Page 99 of Relentles
“I love you,” she said again. “Being your wife and the mother of your children has been the greatest gift in the world. I’ll do anything to make you happy.”
“Be the Ma to the kids we got, baby. Be here for the rest of my fuckin’ life.”
Though CJ stepped out of Dad’s path, he didn’t make a move to take her into his arms.
Mom covered her face in her hands and sobbed so pitifully, CJ almost broke down. Dad reached her in three steps and pulled her into his embrace, wrapping his arms around her.
CJ nodded to Rebel, then went to where Diesel and Rule sat on the sofa on the other side of the room.
“Text Mattie,” CJ instructed. “I’ll text Rory. I’m all for fucking up Uncle Johnnie, but that won’t help Mom or Dad right now.”
“Do I have to?” Rebel said petulantly. “They’ll get over it quicker than if he keeps fucking with her.”
Rule looked up. “Yes. Of course.” He nodded to Rebel. “We’re with Reb.”
“No,” Diesel said in a hard voice. “Text Mattie and Rory, but we have to do this in steps. Something I will remind Uncle Chris of. First, the club needs a new Vice President. We can’t have him in that position when he dies.”
“We just fuck up whoever is aligned with him,” Rebel said.
Diesel laughed. “You’re a bloodthirsty little wench.”
She smirked.
Rebel flirting with Diesel ranked low on the list of priorities.
“CJ?”
At Dad’s call, CJ walked to where his parents stood. Mom looked exhausted and devastated, while fury vibrated from Dad.
“I never, in my fuckin’ life,everhit your ma. And I never will.”
“You shook her.”
“Ain’t the first time,” he admitted with a shrug. “But I don’t hit girls.” He clasped CJ’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son. You always have been ready to fuck me up to protect your ma.”
CJ grinned.
“Are weeveropening my new train set and game console?” Axel complained.
“How do you know our gifts to you?” Mom asked.
Axel rolled his eyes. “We opened the sides of each present. Duh, Mom.”
Last year, those three had unwrappedallthe presents, tried to rewrap them, but couldn’t get it right. If Axel didn’t havesuch a big mouth, they never would’ve known the gifts had been tampered with.
“You get a pass this time,” Dad grumbled, guiding Mom back to the seat they’d been sitting in.
“I need to throw cold water on my face, Christopher. Then, we can open the presents before Axel has a fit. This time, he’ll purposely have pig poop drop on me.”
“And this time I’ll hang his lil’ ass on a fuckin’ wall.”
“Nuh-uh, Dad!” Axel cried. “That’s abuse to a child. And that’s illegal.” He glanced at Diesel. “I’m procuring your services for all future run-ins with Dad. You’ve got to speak on my behalf.”
“First, piece of advice, is to stay out of trouble, Ax,” Diesel said gravely.
“To do what? Be good?” Axel asked as if the very idea was offensive.
“Be good or be dead,” Rebel said. “Your choice.”
