Cee Cee heaved in a breath, leaned forward, and rested his elbows on his knees. He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Motherfucker hasn’t talked to me in fucking years. Ever since I reaped the rewards of my bet.”
“You didn’t come for him. You camebecause of Kimber.”
“I came because ofJoe. I came because I admire him as a fellow president. I’ll always remember getting the call about my sister. I fucking regret barring him from her services. It left him even more vulnerable to cunts and you two motherfuckers.” His glare chilled Marion. “I came because, despite howIfucked over him, he had the fucking decency to warn me you motherfuckers planned to kill me. He beat the fuck out of Rack and took out a few motherfuckers himself. He didn’t need me. My sister loved him because he was good and kind and fair. I came because he’s always treated cunts with respect, and, outside of Kimber, they’ve always taken advantage of him.”
“You willnotrefer to the female sex as such in my exalted presence,” Marion sputtered. As a girl dad, the disrespect was a travesty. For them, he’d lose his life in their defense.
Cee Cee raised his gun. “I can always erase your fucking presence.”
“We might have to kill him anyway,” Sharper said with a shrug. His jaw had swelled. “He knows too much.”
Lifting his head, Joe squinted. “Can’t kill Marion,” he mumbled. “My friend.”
The two men exchanged glances, looked at Joe, then glared at Marion.
“My lips are sealed,” he promised, wishing he could squeeze money from them. He needed cash to run again. Obviously, he was traceable if Joe found him.
Cee Cee eyed Marion with dislike. “How attached are you to this motherfucker, Joe?”
“He’s my friend. We fucked two girls together in Vegas after losing a shit ton of money.
“Is that so?” Cee Cee smirked at Marion. “You do realize this motherfucker’s a priest?”
Nodding, Joe blinked. “It’s how I found him tonight. He wasn’t easy to track, but Char helped me.”
Sharper beamed a smile. Cee Cee rolled his eyes.
“She make you lick her pussy for the favor?” Sharper asked, his breath hitching.
Joe stretched out. “Yeah,” he mumbled. “I didn’t want to. I can’t remember why.”
“Probably because of Mortician,” Sharper said sourly.
“Who him?” Joe asked, sinking so far down the drug pit he couldn’t formulate correct speech. Flat on his back, he stared at the ceiling, his shoulders shaking and tears streaming down his face. “I can’t do this no more,” he sobbed. “Gotta get clean. I wouldn’t have lost her if I was clean. I coulda fought that cunt and won custody of my baby girl.”
Sharper snapped his brows together. “What do you mean by get clean?”
“That’s obvious, fuckhead,” Cee Cee said with a snort as Joe lifted his head and blurted, “no more drugs.”
“They help—”
Cee Cee sidled the minister a warning and Sharper snapped his mouth shut.
“Gotta get clean for my baby girl and for my boy.”
“Your son or mine?” Cee Cee asked quietly.
“You don’t like my son,” Joe said, his flow of tears lessening. Sniffling, he swiped his cheeks. “He looks nothing like Kimber. I’ve tried to love him, but he took her from me.” He burst into tears again. “Itook her from me. My cock. The only good that’s ever come from her death is my daughter and protecting my nephew.”
A half smiled curved Cee Cee’s lips. “So, my son then.” His tone remained soft and solemn.
“He has her green eyes and black hair. Her brilliance. Joey only hasyouin him.”
“My genes?”
“Not even that. He’s just psychotic with a shopping addiction. The boy shops more than some bitches.Kimbermust be horrified.” Joe wiped away his tears, then brushed an arm over his snotty nose. “I don’t even know where she’s buried.”
“How about you sober up and I’ll take you to her grave?”
