Page 6 of Remiss

“I resent that!”

“I don’t give a fuck, you stupid motherfucker. Resent my words, me, Christopher, CJ, orwhoever. That’s your fucking problem. So busy fucking resenting motherfuckers, you can’t see what the fuck’s in front of you. Your fucking hard feelings blind you to everything and it makes you an easy fucking mark.”

“Not you suffering from self-reflection and offering me advice that I neither asked for nor need? I had a good childhood thanks to my grandfather—”

Bash snorted. “You make shit too fucking easy,” he grumbled.

“You’re talking in riddles.”

“I could straight shoot with you and you wouldn’t fucking know what I mean.”

Johnnie opened his mouth to blast Bash.

“Yeah, I know, little brother,” he inserted. “You take offense. Knowthis, motherfucker. Your grandfather was a fucking psychopath. The worst of the fucking worst, an evil fuckhead pretending morality. I know what the fuck I am. Daddy knew what the fuck he was.Christopherknows what the fuck he is. We’re fucking killers. Psychos. Not good men. Christopher has decency and even some respectability thanks to K-P, Big Joe, and Meggie.”

“You aren’t disparaging my grandfather,” Johnnie fumed.

“Why? You killed that motherfucker!”

Of all the knowledge Bash had, Johnnie never expected him to know how Logan died. He’d never regretted pulling the trigger and ending his grandfather’s life. But then, he never regretted any of his kills. The blood, watching life drain from a body, the power of life and death, always sent him into a frenzy. It wasn’tjustthe scent of blood. When he dismembered dead asses, it didn’t send him over the edge. Fresh blood and ending someone’s existence gave him a head trip.

“Your silence tells me you can’t see what a favor you did the world. Christopher, especially.”

“You mistake my quietness,” Johnnie croaked, refusing to go into details. He cocked his head to the side. “I don’t understand your feelings toward Christopher. You claim to fear him, yet you see no problem ordering me to fuck with his marriage.”

“Iamafraid of him. Most of the time. Sugar does wonders for my confidence.” Bash’s eyes twinkled. “Makes me feel invincible. You should try some.”

“I used coke recreationally,” Johnnie said. “It was never my thing, so I gave it up years ago.”

“Your loss.” Judging by his expression, Bash didn’t give a fuck one way or the other. “I’m not afraid ofyou, since you’re soeasy to get one over on. That’s why I fuck with him. To fuck with you. To see how far I can push you.”

“Please, motherfucker. You back me into a corner and leave me no choice. Accepting your bullshit has nothing to do with allowing you to fuck withme, which isn’t as easy as you believe. It’s about saving lives. Megan’s, my wife’s, my daughter’s and now Christopher’s.”

“If that helps you to sleep at night, you’re more than welcome to believe that,” Bash said politely. “As for Christopher, he wasn’t meant to be an enemy. The Dwellers weren’t supposed to be an enemy club. Daddy just got beside himself and he underestimated how much Meggie meant to Christopher.”

“Whether Megan had been in the picture or not, Aunt Patricia framed herself as Cee Cee’s victim. She never revealed their marriage. We never knew her deep investment in the club. Christopher loved his mother. Cee Cee never had a chance. Let’s set aside that shit. Even if Christopher had known the truth or Megan wasn’t in his life or Cee Cee kept control of his cock, there was still the business of Zoann. Our fatherrapedher. Cee Cee still would’ve bit it.”

Bash glanced away. “I can understand if Christopher killed Daddy to revenge his little sister’s rape. But vengeance for Patricia and Meggie?ThatI hold against him, although his mama had been iced by then, so I hold his cunt responsible.”

“You’re making no goddamn sense. How can any mother or wife garner less protection than a sister? Aunt Patricia gave birth to him. Megan married him.”

“And what the fuck does that mean tome, fuckhead? About the only woman, girl,femalewho ever showed me kindness or love is my little sister, so I can’t fucking understand the goddamn logic behind protectinganyother bitch. Mother, daughter, or wife. Besides, what the fuck good does it do? Those cunts die anyway.”

“You’ve lost me. Are you saying little sisters are immortal?”

Bash glared at him. “No, dumb fuck…fuck, forget it.”

“Gladly,” Johnnie sneered, “since I cannot reason with a man who has no fucking empathy.”

Amusement flickered across Bash’s face. “And you do?”

“Fuck, yeah! Not that any of that matters. Whatever Aunt Patricia’s crimes and lies, she was gunned down in cold blood. Snake shot her to avenge Big Joe.”

“Rack killed Patricia, Johnnie.”

“No—”

“Yes,” Bash snapped. “Patricia was as involved in that fucking club as ever. She pitched pussy to Rack, Big Joe, Sharper, and a few other motherfuckers.”