Chapter Twenty-Nine
Since Diesel joined the Caldwell family, he counted on one hand the amount of times Uncle Christopher disciplined him. He counseled Diesel, guided him, and listened to him. And since Diesel patched in, disciplinary measures hadn’t happened. He knew better than to cross Outlaw .
Yet, somehow, the two personas converged and laid down the law as he never had before.
In a weird way, not only did his punishment give him a sense of belonging, but comfort, too. More than money or platitudes or gifts, the fact that Outlaw—Uncle Christopher—treated him as a son showed Diesel everything he’d ever doubted.
He was quite aware that he was also penalized as a club member. However, his sentence was light compared to the others and Uncle Christopher’s anger over Diesel’s behavior with Rebel was as justified as his fury about how Diesel deserted CJ.
Long after Mortician disinfected, stitched, and bandaged Diesel’s hand, long after Digger, Val, Johnnie, and Orange cleared the carnage, Diesel found himself in the meatshack with Joplin and Gail.
He promised himself he’d leave the nose candy alone.
He swore to himself he’d leave Rebel alone.
No more late night visits to her room to watch her sleep.
No more jealousy over Kaia Riggs or Bishop.
If Diesel fell off and couldn’t get his act together, he’d leave.
He wouldn’t be able to face his family as a cokehead or a molester.
He couldn’t continue to blame every woman for his mother’s shitty decisions.
Allegiance and appreciation were his new mantras.
As the Triplets pointed out, once Outlaw—Uncle Christopher—meted out justice, everything else was fucking child’s play.
The man didn’t fuck around. Not as a father and not as club president.
Diesel would meet with Bash to see what the motherfucker wanted and take the information to Uncle Christopher.
He’d also ask for advice on how best to get out of his marriage to Tabitha.
It had been doomed from the start. If he had to kill her, he would.
But the new Diesel preferred another method.
An enormous payout. A huge mansion. Ideally in the center of hell, but that wouldn’t be a choice, so he’d opt for land wherever in the world she wished as long as it was at least five hundred miles away from him.
Then, he’d introduce Jana to the family and marry her.
He didn’t love her, but he cared about her a great deal.
Under his protection, with his money, she’d get clean, Aunt Meggie would take her under her wing, and Jana would finally have the life she deserved.
He could never marry Rebel or take her to his bed or fall in love with her. She was his goddamn little sister. She was a fucking child. He’d get rid of Tabitha, one way or the other, and settle down with Jana.
That would come later.
Currently , he had a job to do. Except he wasn’t sure how he wanted them to suffer.
The amount of pain Joplin and Gail brought upon his family deserved equal measures of torture.
For the past fifteen minutes, he’d been studying them, wrists and ankles shackled to chairs, mouths gagged.
They’d been in tears when he arrived and they were still in tears as he tossed his cigarette and stomped it with his boot.
First, answers to his questions. Questions Outlaw expected him to ask. He’d been in the meatshack enough to know. Some motherfuckers helped out before they met their makers. Others committed to silence and didn’t stray.
Diesel removed Joplin’s gag and then Gail’s.
“I’m sorry,” they chorused the moment they were able to talk.
He raised his hand for silence and they shut their fucking mouths immediately. Apologies, at this point, were a non-factor. They would die.
Gruesomely.
Rebel’s accusation that they were doing Bash’s dirty work rose in Diesel’s head. She had to be wrong. He’d ask anyway.
“Why does Bash want CJ dead?”
Joplin and Gail exchanged glances. Diesel narrowed his eyes.
“We don’t know Bash, babe,” Joplin said.
“We know of him,” Gail added. “Talk around the club about how he cornered M-Meggie.”
She should stutter, considering her past vitriol toward Aunt Meggie.
Walking to the wall of cabinets and drawers and getting the key to the shackles, Diesel freed Gail first. He had a special surprise for Joplin .
Smiling, he ran a finger down the side of Gail’s face. “Such a sweet tone when you mention Aunt Meggie,” he crooned.
Gail swallowed. “I-I love her. She’s such a d-doll.”
Diesel brushed his lips across hers. “You’re such a lying cunt.”
Her lips trembled and more tears pooled in her eyes. “I’m not,” she croaked. “I love Outlaw’s woman.”
Running his tongue along her throat, Diesel nipped her earlobe. “Is that why you tried to kill her son?”
“Diesel—”
“No, no, love,” he admonished, wagging his finger in front of her face and licking her tears. He kissed her, biting her lip and drawing blood.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she sobbed, blood and saliva slipping down her chin.
