Page 243 of Remorseless

“That’s it!” Axel snatched a ball and loaded his slingshot. “I can’t take this motherfucker no more.” He released the ball and hitKaia’s cheek.

It all happened so fast, no one had a chance to react, but once the Styrofoam hit Kaia, Rebel threw herself in front of him. Axel loaded, shot, and reloaded his slingshot two more times, striking her twice. The balls stung more than hurt. Either he was too small to make an impact or he wasn’t putting full velocity behind the shots.

When he picked up a fourth ball, Rebel sprung toward the little menace.

“STOP, Axel!” Daddy yelled.

Just as Rebel reached him, the brat swiped the bowl of balls off the table, and sent them flying in all directions. Ransom and Ryder grabbed Axel on their way out of the room. Rebel would’ve followed but Diesel snatched her and held her in place, allowing the Triplets to escape.

“I’m surprised little dude lasted that long,” Uncle Digger said, digging into a little bag of chips and stuffing them into his mouth.

Becausewhendidn’t he find something to eat?

Chapter Forty-Five

The next evening, CJ sat at his father’s table in the club, nervously shaking his leg, both new experiences for him. Usually, he was calm and collected at the table long reserved for him, Rory, Ryan, Grant, and Devon. But this was Nyx’s long-awaited initiation, and CJ sat next to Diesel atOutlaw’stable, along with Bishop, Grant, Ryan, and Kaia. Rory had wanted to attend, but Uncle Johnnie said he wouldn’t allow his underage son at an orgy. He was the only uncle, besides Uncle Knox, who wasn’t there in a show of support for CJ as a first time guest at a raunchy club event.

Over the past week, the headaches had relented and gave him some peace from the pain. Maybe, he was coming to terms with what happened to him. Or, maybe, since Mom and Dad connected atthe restaurant on Valentine’s Day, life was good again. She was laughing more, excited about the upcoming Mardi Gras ball. Talking about replacing the chandelier in the entrance hall again.

She visited Jo every day and flooded their phones with photos. She talked about the baby’s release from the hospital. Dad wanted to throw a celebration, which Mom agreed to, although she wanted it the Saturday after Jo’s release.

“We’ll stop in at the club the day she comes in,” Mom said. “We don’t want to overwhelm her.”

And, of course, she was planning Rebel’s fifteenth birthday party.

Outlaw’s laughter rose above the noise in the club, and CJ smiled. His father stood at the bar, talking to Potter, Narci, and a couple of the club girls. Bouquets of dick and titty suckers sat on each table. Sex toys lined the bar next to bowls of condoms. Helium filled dick balloons floated to the ceiling along with plain black and orange balloons. Streamers crisscrossed the room and country songs played on the jukebox. Aunt Zoann and Aunt Bunny helped other old ladies to prepare and set up the food.

CJ wasn’t sure how that came about. If Mom wasn’t in charge of parties, it was usually Lolly, but ever since her fight with Harley, she’d been scarce.

Tomorrow, he’d go to their house and check on them. Harley’s behavior had affected everyone. He wished she’d get a clue, but, yesterday, she’d been as immune to anyone else’s feelings as ever. He hated the twinge of jealousy he felt toward Ryan and Harley. He wanted to go back to that place where he couldn’t stand the sight of her. It was one thing to hear about them together, but watching it in real time…

It hit differently.

No one objected Ryan’s announcement. Not Uncle Mort and not Uncle Val. They were fed up withtheir offspring.

Neither Harley nor Ryan returned to the dinner last night. CJ tried not to think about the reasons why. Besides, there was enough other shit to concern himself with.

Mainly motherfucking Kaia, and his corny fucking lines. CJ had already punched him in his fucking mouth for calling Rebel a fuck doll. Now, he wanted to cut his fucking tongue out just so he’d shut the fuck up and find another way to deal with his nervousness. When CJ first heard the explanation of how Kaia went from a motherfucker with sense to a corny jackfuck he’d been certain Kaia was just fucking around. Perhaps, trying to flatter Reb.

Nope, that motherfucker really had a goddamn notebook of old poetry that he memorized to ease tension. Currently, he was filling the notebook withnewpoetry, inspired by Rebel.

Of course, that inspiration didn’t stop his fucking ass from attending Nyx’s initiation because Diesel wanted to be a shady motherfucker and invite him to fuck.

Which went completely over Rebel’s head.

CJ wasn’t sure if he wanted to fuck up Kaia or Diesel. One was fucking stupid. The other one wasDiesel.

Gloria nodded to them as she carried a bowl of potato salad to the table next to the jukebox.

“Sweetness is missed,” Uncle Cash remarked, tasting his beer. He picked up a titty sucker. “She would’ve added a little more class.”

“She would’ve made it all extra,” Uncle Digger said. “Flowers and shit. This way better. Straight to thepoint.”

Uncle Mort sighed. “Leave the woman alone, fool.”

“What do you say, Val?” Uncle Digger pressed. “You like it this way or what Meggie would’ve done?”

“Puff said Meggie make shit beautiful.” Uncle Val shrugged. “She do, when you think about it. We just looking at tits and cock now. If Meggie was involved, we’d probably have flowers and bows. A little fucking mystery.”