Page 120 of Remiss

“Very fuckin’ few,” Uncle Christopher grumbled.

“How did he integrate you into the club?”

“When I was a kid, he ain’t let me come too much. Then, he left for a lil’ while. Ain’t know then but it was cuz your ma was pregnant with you. Once he got back, it wasn’t long before I moved to the club. He loved me but that motherfucker was hard. I had to fight my own fuckin’ battles, stand on my own two fuckin’ feet. Figure shit out. Use my brain first even if was to strategize how to fuck a motherfucker up. I earned every fuckin’ patch I got. Every cut, gunshot, stab wound, broken bone, and black eye. Earned it all.”

“What else did youearn, Outlaw?” she asked.

“Fuck, fear and respect. Motherfuckers knew…” His voice trailed off and he snapped his gaze to the phone.

“Say it again, Christopher,” Aunt Meggie ordered.

“Megan–”

“Youearnedrespect. Dieselearnedrespect. Your reputations precede you. You had an awful childhood because your grandfather was a monster. Diesel was abandoned. You two knew how to fight for your places in life and in the club. Our younger boys needed a different route. Whatever confidence Diesel lacked, he gained by living on his own in college. It was what I wanted the other boys to experience.”

“Maybe club life ain’t for CJ,” Uncle Christopher pushed out.

“That must be CJ’s call. He didn’t want to punch Rory. Although I disagreed with his stance, give him a pass, Outlaw.”

“He hit the lil’ motherfucker, baby.”

“But who he really needs to punch is Narci and Potter. Give them an Outlaw-style beating. Not sanctioned byyou, Christopher. He has to do it. Those jerks didn’t protect him.I’veforgiven them.You’vepunished them, buttheylet CJ down.Heneeds to deal with them.”

“Fuck no! Cuz if they beat the fuck outta him, then I’ll–”

“Do absolutely nothing,” Aunt Meggie said. “You’ll let him lick his wounds, heal, and learn how to fight better. You fight his battles and then suddenly turn on him when he refuses to fight the club’s battles. You didn’t learn how to be so forceful because Daddy coddled you.”

“Couldyoureally deal with one of those grown motherfuckers beating CJ?”

“It would break my heart,” Aunt Meggie said. “I’m sure I’d cry in your arms, Outlaw. But what will break me more is watching one of my sons fall apart, trying to reach a goal when we didn’t fully prepare him. Respect everyone? What was Daddy thinking? Tell our sons to respectfewand fearnone. If hedoesn’t want to eat at the club, that’s understandable. I’ll handle that.”

“How?” Uncle Christopher asked suspiciously.

“By reminding Fia and whoever else is cooking that if they look at my boys wrong, they’re dead.”

“I can kill them today if you promise you’ll come home tonight.”

“No.”

“Megan–”

“I can’t–”

“Tomorrow, I’m makin’ arrangements for our anniversary,” he interrupted, his desperation returning. “I found the perfect cabin for us. And I got a special surprise for you. I was gonna give it to your for your birthday, but Diesel pickin’ it up for me tomorrow, so I can bring it with us.”

“Christopher–”

“Celia came to the club,” he went on as if Aunt Meggie hadn’t spoken. “Last night. I wish you was there to meet her. She got black hair and green eyes like me. She came to ask me to spare Bash. She swore he ain’t wantin’ to hurt you and…Megan, baby,please. Please, I’ll do anyfuckinthing. I’m beggin’ you. Don’t…please. I can’t breathe without you. I just feel like I’m fuckin’ drownin’. If I gotta go another fuckin’ night, I ain’t…I might die.”

“Just think of it as a vacation–”

“Megan, baby, this not a vacation for me. This sheer fuckin’ torture. You fuckin’ win. You win. I ain’t carin’ if you fuckin’Godzilla–”

She laughed, and some of Uncle Christopher’s tension floated away.

“I love you, Megan.”

“I love you too, Christopher. But sometimes it isn’t enough, especially without respect and loyalty.”