“Prez?” Mort said. “You know you just described yourself, huh?”
Christopher glared at Mort. The motherfucker didn’t back down either. It was a fucking contagious disease.
“Outlaw?” Val said. “The optics with Torie were fucked up to grown motherfuckers. How you think Reb felt?”
“It don’t matter. I don’t answer to her. She answer to me.”
“Right or wrong, half the club thought you and Torie were fucking,” Bishop said, deciding to add his two cents.
Christopher immediately glowered him into silence. The only fuckhead that didn’t work on was Axel.
And Rebel.
“Maybe, Reb’s just hurt,” Diesel said,stilldefending Rebel. “If you talk to her, listen to her like you do us, you might clear the air.”
“I’mmorehurt by the way she been treatin’ me. Megan her ma. She listen to her. I listen to you motherfuckers.”
“Dad?” Ryder called.
“What?” he yelled, fucking overwhelmed. “Fuckin’ what, Ryder?”
“You know how you might do something because somebody told you not to?”
Christopher refused to answer.
“And you know how we call Reb the Blonde Viper?” Ryder pressed.
“What the fuck does that have to do with anyfuckinthing?”
“Suppose when Reb turns eighteen and, uh…?” Ryder nodded to Diesel. “And suppose instead of killing Diesel, you tell Reb she has to choose between you and him. If she wants him, she has to leave. Will you make her go?”
“Fuck yeah!AndI’d fuck up Diesel just to fuckin’ show her who the fuck’s in charge. She ain’t fuckin’ disobeyin’ me.”
Axel burst into tears. “But Mom would really leave us if you made Reb go,” he sobbed.
“Megan on my fuckin’ side,” Christopher snarled. “She don’t want her son and her daughter in a fuckin’ relationship. See how the fuck that sound? Fucked up!”
“Ax, come here,” Diesel called.
“No!”
“Don’t tell Mom anything for now,” Ryder said. “Reb’s eighteenth birthday is three years away. Let’s just make sure Diesel’s happy with Jana and Rebel loves Kaia.”
“She can love a kangaroo,” Christopher grumped. “She better love that motherfucker from a distance.”
“We said we don’t keep secrets from Mom no more,” Axel said, wiping his cheeks.
“How about this?” Ryder started. “Keep watch on everyone. If they step out of line and you think it’ll upset Mom, put them back in place. I’ll even help you.”
“Me, too,” Ransom promised. “We’re your men, remember?”
Axel swiped his hand across his snotty nose and nodded. “Okay.”
“Come on, Ro,” CJ said, nodding toward the door. “Let’s go downstairs.” Placing his hands on Axel’s shoulders, he guided him into the hallway. “Later,” he said once all the boys were out of the room.
“Do you still want your drink, Knox?” Diesel asked.
“I’d love it.”
