“Hopefully, he’s on it until I’m eighteen,” Axel said.
“Reb’s turning eighteen before you, Ax,” Ryder reminded him. “She won’t care. She’ll kill him because she hates him so much.”
“Nah,” Axel said, shaking his head. “She loves Mattie. She won’t take that motherfucker away from him.”
“I got a question,” Mort said, finding the Terrible Triplets quite entertaining and a welcome break from all of Bailey’s bullshit.
“You three little motherfuckers talk about death and destruction regularly?”
Smiling, Axel stuck his little chest out. “Uh huh. We talk about other stuff, too.”
“Yeah, Uncle Mort,” Ryder agreed. “At CJ’s next meeting, we’re going to suggest Joker Poker as a future source of revenue.”
“Illegal in the state of Washington,” Harley said. “You’d probably have to do pop-up casinos. Or have it set up like a Prohibition-era speakeasy. They were virtually impossible for law enforcement and the general public to get into.”
“You know about that stuff, sis?” Lou asked, enthralled.
Harley nodded.
Kaleb’s eyes rounded. “You’re so cool.”
Lighting a cigarette, Mortician leaned against the counter and enjoyed his moment of peace. Bailey was just in fucking shock and had shut the fuck up.
“I was disappointed when I heard Dad let Uncle Johnnie go looking for motherfucking Nardo and Ned,” Ransom said with distaste.
“It was for Aunt Kendall, stupid,” Axel said with exasperation. “He was crying like a fucking bitch baby and wanted to make remends.”
“Am—”
“Finish that fucking word and I’m cutting your fucking tongue out in your sleep, Ransom,” Axel warned.
“I’ll wake up and choke the fuck out of you.”
“You won’t ‘cause you’re a fraidy cat. You said Nyx haunts you. If you kill me, I will haunt you, jump in your fucking skin and make it wiggle.”
“Goddamn, Ax,” Mort said, shaking his head, the cigarette calming him as much as the banter of the younger Caldwell boys. “That’s some freaky ass shit.”
“Even as a ghost, I will demand respect, Uncle Mort,” Axel said.
“Suppose I paid you to tell me how you find out all the shit you know?” Especially about Johnnie. If he came along for the reasons Axel said, Mort would understand Outlaw’s motivations.
“Dad still owes me a thousand dollars. He probably forgot. He’syearsolder than you.”
“Only three years and some months.”
“That’s hard to believe,” Axel griped.
“I think Daddy and Uncle Christopher are really handsome,” Harley said.
“You’re a girl,” Axel told her. “Your eyes look at things differently ‘cause, Harls, those two motherfuckers definitely aren’t handsome.”
“You know I don’t even let CJ call me a motherfucker, little dude?” Mortician said.
“That’s CJ’s problem, Uncle Mort,” Axel said. “Not mine.”
“You have to respect club officers.”
“Uncle Johnnie number two,” Axel said crossly.
