Uncle Mort frowned at him, but CJ felt sick at the thought, no matter how true.
“Bug food,” he acknowledged.
“Ignore this stupid motherfucker, little dude,” Uncle Mort said.
“Did I lie, Mort?” Uncle Digger pressed. “If we not turned to ashes, what else we become—”
Uncle Mort pointed to the chair behind Uncle Digger. “Shut the fuck up and sit the fuck down.” Once his orders were followed, he looked at CJ. “You survived. I was shot once. Big Joe told me to wait outside for him. I waited and waited and waited. Couldn’t fucking stand dealing with Lowman. In the end, he shot me.”
“Logan?” CJ couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice when, after hearing bits and pieces over the years, he knew his great-grandfather had been a motherfucker. “Logan shot you?”
“And Snake saved me, but while I was on that fucking ground I waited to fucking die. I mourned…me, kid. For the life I hadn’t gotten to live and all the mistakes I’d made. I also heard shit I wished I never heard, so I fucking left after I recovered. Even though I fucking survived, I couldn’t stop thinking about what if I hadn’t? What if I didn’t know what I did? A bunch of shit that wasted the second chance I’d been given. You got to go through your own emotions, CJ, but life so fucking fragile and it’s short. Before you know it, you’ll be fifty. Don’t fucking spend this chance living with regrets. And, if you do, then this lifestyle not for you.”
Because Uncle Mort…all of CJ’s friends and family in the life…Dad…always lived a step away from death. They adjusted and adapted because they loved the club and they loved the freedom of the road.
“Thanks, Uncle Mort,” CJ said, meaning it.
Uncle Mort glanced over his shoulder, then stepped out of the way, a fond smile on his face. Mom was sleeping again.
“I don’t think she’s eaten,” CJ said. “Dad might’ve gotten food in her—”
“Outlaw been too busy carrying out Meggie hit list,” Uncle Digger scoffed.
“What?”
“Your mama the reincarnation of Bonnie Parker,” Uncle Digger said.
Uncle Mort scowled. “Shut the fuck up, fool, beforeyouend up on her list.” He folded his arms and focused on CJ. “Potter and Narci in hiding. The girls ran off. They can’t find Fia, Tennysee and Diana.” He shrugged. “Diesel is personally taking care of Gail and Joplin.”
“Mom wants them dead?”
Uncle Mort and Uncle Digger exchanged glances, before Uncle Mort sighed.
“Fia and Tennysee didn’t participate in the fuckery,” CJ said. “But…Fuck!”
“Those bitches OD’d you on purpose, little bruh.” Uncle Digger leaned forward and settled his elbows on his knees. “Meggie not wrong believing they were trying to hurt you to get back at her.”
CJ remembered Potter offering to fix his drinks but one of the girls, Gail or Diana, insisted they do it.
“Diesel taking it really hard.” Uncle Digger snorted. “Not only him. Bunny, Rebel and Mattie been crying a lot. The rest of the chicks can’t keep fucking still. Kaia and Kayce been keeping in touch.”
“I’ll call them. Is Bishop here?”
Uncle Mort shook his head. “Bishop and Torrin in hiding, too.”
“You’re fucking joking,” CJ blurted.
“Meggie girl told Prez he can fuck up the world,” Uncle Mort said. He chuckled. “She a bad little motherfucker. I’m hoping Prez get all his bloodlust out before he find Bishop, Torrin, Potter, and Narci.”
“Fia and Tennysee are innocent, too,” CJ protested. Of the crime of trying to killhim at least.
“Don’t make a difference to Meggie,” Uncle Mort said. “Fuck withher? She’ll deal with it or tell me or tell Prez. Fuck with her kids? That’s a different story.”
“Fuck withyou?” Even Uncle Digger smiled. “Her potato?”
“She’s probably already told Dad about this doctor—”
“We scooped him up already, little dude,” Uncle Digger said matter-of-factly. “Your mama on a warpath. She thinks you and all her kids in danger as long as any bitch or motherfucker associated with Gail, Diana, and Joplin alive. Although, if I say so myself,Meggieassociated with them bitches too. She know them. If she ordering all these fucking ups, she getting her little ass in line, too?”
