Page 6 of Relentles
K-P walked to Joe and clasped his shoulders. “You won’t,” he swore. “I won’t let you. Let’s put this to rest right now. We’ll figure out how to earn the money you want for Meggie.”
Joe nodded.
Dropping his hands, a muscle ticking in his jaw, K-P released a heavy sigh. “You never told me why you’re here,” he said, needing to change the subject. “I was supposed to meet you in the fucking Quarter tonight. Are you spying on me? I didn’t tell you my destination when I left the motel this morning.”
“Please, motherfucker. How long have I known you? Your entire life, correct?” The bleakness cleared from his face and he smirked. “You weren’t coming to New Orleans without visiting the lovely Roxanne.”
“Stop with that bullshit, motherfucker.”
Joe laughed again. “All I’m saying, little brother, if dickhead Arrow hadn’t pissed the woman the fuck off, you would’ve kept on your track to Dinah, and I would’ve remained on course to Roxanne. But since Arrow is a fucking cunt and you won’t let me choke the fuck out of him, you went to her, and I made my way to Dinah.”
“Fuck off. If Arrow was another son of your old man, you’d protect him as much as I do.”
Joe grunted. “Doubtful, Kaleb. Quincy is about as trustworthy as a fucking shark on the scent of blood. My better judgment tells me I shouldn’t even put his fucking membership to the vote. He’s bad fucking news.”
“Says the man who fucking opted to save Logan when Cee Cee wanted to blow him the fuck away. Besides, Quincy just needs to be pointed in the right direction,” K-P argued. “At the moment, he’s aimless, an arrow outside the quiver.”
“Stick to fucking cooking. Philosophizing isn’t your forte.” Joe blew out a breath, then frowned. He paced as much as the confined space allowed, then cursed. “If you want to walk away, I won’t hold it against you, brother.”
Progress. Maybe, he could make him see reason after all. “Don’t you ever want to take those motherfuckers down, Joe? We’ve made our fucking money. We can roll on them. I don’t know who the fuck I hate more—Logan, Rack, or Sharper.”
“It would do me all the good in the world to gut fucking Sharper,” Joe admitted. “I don’t blame your anger. Logan is the principal reason Roxanne left. He’s the reason I could never trust having Dinah around for too long.”
“By remaining in the club, we’re condoning that motherfucker,” K-P shouted, infuriated at Joe’s reminder of Logan’s vileness to Roxanne.
“Perhaps, but you only have Bailey and Roxanne to consider. You’re not even obligated to your godson. They have a fucking household staff to take care of them.”
Yes, because Sharper was about as good at being a father as he was at being a person.
“But I have Christopher, his sisters, and his mother to worry about,” Joe said, fully present again. “I have Joey to keep out of fucking prison. Rack to keep in line. Fuck, I have Johnnie to watch over from afar since Logan killed Simon.”
“You aren’t a dirty motherfucker like Logan, but your misplaced loyalty is ruining your relationship with Dinah! And what about your daughter? Meggie loves you.”
“And I love her. That’s why my little princess has my last name, even though her mama broke our engagement again.”
“You walked away from the club, Joe,” K-P argued in frustration. “You could’ve kept your Nomad status and put the bullshit behind you. You moved to Seattle once Dinah fell pregnant.”
“Fuck, Kaleb, it isn’t as easy as you make it sound. I can’t ever walk the fuck away especially while I own the land and buildings supposedly belonging to the Dwellers. Logan was running shit into the fucking ground. Purposely, I might add. Just to draw me back in. Sharper was in Cali operating his own syndicate disguised as a church. Meanwhile, Dinah unhinged every fucking time I went on club business and Christopher was in Logan’s crosshairs. I couldn’t fucking rest wondering if I’d get a call telling me the kid’s body had been found. No matter which way I turn, bullshit stares the fuck at me. You want to take them down? I go down, too.”
“You’re playing with fucking fire. One of them will fuck you up one day. Then, what? We’re all fucked, Joseph. Me. Christopher. Meggie. Bailey. Roxanne. Dinah.”
“Leave then, motherfucker,” Joe snarled. “Leave and don’t fucking look back. But keep what the fuck you know to your fucking self. I’ll fucking find you myself and gut you if you roll on the club.”
“What the fuck is going on up there?” Roxanne yelled. She must’ve been standing on the staircase for her voice to sound so close.
Joe grinned. “Speaking of bad bitches and warrior queens.”
“Shut it,” K-P ordered, jealous of the soft spot Joe had for Roxanne.
“Get out of my fucking attic right now, motherfuckers.”
Scowling at Joe’s laughing, K-P stalked to the steps.
“Wait, Kaleb!”
“What?” K-P turned back to Joe. “She’s already pissed, so make it quick.”
Unease entered Joe’s eyes. “Thereisa reason I’m here.” Sighing, he dug inside his cut and drew out folded papers. He held them out to K-P.