“Ah, there, there, Gail,” Diesel consoled, hugging her and patting her back.
“What are you sorry about?” He released her and thumbed her wet cheeks, slid a finger through her bloody drool.
“For disrespecting Aunt Meggie? For inserting yourself in the club as Bash’s plant or for poisoning my little brother? ”
“I’m not aligned with Bash! I swear—”
He used his arm to clear away the blood and spit on her face. “Then where’s Nyx? Where’s Diana?”
He hadn’t been told how Outlaw found Joplin, Gail, or any of the motherfuckers involved in CJ’s overdose. But it stood to reason they had help from a rival club if they’d been missing for fucking hours. Others still hadn’t been found.
“Where’s Narci, Potter, Bishop, and Torrin?” Diesel demanded, inserting his hand into Gail’s top and wrapping his fingers around her tit. “Where, baby?”
“Hiding near an abandoned farm,” Gail said. He hadn’t bit her deeply, so her lip had all but stopped bleeding. “Or what they believe was a farm, since only outbuildings remain.”
“In Hortensia?” he asked to be certain.
She nodded.
They knew about the farm because Diesel told them. He knew because Outlaw entrusted him with both the club’s history and that of the Caldwell/Donovan family.
Those motherfuckers.
Standing on her tiptoes, Gail planted her mouth against his, probably believing the inch she’d given would yield immeasurable returns. Namely, her fucking life.
His cock stiffened, and he shoved her to her knees.
After unfastening his clothes, he rammed his jeans down and stuffed his dick down her throat.
He buried his fingers in her hair and grabbed a handful, twisting brutally, setting a relentless pace.
The sound of her gags, the sight of her tears and red face, made the base of his spine tingle.
She wasn’t worthy to swallow his cum. He tipped her head back and unloaded in her face, then dragged her to her feet by her hair.
“Come, come,” he said as if she had a choice. After pulling up his clothes, he guided her to where Joplin sat, silently sobbing. Smiling politely, he tipped up her chin, still holding Gail’s hand. “What’s wrong, Jop?”
“Please don’t hurt me, Diesel,” she sniveled.
“Hurt you?” he murmured, stroking her cheek. “Hurt you? We don’t hurt women, love.”
She trembled. “Diesel, please—”
Bending, he brought his lips to hers and kissed her long and deep. “Shut the fuck up, bitch,” he warned in amiable tones. “You reap what the fuck you sow.”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she chanted, near hysteria .
He cupped her face and kissed her again. “Shhhh. It’s okay, love. You’re fine. I promise. I got you.”
Gail wrapped her fingers around his wrist. “Diesel—”
Ignoring her, he kept his attention on Joplin. “Your death will be slow and painful,” he whispered, close to her ear so only she heard. “I intend to make you fucking suffer.”
She screamed at the top of her lungs.
He kissed her again and frowned. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Okay?” He straightened and pulled Gail to him. He nuzzled her neck, ignoring her shaking body, not caring about the fear wafting from her. “You’re going to make Joplin come on your tongue,” he breathed. His cock turned to stone.
Joplin screamed again. “Diesel! God! Please! Please! I’ll do anything,” she said wildly. “Please, don’t kill us. Please. You can lock us away. Hide us. Keep us as your secret sex toys. Please.”
“You like to come, Joplin,” Diesel reminded her. “You love to have your pussy licked.” He laid a finger against his jaw. “Didn’t you want to eat out my little sister?”
“I was joking! I—”
Diesel smirked at her. “I doubt that. We both know you seriously tried to kill CJ. CJ . What the fuck has he ever done to you? CJ is the kindest kid. A fucking gentleman. You fault him for loving his mother?”
“No! No. We were joking—”
“Do you know why he loves her so much?” Diesel interrupted, suddenly so furious with Joplin and Gail he could barely see straight.
“Because she deserves it. She loves him, me, and all her children and you , bitch, shit on that. Almost took CJ’s life because you’re a bunch of fucking vipers. Nyx is next.”
“Nyx had nothing to do with it, Diesel,” Gail said woefully. “I swear. She’s very angry with us because all she ever wanted was to be a Dweller girl. She wants Outlaw.”
Diesel cackled. “Not only are you vicious bitches but brainless cunts.”
Joplin’s nostrils flared.
“Is she with those four fuckheads at the Donovan farm?”
“We’re not sure where she’s at,” Gail said shakily.
“Then how the fuck do you know she’s angry?”
“Texts,” Joplin said.
“And I talked to her before Johnnie found us.”
“Does Outlaw have your cell phones?”
They both nodded.
Then, Nyx would be found shortly.