing shit out to you the way you and Diesel did this morning about Meggie.”
Nodding, CJ focused on Diesel again. “About Mom. Think about her reaction.”
A half smile tipped one side of Diesel’s mouth. They both ignored the laughter of the girls and Narci returning to his seat.
“Point taken, little brother.”
“Come here, Jop,” Narci called as CJ and Diesel returned to their seats .
Immediately, she scampered to him, squeezing between Dementor, Exorcist, and Bedhead. She sat on Narci’s lap and kissed him with the same enthusiasm she’d kissed CJ.
He didn’t care. The new revelation about Diesel explained so fucking much. The asshole fucked to excess and drank to excess. He’d bet he snorted just as much despite his claim.
“Hurry.” Narci slapped Joplin’s ass as she scurried away,
As she passed Dementor, Exorcist, and Bedhead and they groped and fondled her, she squealed.
Potter glanced over his shoulder, took stock of CJ, sighed, and turned his back on them again.
The next few minutes passed in silence until Fia and Gail followed Joplin as she returned from wherever she’d gone—probably Narci’s room.
Gail planted herself in his lap. Tennysee hobbled into the room and went to a chair.
In only panties, her breasts bobbed and her nipples tightened. Sadness pulled her features down.
“Hey, CJ,” she greeted, averting her gaze away from Narci and Gail.
Mainly a hangaround since Nyx’s arrival, Tennysee had always been friendly to CJ. He nodded to her, training his gaze on her face, instead of salivating over her bare breasts.
“Hey, bae,” he returned.
Joplin sat Styrofoam cups and a blue pitcher on the table.
“What’s wrong, C?” Narci took up the trend and shortened CJ’s name even further. “You don’t seem yourself. You’re inserting yourself too much into club life too soon.”
“Are you missing your mommie?” Gail teased, her eyes twinkling. “I’m shocked Meggie-Weggie allowed her wittle potato out.”
The girls laughed.
Narci grabbed a beer and Diesel shifted in his seat.
“Good one, Gail,” CJ said, smiling politely.
“Everyone knows you’re her favorite.” Joplin rolled her eyes. “Even over that viper. Although I’d still love to lick her pussy.”
“You and at least one other motherfucker.” Narci smirked from Diesel to Dementor. “Rebel’s quite popular.”
Diana stiffened. “Stop talking about that bitch in front of me.”
“Take your own fucking advice and shut the fuck up about my little sister,” CJ ordered.
“Nothing against you , CJ,” Diana said. “But she prances around here like she owns everything. Especially Diesel.”
“Diesel?” Joplin widened her eyes, her tone not nearly as derisive as Diana’s. “What about Bishop?”
“I suggest you bitches shut the fuck up,” Narci warned. “Stop fucking with Reb and Meggie, and your life will be fucking easier.”
“Neither one of those bitches can do anything,” Diana said angrily, her eyes snapping.
“Enough!” CJ snarled.
“He’s right, Diana,” Diesel said coldly. “ Enough . Or CJ’s telling Aunt Meggie and I’m telling Outlaw.”
Diana scowled.
“Shouldn’t you worry about Tabitha, Di?” Gail asked. “She’s Diesel’s wife. Rebel’s a fucking menace but she’s not giving him pussy or head.”
CJ went to the club to talk to Diesel and forget the bullshit that took place tonight. He didn’t fucking come to find more bullshit. “Can we get off the subject of my little sister?”
“Pour us each a cup,” Narci instructed, nodding to the pitcher.
“Fill mine up,” Diesel instructed.
“What is it?” CJ asked.
Giggling again, Joplin lined eight cups in two rows and grabbed the pitcher. “It’s purp.”
CJ grunted. He wasn’t into lean. “I don’t want any.”
Once again, all the women, except Tennysee, giggled. She was still stewing in misery, watching Narci with puppy dog eyes, while he ignored her.
Gail lit a cigarette and dragged on it. “Of course you don’t,” she said, releasing plumes of smoke from her nose and mouth. “Not Meggie’s perfect potato.”
“Enough with that bullshit,” CJ growled. “It’s no secret how much I value my mom. If she’s happy, I’m happy, so shut the fuck up with your juvenile bullshit.”
“One of these days you’re going to have to choose between the pussy you dropped from and the pussy you want to get into,” Diana said flatly.
Gail and Joplin cackled, while Fia’s and Tennysee’s eyes rounded.
“Hate to tell you, bro, but Di’s right.” Narci’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “Do any of you ladies want dick from a mama’s boy?”
Fia laughed nervously. “Get off that bullshit.”
“I’m with Narci,” Bedhead said.
“Ignore them, babe,” Tennysee advised under her breath, looking at CJ with meaning.
Before CJ answered, Joplin slid him a Styrofoam cup. “It’s only half full and not very strong,” she said, handing out the other cups.
“Have a little left for me?” Potter asked, holding a small plastic cup out.