Besides, Val was family. He didn’t have to worry.
“Fuck, if she ever told you to kill at will, I’m hiding,” Digger said.
More laughter filtered amongst them, releasing the tension that had floated up.
“Prez, I’m thinking about visiting Claude this week,” Mort said.
The jeweler.
Fuck, Christopher had forgotten all about Megan’s diamonds.
“Hit me up when you do. We can ride together.”
Mort nodded.
“Sorry, fellas, what did I miss?” Knox asked as he walked to the table and took one of the empty seats.
They all snickered. Motherfucker missed a lot during his weekly call to Grant.
Christopher stood. “Fuck all, Knox. I’m gonna bring Gunner to his bed, then get you motherfuckers, so we can join the girls.”
Chapter Seventeen
CJ sat in the basement den, surrounded by his cousins, brothers, and sister, where they’d gone once dinner ended over an hour ago. It was a colorful room with a slanted ceiling because it sat directly under a small tunnel that led to the area. In the den, both boys and girls mingled, but there was also the diner where his mother collapsed, a bowling alley, an arcade, a movie theater, a compact kitchen, a disco, and two separate sitting rooms when the boys and girls wanted privacy from each other. There was a bathroom in the theater, one in the hallway, and one in each sitting room.
Dinner at the first family get-together in weeks was simple—fried chicken, French fries, green salad, and peach cobbler. Still tension hung in the air. Barely anyone spoke to Harley or Aunt Bailey. Afterwards, when it was time for the kids to find their own entertainment, the women to head to the den, and the men to Dad’s mancave, CJ couldn’t ignore Harley’slost vulnerability any more than Mom could overlook Aunt Bailey’s.
Mom capitulated and invited Aunt Bailey into the den, so CJ followed suit and welcomed Harley to the basement. For the past hour, they listened to music, everyone enjoying the vibe. But now it was time to get to business.
Harley sat in the farthest corner of the sofa, nearly hidden by the alcove. He wasn’t sure if he wanted her to engage or not. If she kept her bullshit to a minimum, he’d welcome her input.
Axel balanced on the top of the back, protected from falling by the wall the sofa leaned against, with Harley, Rebel, and Mattie forming a barrier in front of him. Ransom and Ryder huddled on the floor, resting against the sofa arm and separated by the coffee table.
Rule sat alone on the loveseat, vertical to the sofa. He flipped through a bible. That motherfucker had more bibles than a church.
Irritated, CJ dragged his attention away from his brother and glanced over his shoulder.
Ryan leaned against the wall next to the refrigerator filled with beer and soda, an almost identical pose to one CJ saw Uncle Val do on so many occasions. Lou and Mark JB flanked Devon who lounged in the recliner, opposite the loveseat. CJ sat between Rory and JJ on the loveseat across from the sofa.
Winona McCall, Jasper King, Kaleb Banks, Ephraim Banks, and all the younger kids weren’t allowed to attend this meeting. Jasper, Uncle Stretch and Aunt Ophelia’s son, Kaleb, and his cousin, Ephraim,wereold enough, but CJ didn’t want to rock Aunt Ophelia’s household by annoying Uncle Cash. Recently, the two men had been at odds because Uncle Cash wanted peace and Uncle Stretch chose waragainst their enemies. Uncle Cash even forbade the kids to join them in the cafeteria at school.
Ephraim wasn’t interested in attending, so Kaleb went to the arcade with him.
Rory clapped his hands. “The meeting is called to order. CJ has the floor.”
“You sure he can walk, Rice Krispy Face?” Ryan said. “You’re so far up his ass, you might bog him down.”
“We can say the same for you and Willard, motherfucker,” Axel retorted, not lifting his head.
Rebel grinned at something on her phone.
CJ hoped she was texting Kaia. He’d hit his friend up earlier and told him to contact Reb. She wasn’t paying attention to anyone and the happiness on her face sent guilt through him. Mom was right. He should’ve played matchmaker instead of sending Kaia to her as a deterrent.
Ryan stepped next to the loveseat CJ sat on and glared at Axel. “Say that to my face, you little motherfucker.”
“Unless your face is an ass, I just did, jackass,” Axel responded, still staring above him, his hands behind his head.
Folding his arms, Ransom slouched further down. “Fuck with Axel and we might have to bring out our bat, slingshot, and bow and arrow.”
