“You know what, Uncle Digger? I’m not even getting into that with you. In case you and Uncle Johnnie forgot, this is fucking Church, not the fucking saga of the Caldwells, Donovans and the rest of our fucking family. But you two fuckheads know exactly what the fuck you’re doing. Trying to undermine Mom and minimize me. You do realize she gave Dad his license to fucking kill? You fuck up and she’s not stopping him fromripping your goddamn head off. Know what else? She told me the same thing she told Dad and Diesel.”
“You or them, it’s always you,” Johnnie croaked.
“Exactly, fuckhead. If Dad and Diesel won’t kill you, I’ll be happy to. Maybe then I’ll feel fucking safe in this motherfucker again. Or, maybe, I should shoot the fuck out of every motherfucker who laughed at me because of the overdose or because of how much I love my mom. You all want me to be Outlaw. Why don’t I fuck you motherfuckers up like Outlaw?”
“CJ—” Cash started.
“Shut the fuck up. Please? Do me that fucking favor, Uncle Cash. You want to see my motherfucking bruises because Axel is so fucking scarred that we ran Mom away, he thinks he has to fucking disable any threat. And,you, motherfucker, sat in that fucking chair and voted against Dad because of Mom.” CJ glowered at Cash. “He should’ve fucking stomped your fucking head. Flattened that motherfucker. You’d be the first fucking asshole, demanding assistance if Aunt Fee was a target. And, yet, you had the fucking gall to turn your fucking back on Mom. Really, fuckhead? Really? She saved your fucking miserable life once or twice and you repaid her by claiming Dad wanted to betray the fucking club just to protect her.”
“Get your fucking facts straight, motherfucker!” Cash spat. “I never accused Outlaw of betraying me. I didn’t want my son put at risk. I wanted to vote with your father. No motherfucker could quell a threat like him, with or without us.”
“Fuck you, Uncle Cash,” CJ said, ignoring the grumbles.
“Fuck you. My dad was at his lowest and you betrayed him. Motherfucker, I’d draw and quarter you. Unlike you and unlike Uncle Johnnie, unlike your fucking faction, Dad fucking knows you all are better together. You fuckheads divided the fucking club. And what the fuck was the result? Who was the fucking casualty?Mattie. I hope you’re fucking proud of yourself. Youalmost got a girl raped and strangled just so you could fuck over my mom.”
“I’m sorry,” Cash said.
Christopher hadn’t reconvened the meeting and if Digger hadn’t opened his fucking mouth, CJ wouldn’t have gone off a little more. But he could already see some of the members looking at his boy in a different light. The outburst didn’t change everyone’s opinion and even those who were flipping would need more convincing. A fierce reputation took time to cultivate.
“For the record, CJ, I’m not like my grandfather,” Johnnie started with bitterness, a haunted look in his eyes. “I’d never let a motherfucker in a wolf costume fuck me.”
CJ squinted.
“Johnnie, you might want to fucking repeat that in your head,” Val said, frowning.
“You’d like a motherfucker not in a furry costume to fuck you?” Digger asked.
“Would a rabbit costume be okay with you, John Boy?” Bowlie called.
“No! I’m not gay!” Johnnie’s face crumpled. “WHY, Grandda? Why?” he howled, stunning the fuck out of some of the younger members.
Mortician rolled his eyes.
“How could he dress up like Little Red Riding Hood and let Sharper fuck him?” Johnnie doubled over and sobbed like a bitch.
“Dude,” CJ said, “have some fucking self-respect.”
Ryan rushed to him and grabbed his arms, trying to force him to straighten. “Uncle Johnnie, everyone’s looking at you like you’re insane.”
Grant approached, holding a cold bottle of beer. “Drink this.”
Johnnie fell to his knees and stretched out on the goddamn floor, pounding it like a miserable fuckhead and shocking the living fuck out ofeverybody. “I love that motherfucker! I loved him even when he wanted you dead, Christopher. How could he? How could they have planned everything that they were thinking of? How could Grandda betray me so fucking much? He knew…he knew how fucking much I love you. How much I’ve always idolized you. He wanted you dead. He wanted Megan dead. Big Joe. If it wasn’t for Cee Cee…Grandda was Sharper’s bitch!” he rambled.
“He was the wolf’s Little Red,” Digger said. “He let that motherfucker piss on him and everything.”
Eyes widening, Johnnie stumbled to his feet and hurried behind the bar, vomiting in the sink and sobbing so much, Christopher felt atinybit sorry for him, although he regretted Rory’s mortification.
“Prez, I want to check on Red,” Mort whispered.
Christopher nodded, then stood. “Call to fuckin’ order,” he said, ignoring Johnnie’s howls and banging the gavel. “I’m gonna make this short and fuckin’ sweet. I named Kendall as our new lead attorney,” he announced.
Johnnie’s noise abruptly stopped and he straightened, staring at Christopher with as much shock as he’d sobbed with despair. If Christopher had known that would’ve shut Johnnie the fuck up, he wouldn’t made the announcement sooner.
“She helped iron out a deal between the Dwellers and the Scorpions. If you approve it, Bash and me meetin’ and signin’ off on a peace agreement. We also explorin’ business deals between our clubs, especially in Utah. Diesel will oversee that.”
Christopher didn’t turn and see Diesel’s reaction. He forged ahead. “We got to vote on Kendall and Diesel’s salary for their new positions.”
“What about Brooks?” Slipper called around a belch, then pounded his chest.
