Page 14 of Relentles
“Fuck no! I don’t want to know any more than I already do.” He thrust his fingers through his hair. “I’m granting you the time because I’m hoping between now and then I can redeem myself from the fuck up of not telling Outlaw. I don’t want to die.”
“I don’t either,” Johnnie whispered. He stood, intending to walk with Cash to their regular table, but halted at the sound of the door opening.
“Fuck,” Cash said, falling back into the chair.
Turning, Johnnie plopped down in his seat and stared in horror as Potter marched Brooks in with a gun to the attorney’s head. Behind them, Diesel escorted Ryan and Rule inside, followed by CJ, Rory, Devon, and Grant.
Seeing the newcomers, Christopher walked to the podium and crooked his finger at Brooks.
“O-O-O-Outlaw,” the attorney sobbed.
“You fuckin’ come tomeor I come to you. Your fuckin’ choice,” Christopher said, venom dripping from each word.
“Why am I here, Christopher?” Ryan said blandly, while Brooks staggered to the podium.
“Ryan, shut your fucking mouth,” Val ordered. “I’ve said that too many times in the last few days. Next time I say it, I’m kicking your fucking ass.”
“I told you to respect my parents, Ryan,” Rule said sharply.
Clearing his throat, Ryan glanced at Rule, then edged closer to Diesel.
When Brooks got to the podium, Christopher nodded to Digger and then to one of the empty chairs at their table. Themoment Digger set the chair in front of the podium, Christopher grabbed a fistful of Brooks’s hair and shoved him onto the seat, ignoring the attorney’s wails and screams.
“If you don’t shut the fuck up, Ima fuckin’ shoot the fuck outta you, Reddin’,” Christopher said.
Shoulders shaking, Brooks covered his mouth with his hands. Although he still wept bitterly, he toned it down.
Christopher focused on Ryan. “Only your ma, your Aunt Ophelia, and your Aunt Megan call me Christopher.”
Pursing his mouth, Ryan sidled another glance at Rule.
“I’m over here, Ryan,” Christopher gritted as the door opened again and Zoann walked in.
She halted upon seeing a sea of men. Her eyes were huge and teary. Christopher must’ve clued her in that Ryan was in trouble.
Johnnie couldn’t help but wonder if she ever had flashbacks to Cee Cee’s assault. Especially now surrounded by a club filled with bikers.
“Puff,” Val whispered. He turned to Christopher. “Outlaw—”
“Go in my office, Zoann,” Christopher ordered. “Ima call you after the vote.”
Zoann started past, a dazed expression on her face. As she passed the podium and headed to the hallway to get to Christopher’s office, she halted. “I don’t know what he’s done, Christy, but I’m begging you don’t take him from me.Please,” she cried. “I’ll…” Her voice broke. “I-I delivered him during a rainstorm. All alone. He stopped breathing and I thought I’d lost him. I’d never been so scared in my life, and I fought to save him. I love my sons so much—”
“Go, Zoann,” Christopher said, seemingly unmoved.
Weeping, she rushed away. Val turned to follow her, but Christopher shook his head.
“You fuckin’ stay, Val.” He pointed to CJ, Rory, Grant, and Devon. “Go to the fuckin’ table and sit. Diesel, sit with Johnnie and Cash.”
After his orders were followed, Christopher took his .9mm from his cut, walked behind the podium again, and set it down. The silence in the room was as chilling as the threat of violence hanging in the air.
“Today,” Christopher started, “a president from a dead fuckin’ enemy of the Dwellers ambushed my woman. She okay, thanks to Derby, but the motherfucker still caught Megan off-guard and shit coulda went south real fuckin’ quick.” He glared at Johnnie and started speaking again, his gaze holding Johnnie’s captive. “John Boy say the issue is personal. I fucking disagree sinceBrookscalledmy fuckin’ wifeand told her Johnnie was payin’ the motherfucker every fuckin’ month.”
Johnnie choked. Just like that, Christopher had turned the tables on him and made him seem like a fucking traitor. As every eye turned to him, he almost forgot his plan of action. Fuck, he almost forgot his motherfucking name.
Brooks’s sobs rose up again. Frowning, Christopher picked up his gun, stalked around the podium, and hit him on the side of the head, unfazed when the attorney slid to the floor.
A president from their New Orleans chapter raised his hand. “What’s this president’s name, Outlaw?” he asked when Christopher nodded permission to speak.
