Page 147 of Remiss

“Dad’s known her even longer. That didn’t stop him from acting brand new,” Axel said. “The long time you’ve known her don’t make a fucking difference if you forgot how to fucking treat her.”

“What? You’ve become her potato now?” CJ sneered.

Axel rolled his eyes. “Jealousy’s not a good look on you, C.,” he said with disapproval. “Mom’s got only one potato, and that’s you.Shedidn’t forget that, motherfucker.Youdid. You caught the same stupid motherfucker syndome as Dad.”

“Syndrome,” Ransom said around a cough.

“I know exactly how you feel about me, Axel,” CJ continued. “You think I’m weak and pathetic.”

“You think that about yourself,” Axel said. “’Cause if I thought it, I would’ve fucking told you.”

“Tell me to my fucking face everything you’ve said about me.”

“I’ll fucking tell you that and more,” Axel yelled. “You’re stupid. You think ‘cause you’re Dad’s son, you’re supposed to be Prez. You think ‘cause yourOutlaw’sson, you don’t got to listen to Mom. You call Reb spoiled, but you are, too.Youpretend you’re not though, which makes it worse. There’s nothing fucking wrong with using our…our money and our name to get what we want. You look down on us for doing it, while you just expect it, then get all humpy faced toward us. You ignored everything Mom wanted to follow Dad, and then you didn’t follow Dad over Rory. You don’t get to have it both fucking ways.Andyou were so fucking stupid about it. You should’vecame to me for advice. I would’ve referred with my attorney—” he nodded to Diesel— “and then gave you the excuse you needed so youwouldn’tseem like you didn’t follow Dad’s orders—noOutlaw’s—while still looking like a weak, pathetic, snivly coward.”

“Snivly is not—”

“If one of you motherfuckers correct meonemore fucking time, I’m blowing all of you up in your fucking sleep, Ransom.” Scowling, he looked at CJ again. “You hurt Mom. For nothing ‘cause you don’t fucking act like you want to be, orcanbe, a fucking biker. I’m giving you ‘til the start of next school year to straighten the fuck up. Then, I’m going to tell Dad, he can’t resign untilIget to be Prez. ‘Cause, motherfucker, not only don’t you deserve to be Mom’s potato, you don’t fucking deserve to be Dad pro…pro…” He looked at Diesel.

“Didn’t you tell us don’t correct you?” CJ grouched.

“Did you hear me say a fucking word? I don’t know the one to use.”

“Protégé,” Diesel said, ignoring CJ’s glower.

“If you’re helping, you must agree, Diesel.”

“Is any of what Axel said wrong, little brother?”

“I can’t fucking believe you.”

“You’re just like Dad, CJ,” Ryder said. “You hear what needs to be done, but you get mad. Or if you consider it, you just dismiss it.”

“None of you think I should be president?” CJ’s look of betrayal was something Diesel was familiar with. So, too, did he know about hearing advice but not listening to it for one reason or another. He pointed at Axel. “Andyou, you little fuckhead, want to usurp my position.”

“Usurp,” Axel said under his breath. “Usurp my position. Does that mean take it?”

“You’re so fucking smart, you tell me,” CJ replied.

Axel made a face at him and looked at Diesel, who nodded.

“I can’t fucking take what you don’t got, CJ,” Axel said with resentment. “Stop being a fucking crybaby. You didn’t even eat at the fucking club last night. Reb don’t swim no more, so I know you waited for food ‘cause of the overdose. That meanstheyare winning andyouare chicken. Look at the Bird Wall at the club. See how many motherfuckers died ‘cause of the club. Look at the fucking club members. Tell me who the fuck could disobey Dad and not fucking suffer a punishing. Rory stood with Uncle Johnnie, the biggest traitor of fucking all. But that meant Rory turned into one, too. And you fucking know what, stupid?”

“He betrayed me, too,” CJ croaked.

“You finally fucking get it,” Axel blared. “It took you long enough. Even if you wasn’t part of the fucking club, CJ, betraying the club means betrayingDad. You should’ve broke that motherfucker in two just ‘cause of that. Know what else? BetrayingDadbetraysMom. If nothing else is your fucking business, she is, so fuck you. Stand the fuck on business and use your fucking brain. I wantyouto be Prez, but I’m not afraid of you, Dad, Diesel, Uncle Johnnie, Uncle Cash, ornomotherfucker. If you don’t deserve your fucking position, you’re not getting it if I got anything to say. If you do, I’ll stand ten toes down for you like Mom does with Dad.”

“It’s different with you, big head. Mom and Dad want me to respect—”

“You don’t got to respect no motherfucker who come after you or our family. That’s war. Rules don’t fucking apply. And if Dad comes at you, tell him this: ‘I don’t care if they’re ten thousand years old like you, when the motherfucker deserves respect, he’ll get it. Otherwise, I’m not fucking listening. Case fucking closed.’ And walk the fuck out. Dad of all people—”

A groan interrupted whatever Axel had been about to say and they all turned toward the doorway to see Mortician and Valhelping Uncle Christopher to the closest chair. Gashes marred one of his cheeks, caked with dried blood.

Diesel, CJ, Ransom, and Ryder jumped up and rushed to him.

“Dad, what happened?” CJ cried.

“Who do I have to kill?” Diesel asked.