Page 21 of Relentles
“He’s fine,” Potter said with a grin. He handed CJ a beer. “He didn’t bat an eye at the blood. Once Johnnie passed out, I let Rory dig around a bit.”
Christopher sipped his beer. “When he come too, find some rubbing alcohol to pour on the wound.”
“Goddamn, Prez,” Mort said, shaking his head.
“Fuck, Dad!” Ransom gasped. “I didn’t know you were so cool. That’s some next level shit.”
“I’ve talked to them and they said it’s the right thing to do,” Rule announced, pointing up. “It might teach Uncle Johnnie a lesson.”
Grunting, Christopher scratched his jaw. According to Megan, finding help for Rule was her priority after Jo was home. For Christopher, getting her completely well was his.
“I have a question, Uncle Chris,” Diesel said.
“Yeah, boy?”
“Did Potter kill Brooks?”
“Nope. Just left him in the fuckin’ meatshack to remind that motherfucker what’s waitin’ for him if he fuck over me.”
“He’s not going to be worth shit,” Diesel pointed out. “You’ve already shot Johnnie. If Brooks is fucked, too, it might lead to otherconsequences.”
“You mean Red losing her shit?” Mortician asked.
Diesel nodded. He liked Brooks, too. Diesel might’ve truly worried about Kendall’s reaction but she wasn’t his main concern.
“Fine, son,” Christopher said. “Get the motherfucker out. Impress upon him that he’s on probation. If he’s fuckin’ over me, he’s fuckin’ dead.”
As Diesel left, Val tracked his movements. Despite his contribution to the conversation, the haggard expression hadn’t left his face since Ryan, Devon, and Zoann’s departure. His RC had a rough upbringing. It stood to reason, he’d want to treat his sons differently.
Christopher tasted his beer again. “You’re not those motherfuckers, Val.”
He and Mort exchanged glances, and Mort shrugged.
“Who…what…I don’t know what you mean, Outlaw,” Val said.
“Yeah, the fuck you do. My guess is you already talked to Mort. He ain’t betrayed you. I know how those motherfuckers abused you, so you want to be different with your boys.”
“Chester beat ass when they get out of line, Val,” Mort said, “but Ryan running rampant because he don’t respectyou.”
“Ryan don’t seem to respect anybody, Mort,” Val said. He shook his head. “Hearing Puff tonight broke my fucking heart. All I could think of was taking Ryan’s place to spare her—”
“Uncle Val, all that would’ve done was broke Aunt Zoann’s heart two times,” CJ said. “You giving up your life for Ryan wouldn’t change him. He’d fuck up in a different way and still get himself killed.”
“You’re right, CJ,” Val said with a sigh.
“I’m going to watch out for him,” CJ promised. “As best I can because we don’t like each other. He’s a fucking asshole to me, but I don’t want anything to happen to him.”
“Just tell me if you find out he’s in danger, CJ,” Val started.
CJ nodded. “Depending on what the danger is, I might have to tell ‘Law first.”
Val’s bleakness returned. “I understand.”
“Dad, this is fucking psychological torture,” Ransom called. He was sitting at the table Christopher had set aside for the younger kids, away from the adults, closer to where Rebel, Mattie, and Harley always sat. “Can we continue with the trial?”
“Punishment already decided, son,” Christopher reminded him. “There’s no fuckin’ trial.”
“Objection!” Ryder said. “This is a democracy, and you cannot trample our rights—”
