Page 60 of Relentles
They fucking terrorized her.
Mom and Dad once had a handle on them. The boys confined their mischief to the house, and if they got too out of hand, Dad beat their asses.
Now…fuck. They’d fucking set a booby trap for Rebel over goddamn cookies. CJ just couldn’t make it make sense. He’d gotten his ass beaten for shoving toys down the toilet and flooding part of the third floor.
Meanwhile, those little motherfuckers set literal shit traps and they still had enough mobility to clean the fuck up.
Fuck, it was what the fuck it was. Dad wanted him to learn respect, so he understood hierarchy, while his brothers were creating anarchy.
Insanity.
Sighing, CJ pushed those thoughts aside for something more pleasant like plans for the rest of the day. After he left Jaleena, he’d text Mom to make sure her and Dad left the hospital.
Undoubtedly, Torie would be with Jo. She was always there. She wanted extra shifts, and CJ promised he’d ask his dad for assistance with that. He’d completely forgotten.
She’d probably tell Dad herself now that she was texting him to keep him updated on Jo. Fuck, CJ wished she was texting him. She was stunning with her mocha complexion, dark eyes, and long, natural hair made up of tight curls.
Harley would be that type of beautiful when she was older.
Fuck. He couldn’t escape that witch. His temper had cooled, but he didn’t regret his words. She needed to check her bullshit and keep her hands to her motherfucking self.
Finished with his cigarette, he shoved one behind his ear and killed the engine.
After gathering his gifts, he trooped to the door with his arms overflowing. It relieved him when Jaleena opened it before he’d had to fight to ring the doorbell.
“Wha…? Roses!” She squealed. “For me?”
Fuck. Maybe, he should’ve bought different types of flowers for her sisters and mother. “And your mom and sisters,” headmitted, flushing at her disappointment. “I have a bamboo plant for your dad.”
Her brow lifted, then she shook her head and smiled. She stepped aside. “Come in.”
It was fucking freezing. Though he’d only been out of the pickup long enough to gather the flowers from the passenger side, he welcomed the warmth of the house, waiting until she closed the door before she nodded toward the hallway. Dutifully, he followed her, admiring the Christmas decorations.
“Mama, look what CJ brought,” Jaleena announced, arriving in a sitting room, where fresh garland and red bows adorned the blazing fireplace and the red ornaments hung from the huge tree in front of the window. “Flowers for us.”
Mr. Davis and three unfamiliar men were all dressed in suits. Mrs. Davis wore a winter white cape jacket and matching pants with the exact same Balenciagas his mother owned. Jaleena’s pretty dress dawned on CJ, along with her sisters’. In comparison, his jeans, T-shirt, leather jacket, and motorcycle boots left him woefully underdressed. It didn’t matter how expensive his clothes were, theylookedrun-of-the-mill.
Jaleena’s parents and the three men were staring at him.
“I’ve never gotten flowers from a boy before!” Jillian squealed, drawing CJ’s attention to her.
He smiled. “Take one, Jillian,” he told her, lifting his arms in offering.
As Jaleena and her sisters got their roses, the men continued staring at him. Mr. Davis looked beyond satisfied, and not in a good way. It was the petty, motherfuckery kind. How Lumbly always gazed at him in triumph when he dished out punishment and humiliation. The other three men just fucking lasered CJ. He didn’t even know those fuckbags.
One bouquet left finally unearthed the bamboo plant. He was thankful it wasn’t that big. Securing the plant in one hand andthe last dozen roses in the other, he walked to where Mrs. Davis perched on an armchair almost the same color as her suit.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Davis,” he said politely, holding out the roses to her. “I brought these for you. Thank you for allowing me to dine with you.”
Her lips curled into a tight smile. “How thoughtful.”
She swiped a small bell from the table next to her and rang it. At least the chimes tinkled instead of clanged. On the other hand, someone had to listen to hear it.
“You rang, Mrs. Davis?” a voice said a moment later.
“Jaleena’s little friend brought gifts, Haskell. Please see to them.” Smirking at him, Mrs. Davis nodded to the woman, wordlessly instructing CJ to turn.
Unlike when they visited his house, he didn’t have his family around as backup. He handed Haskell the bouquet of roses.
