Page 76 of Remorseless

“I can’t go to Richmond. Gotta get back to—”

“Her grave’s not in Virginia, Joe,” Cee Cee admitted. “It’s not far from your clubhouse.”

“Truly?” He sounded as awed as a child on Christmas morning.

“I wanted her to rest in peace. She could only do that near you.”

Turning to his side, Joe closed his eyes and curled up in a tight ball. “She loved me?”

“She adored you. Don’t doubt that. Even if you didn’t have my boy and your girl to clean up for,Kimberwould want it. She’d want you to live a long and happy life. When it’s your time, you’ll be buried with her and finally find the peace you’ve missed since her death.”

“My baby girl gives me peace. She loves me. Her eyes always light up when she sees me. She trusts me and knows I’ll give my life to protect her.” He fell asleep.

Marion wanted to join him, but he remained silent, even more afraid if he moved or spoke, he’d die.

“Cee Cee, I promise you I will put him on the right footing, but we have millions of dollars intoyscoming through. It’ll be easier to sell the moneymakers and dispose of the garbage without Joe underfoot. Or even if heis,he’ll be more malleable. I can even teach him what to do with the throwaways.”

“You’re ruining him and frying his fucking brain.”

“Profits are down or haven’t you noticed?”

“Who gives a fuck? This isJoe.”

“I’ve already suffered one obsessed motherfucker.”

“We made a fucking pact, Sharper. If it means nothing to you, it means something to me. Wesurvived that hellhole because we were united. Besides,you’rethe wealthy motherfucker. You shouldn’t give a fuck if the club turns a profit,especiallyat the expense of Joe. He’s a damn good president and he makes money for us without involving him in bullshit he doesn’t want to be involved in. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Marion could’ve answered that question. Sharper Banks was the devil. Throw holy water on him and he’d melt.

“Since your son opened the lab and became the club’s treasurer, things have gotten much trickier. If he thinks Joe is going through a crisis, he won’t be so focused. The club has started losing money. Sooner or later, it will affectyourprofits, too.”

“Keep the fucking money, then. I don’t fucking want it. Fuck it all. Keep all my profits. Take my name off all the documents. If it protects Joe, keep the shit,” he reiterated. “I failed Kimber. If I fail her motherfucker, that bitchwillhaunt me.”

“You’re going soft in your old age.”

“No, I’m remembering my loyalties in my old age.”

“Behind the scenes, your name is associated with the clubnow. Your kid isn’t your spitting image for nothing. Sooner or later, he’ll connect the dots. He has a fucking brain on him.”

Cee Cee sat a little taller.

Until Sharper said, “Both your and my ass are on the line.”

“Fuck, sometimes I really hate you, motherfucker.”

Sharper’s shoulders relaxed. “You hate me all the time, cousin.”

Cee Cee sighed. “You got three months to get the shit done, then we get him into fucking rehab.Hewants that. I want that for him.”

“His baby bitch—”

“Forget that little cunt!”

“Have you seen her recently?” Sharper asked, pulling a cell phone out of his pocket.

“I don’t—”

Sharper shoved the phone into Cee Cee’s hands.