“Nah, Ax. We wouldn’t want to kill Aunt Zoann and Uncle Val,” Ryder told him, staring at Ryan with the eyes of a baby psycho. “I’ll just shoot an arrow through your fucking necks and then watch Ransom crack your fucking skulls if you fuck with Axel.”
“I can do it,” Axel said. “Ransom’s still a little upset about Nyx.”
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Ransom said. “But I can definitely bat a skull in to avenge you, Ax.”
“Okay. Cool. Thanks, Ran.”
“Are they serious, CJ?” Devon asked, pale as a fucking ghost.
“Quite,” CJ said, the truth. Those three were fucking brutal killers in the making. “However, Axel, how was Devon wrong? You sounded as if you intended to challenge me.”
“Are all you motherfuckers senile?” Axel asked. “The Dwellers got a lot of clubs. Why do I got to stay at this one when I can be Prez at another one?”
Fuck. Axel had a point. Why hadn’t any of them realized what he meant? Lately, CJ had been feeling a way abouteverything. If he could think a little clearer, maybe he would’ve given Axel the benefit of the doubt and realized what he meant.
“We got enough chapters for all of us to be president,” Axel grouched. “That would be the bestest way for CJ to get all the stuffs he wants done. We could always back him up.”
Ryan rocked on his heels, wariness on his face as he addressed Axel. “What if we don’t agree with him?”
“Then we’d fucking kill you,” Ryder told him without missing a beat.
Ransom thumped his shoulder. “If you didn’t agree with him, we’d keep it amongst ourselves and discuss it with him. Not fucking kill him. He’s our cousin. Family. That means Mom wouldn’t want him dead.”
“If Outlaw isn’t Prez, would Meggie’s No-Kill list still be in effect?” Bishop asked morosely.
Rory’s eyes widened. Ryan and Devon exchanged glances. Both of those fuckheads looked even sicker than when the Triplets were threatening them.
How fucking interesting. What else were they hiding? CJ had already forgiven those fuckheads for the other bullshit.
“I’d vote to keep it,” Rory said, interrupting CJ’s contemplation.
Ryder snorted. “Yeah, because you want to save Uncle Johnnie’s life no matter what.”
“I wouldn’t have a problem asking Mom if I could adopt it,” CJ interjected before the conversation took another left turn.
“Do it before I join, CJ,” Axel told him. “‘Cause I’d vote against it unless Uncle Johnnie’s name was struck from the list so we could kill him.”
“That’s my dad,” Rory argued. “I will always try to save him.”
CJ raised his hand to halt the conversation. Uncle Johnnie was a sore subject. He understood why Axel, Ryder, and Ransom wanted that motherfucker dead, but this meeting wasn’t about that. “Ryan brings up a valid point, Axel. Yours and Rory’sdiffering opinions are perfect examples. Just because I’m installed as a president don’t mean you’ll agree with everything I suggest.”
“Then don’t let them be president,” Axel said.
“Does that apply to you, too?” Devon asked.
“You got beef with me or are you the new fucking Ryan?” Axel asked. “‘Cause, jackass, that’s not a necessary question. By the time I even quantified as a president, that vote would already be taken.”
Diesel cocked his head to the side and studied Axel. Probably because he’d said quantified instead of qualified.
“You’dhave to be elected to the position, big head,” CJ said. “You’d have to campaign and convince them you’re best suited. You couldn’t just take it because you’re Dad’s son. Democracy doesn’t work that way.”
“Diesel got a lot of friends in the club,” Axel said. “He could be Prez if he wanted to.”
In his dreams.
“He’s a Caldwell son, too,” Axel went on. “As the oldest, he should be Prez before you.”
CJ snapped his gaze to Diesel’s, hating that motherfucker’s smirk.
