Page 20 of Remiss

“Hey, Uncle Cash,” JJ piped up, the only one to do so. He stuck more to Kendall than Johnnie and wasn’t as enamored of the club as his brother.

“JJ,” Cash mumbled, flushing.

“Are you okay?” the kid asked, concern creasing his brow, blond like Johnnie but brown-eyed like Kendall.

Cash nodded. “How was school?”

“Ass,” JJ grumbled. “The best part was staying after school to wait for CJ while he talked to the football coach. Ro hitched a ride with Diesel, so I did, too.”

“Don’t one of the girls usually pick you up?” Cash asked.

“Mom’s busy,” JJ explained into the continued silence, still the only motherfucker willing to talk to Cash, and not picking up on the mood. “Something with Aunt Meggie.”

Annoyance ran through Christopher. He was right. Hell Goddess stuck the fuck around. She’d given him a taste of heaven last night and teased him with his Sweet Angel. Apparently, the new day gave her renewed determination to torture him.

“Hey, Dad,” Ransom said, the haunted expression he’d worn since Nyx’s death gone from his face. “Axel’s sleeping?”

“Axel not here.” Christopher lifted a brow at Cash. The motherfucker hadn’t stood up or made a move to leave since Diesel’s arrival. “Even if he was, why you think he’d be sleepin’?”

“Mom checked him out early,” Ryder revealed, looking at Christopher expectantly as if he knew what the fuck was up.

Well, he did, but he wouldn’t go into detail.

Christopher shrugged. “The lil’ motherfucker probably had a doctor’s appointment.” While she was taking Axel to his appointment, she’d convinced her coven of witches to abandon their motherfuckers.

“He never said that,” Ransom said. “And, usually, Mom takes the three of us together.”

“Ain’t nothin’ but a thing, boy,” Christopher promised, fucking fuming.

Megan had been winning the battles, but he’d win the fucking war.

“Why don’t you text him?” Diesel suggested.

“We did,” Ryder said woefully. “He’s not answering.”

“You three haven’t made up yet?” CJ asked. “Didn’t you all sit together at lunch?”

Ransom nodded. “Yeah, but now he won’t answer us back.”

Unclipping his cell phone, Diesel dialed a number. “Voicemail,” he said a moment later. “Ax, call me when you get this.” He disconnected. “He’s fine. He’s with Aunt Meggie and Kendall.”

“Okay,” Ransom said morosely and looked at CJ. “We can go home and see if Mom cooked dinner before she left.”

“Her hand’s still fucked up, so Bishop might’ve cooked,” CJ said.

“He’s a decent chef,” Ransom said. “I don’t mind if it’s him. Hopefully, it’s one of them and we don’t have to wait until she gets back.”

“We’ll see,” CJ promised and turned to Diesel. “Are you coming straight home? My backpack is still in your car.”

“Yeah,” Diesel answered. “I have no plans for the evening.”

“Bet,” CJ said, then nodded toward the door. “Let’s go, Ransom. I’m starving as well.”

“Nope,” Christopher said. “We eatin’ here. The final push to get my sweet angel back.” A push more imperative than ever. He was so glad he’d planned his offensive, otherwise she would’ve sent him on the defensive, always a disadvantage.

Ransom, Ryder, and Diesel gaped at Christopher.

“Dad,” CJ said slowly, “please don’t tell me you’restillfucking with Mom.”