Page 25 of Relentles
“Oh, they were all fucking hanged, Dad,” Ryder answered, grinning when Mort, Digger, Stretch, Cash, and Diesel roared with laughter. “At least they had a fucking trial.”
Christopher beckoned to Potter, and a moment later, two buckets, filled with bottles of beer were brought over. The guys each took one. When he held a bottle out to Rule, he shook his head.
“We want one, Dad,” Ransom said, pointing between himself, Ryder, and Axel.
“Ain’t twelve yet.”
“Dad!” Axel cried. “I thought senility set in when you turned fifty. You’re still two weeks away.”
“Fuck off, boy,” Christopher said with a shake of his head. “I meanyouand Ryder ain’t twelve.”
“Wait, I’m going to have to wait until Axel is twelve, too?” Ryder asked, frowning.
Christopher nodded. “You do everything else together.”
Ryder considered that for a moment. “Can I smother him to make that rule null and void?”
“No!” Axel screamed. “I’ll haunt you to death! I’ll make your boogers ghosts. I’ll jump into your brain and fill it with pee. I’ll—”
“I’ll vaporize you with the special ghost light, fuck face,” Ryder said.
Axel screamed louder and buried his face against Christopher’s neck.
“Ain’t you three called the Terrible Triplets, Ryder?” Christopher asked, rubbing Axel’s back. “You’re willin’ to fuck him up over brews?”
Guilt touched Ryder’s face, then he folded his arms and lifted his chin. “I won’t kill Axel for justanything, Dad.”
“But you’d kill him forsome things?” Christopher asked, lifting a brow. “Tell my ass how the fuck that work? Then explain to me how you’re telling your ma you,one of her sons, killed your brother,another one of her sons.”
“Oh, fuck, dude. I never thought of Mom. I couldn’t hurt her like that, even if it means I get to drink a year sooner.”
“Didn’t CJ have a beer when he was ten?” Ransom asked as Axel slid onto Christopher’s lap and leaned his head against his chest.
“You ain’t CJ,” Christopher said, readjusting himself to get a better hold on his son.
“Is that a compliment or an insult?” Ransom asked.
“It’s neither,” Rule answered before Christopher could. “It’s a fact. You are part of a collective. You should all look out for each other instead of your own interests.”
Axel lifted his head at the words.
Ryder studied Rule, suspicion clear in his eyes. “Who’s saying that? You? Or one of your voices?”
Rule’s shoulders sagged and his head bowed.
“Stop teasin’ your brother,” Christopher barked. “He offered advice from his fuckin’ heart. Take it or else.”
“There you go with thisor else, Dad,” Ransom said with disapproval. “I file a motion—”
“Motion not granted,” Rebel said cheerfully, breezing to the table.
Christopher pretended not to notice the younger club members who hung around after church ended, leering at her. Inserting herself between Diesel and Rule, she grabbed a beer from the bucket.
She opened it, but as she brought it to her mouth to drink, Diesel snatched it from her.
“You can’t fucking drink, Rebel. You’re not old enough.”
Cocking his head to the side, Christopher squinted. Instead of interfering, he remained silent to see how this played out.
