Page 159 of Remiss

Christopher cut the water, then spread the stuff over himself, taking care with all the places Roxy whipped and wondering why the body wash wasn’t lathering up. It didn’t matter. He’d shampoo his hair and while the conditioner was in, he’d wash this shit off.

He only managed to rub conditioner on each side of his head and the back before his chest and groin began to burn like a motherfucker. Quickly, he turned on the shower again, welcoming the cold, tipping his head back to cool off his overheated skin.

Smiling as the sting faded away, he rubbed his hand through his hair and frowned. A wad of hair spread over his fingers. He glanced down at the floor of the shower. It was covered in hair.

“FUCK!” he roared, rushing through the rest of his shower and washing away whatever had been in those fucking bottles.

The cold water had helped a lot, so he was able to move quicker, leaving the shower. He frowned at the smell but ignored it and turned toward one of the mirrors.

He no longer had chest or cock hair, and it looked as if he’d gone to a barbershop and gotten a fade, by a blind motherfucker who left behind huge patches.

“Dad?” CJ walked into the bathroom and glanced around, his eyes wide. Shell-shocked. “What. The. Fuck.”

Axel stuck his head in, a motherfucking clothespin on his motherfucking nose. “What did you do Mom?”

CJ stiffened, not that Axel cared. He flipped CJ off.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Dad,” Axel said darkly, not caring that he sounded like Daffy Duck. “You taught us to cherish Mom. Learn that fucking lesson yourself. Now, do you give in or do you want fucking more? It’syourchoice. What did you do Mom?”

Christopher heaved in a breath, exhausted. “I made your ma cry.”

“What else?”

“Fuck, Axel!” CJ exploded. “Dad conceded.”

“I had to do the job you and Diesel should’ve done, CJ, so shut up.”

Christopher raised a hand, silently telling CJ to stand down. Sighing, he met Axel’s angry, hurt gaze. “I made your ma leave.”

“And she’s not home yet,” Axel spat, tears brimming in his eyes. “Remember this. Learn from your fucking mistakes, Dad. When she comes home if youeverhurt her again, I’m chopping your fucking lips off while you sleep.”

“I ain’t, son. I swear. I just want her back.”

“Me too.” He started to turn, then halted. “Mom can protect herself, but it’s always good to have backup. Don’t forget if she don’t have none of her other sons, she got me.”

“I resent that,” CJ said.

“Choke on it, bitch,” Axel snapped, unafraid of anyone or anything. “You resent it ‘cause you’re fucking guilty.”

Christopher limped to CJ because he was ready to snatch Axel and shake the fuck out of him. He didn’t feel comfortable hugging his boy without clothes on, so he placed a hand on CJ’s shoulder.

“Axel?” Christopher called again. “What was on the toilet paper?”

“Chili pepper spray.”

“Oh, goddamn,” CJ said.

“AX!” Ransom yelled, racing into the bathroom. He frowned at Christopher, then wrinkled his nose. “You got Dad alone?”

“We told you we’d help,” Ryder added, grinning at Christopher.

“And I told you I didn’t need no help if you didn’t stay.”

“You did all this on your own, big head?” CJ asked curiously.

Axel nodded.

Ransom whooped and clapped him on the back.