Page 192 of Remorseless

Lifting his head, CJ saw his friend, alive and well, smelling fresh and clean instead of like the swamp monster Diesel complained about.

“You fucking asshole.” CJ laughed and bro hugged Bishop. “You should’ve been front and center, clapping for my triumphant return.”

Bishop laughed. “Meggie wanted us to surprise you.”

“We will never cross that woman again,” Narci said, weaving his way through the crowd, walking from the direction of the door that led to the kitchen. He stopped next to Bishop. “I’m so glad to see you, C. Even though I’m due for an ass-kicking.”

“At the least,” Diesel said blandly.

Narci winced. “I prefer Outlaw.”

“Beat to within an inch of your life, instead of to death?” Uncle Johnnie tipped his bottle of beer to CJ. “Welcome back, nephew.”

“Thank you, uncle,” CJ said with the same cool politeness.

Easton grinned and raised his bottle of beer. CJ hadn’t forgotten how that motherfucker flirted with Mom and had her fuckinggiggling.

“Easton wants to join the club,” Uncle Johnnie said with a small smile. “I’ve offered my sponsorship.” He smirked at Dad.

“Hey, CJ,” Potter said, threading his way from the same direction Narci came. He pulled CJ into a hug. “I’m so fucking glad to see you on your two feet.”

“I’m so fucking glad tobeon my two feet,” CJ said, smiling.

Torrin made his way next to Diesel. “Thank you. Diesel told us how you insisted he bring us food and water every day. We’re indebted to you and to Meggie.”

“Yeah, C.,” Narci agreed. “We stank to high heaven, but she didn’t even flinch when she faced us. She didn’t complain about our bad breath or anything.”

“We heard stories about Meggie and Outlaw’s fights,” Torrin started. “But we thought they were exaggerated.”

CJ snapped his brows together and turned to his father. “Youphysicallyfought Mom?”

“Nothing more than usual,” Uncle Digger said. His jaw was still swollen and bruised, but it was finally beginning to heal. “Outlaw shook the fuck out of her, and she punched the fuck out of him, then knocked him off his feet in a classic Meggie move. Stun a motherfucker than torpedo her little body into him and send him tumbling.” He nodded to Dad. “She fucked him up.”

“Only cuz Ilether.” Dad chuckled with everyone else. “Fuck, she something else, huh? I gotta go pick up my new bike. I already called Haynes.” The club had a stake in the bike shop the motherfucker and his woman owned. Their younger son, Chet, also had a small stake now. Chet was itching to join the Dwellers, but Haynes a former member, didn’t think he had it in him. “I told Haynes to choose whatever bike available. I’ll have it customized later.”

“Why not just special order it, Dad?”

“Unless he want to sleep next to Hogzilla, he got to get that motherfuckertoday, boy,” Uncle Val said.

They all laughed.

The door opened, and the afternoon sun bounced in, along with a rush of cold air. Rebel and Mattie sashayed in, adorable in their school uniforms, although CJ cringed at the lurid stares of some of the bikers.

Rebel caught sight of Bishop. “Shop!” she squealed, clapping her hands and bouncing up and down. “You’re back!” she cried, shoving her way through the crowd. The moment she reached Bishop, she hugged him.

Before he returned it, he looked from Dad to CJ. Once Dad nodded, CJ did, too, and watched as Bishop carefully hugged her.

“Hey, Daddy,” Mattie greeted Uncle Johnnie, then smiled at Bishop. “Hey, bro.”

Bishop released Rebel and nodded. “Hey, Matt.”

The girls greeted Potter, and although Mattie acknowledged Narci and Torrin, Rebel ignored the fuck out of them.

CJ wondered where Mom was and why the fucking door remained open.

“Hey, Reb,” Narci said, taking matters into his own hands.

Rebel continued whispering to Mattie.