“I might’ve lost my way and ain’t had your back like I should’ve, but I never broke our vows. I swear to you.”
“I believe you. If I thought otherwise, Iwoulddivorce you.”
Uncle Christopher covered his face. “So you really did think about divorce.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’m scared to come home. I’m scared that you’ll be my Outlaw for a few days and then revert to the man you’ve become. Life is about change, but it’s how we change. The evolution of our marriage, of us, over the past few months hasn’t been good. I don’t want platitudes or pretense. I want us to be better,stronger, together. But if we continue on this road, what’s next? You actually cheating? I’d prefer to never know that type of betrayal from you. You abusing me? Actually hitting me?”
Diesel and the rest of the boys stiffened. Even Kaia, but before either of them defended Uncle Christopher, he bowed his head.
“Baby, I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”
A little sob floated through the phone and Diesel’s gut clenched.
“You picked me up and shook me.”
Shame crossed Uncle Christopher’s face, while gasps echoed through the room and matched Diesel’s.
“Dad didwhat?” Axel blared in the background, the exact words running through Diesel’s mind.
“I ain’t meant–”
“You dropped me down afterwards,” she said miserably. “You meant it.”
“Did that motherfucker lose his mind? You got to increase my allowance. I needanotherbomb.”
“You can’t bomb your father, Axel,” Aunt Meggie gritted.
Wincing, Uncle Christopher met Diesel’s gaze. CJ’s. Ryder’s. Ransom’s. Bishop’s. And finally Kaia’s.
They all gave him a death stare.
“You abused Mom!” CJ snarled. “You! A man who prefers to shoot a woman rather than hit her and you put your fucking hands on Mom?”
“CJ—” Aunt Meggie started.
“I ain’t hit your ma,” Uncle Christopher snapped. “And I ain’t fuckin’ abused her.”
“Yeah, Dad. Whatever helps you to fucking sleep at night,” CJ spat.
“Payback is coming,” Axel screamed.
Uncle Christopher scowled. “You ain’t even fuckin’ here, Axel. You left us to go with her.”
“What do you meanher?” CJ demanded. “That’s my mother. Your wife.”
“I got this, C.,” Axel said, his little voice trembling. “Put some fucking respect on Mom’s name, Dad. I hope when I’m fifty-thousand years old, I don’t act like you toward my woman. Mom got a name, fuckhead. Use it or else.”
“I got a motherfuckin’ name, too.AndI’m your old man. I expect you to respect me.”
“Fuck you. You don’t respect my mom, I’m not respectingyou.” Axel huffed. “Here, Mom. Talk to this motherfucker. I’m about to catch a fucking case and I’m too fucking busy being the man of the house to have to deal with his level of senileness.”
“You due an ass whippin’ boy.”
“You will not touch Axel,” Aunt Meggie said, back on the phone again. “Besides, he isn’t doing any more than what you taught the kids to do. Defend me.”
“You ain’t needin’ defendin’ from me! What the fuck’s wrong with you?”
Aunt Meggie huffed. “I will talk to you later, Christopher—”
