Page 201 of Remiss
“Fuckhead!” Axel screamed. He would’ve rushed forward if Diesel hadn’t grabbed him. “That’s my mom. Respect her or fucking die.”
CJ just had time to note the fury on Diesel’s face as he swept Thumper with a violent look. Thumper swung and would’ve broken CJ’s jaw if he didn’t bounce back and kick the motherfucker’s knee with all the force and the fury in him.
Thumper howled, teetered, and staggered back. Balling his fist, CJ delivered a final punch to Thumper’s jowl, felling him like a fucking overgrown tree.
His hand fucking stung and he could barely catch his breath, but he’d won. Judging by the silence, he’d shocked most of the motherfuckers in there.
“I win the bet,” Diesel announced, studying Thumper’s unconscious frame with a murderous gleam. “I told you fuckheads CJ would beat Thumper.”
Groans met the words. Axel ran to CJ and threw his arms around him.
“I was so scared, C. You didn’t have no weapons or nothing.”
“I know—”
“What happened in here?”
At first, CJ thought he imagined Rebel’s voice and he froze, afraid Thumper had fucked up his brain.
“Reb,” Diesel breathed.
“REB!” Axel hollered, forgetting his sadness and abandoning CJ to run to their sister, who was leaning on Kaia, still in her casts.
Axel launched himself against her.
“Oomph,” she gasped, pushed against Kaia, who tightened his hold on her so she wouldn’t fall.
“You’re back!” Axel said happily. “But Mom said your flight was at 8.”
Wait, what?
Straightening, CJ shook his hand and ignored his swelling eye. “You knew they were coming home today?”
“You didn’t tell them?” Rebel asked with disapproval.
Axel grinned. “Nope. Trust me. It was better this way. But you’re back, so it doesn’t matter. Where’ve you been?”
“We got home at 11,” Rebel said. “Aunt Kendall picked us up. Momma no longer needs her boot. We left her with Jo. Momma said she’d spend the afternoon with her and come homethis evening. Aunt Kendall took me to my doctor’s appointment and another x-ray. The casts should come off in two weeks.”
Thumper groaned and she glanced at him, then lifted a brow at CJ.
“What happened, brother?”
“A fucking fight, Reb,” Axel blared. “What the fuck do you think happened?”
Rebel rolled her eyes, then smiled at Kaia and nodded toward the table that had once been reserved for Harley, Mattie, and Rebel as well as Winnie, Brynn Mason, and Ava Baptiste whenever they were around. Brothers now regularly occupied the tables. Today, it was three prospects and a hangaround, and they didn’t seem inclined to move.
Diesel rushed to her and blocked her from moving. Thumper groaned again.
“I’ll help you to the table, Rebel,” Diesel said.
“Kaia can do it.”
“We need to talk.”
“Jana’s in your life. Congratulations. I’m happy for you. We’ve fucking talked, nowmove. Let my boyfriend and soon to be driving instructor get me to the fucking table.”
“I’ll ignore the boyfriend part,” Diesel sneered, “but there’s no fucking wayhe’steaching you to drive.”
