“You, CJ, and Dad stick together, but none of you tell CJ that he don’t got to please nobody but himself, especially if he wants to be the president. Dad is Outlaw ‘cause that motherfucker stands on business for his club and the members. They know not to fuck with him. He don’t even try to please everybody ‘cause that’s impossible. CJ don’t got to explain himself. He don’t got to apologize and he especially don’t got to respect motherfuckers who don’t respect him.Youtaught that to me. Teach it to him. Does he even really want to lead the fucking club or is it ‘cause everybodysaidhe was going to be in charge? He won’t listen to me ‘cause all he ever does is correct me and tell me not to do this or that oranything. But he might listen to you.”
“I’m not telling CJ a fucking thing. I think he’ll make an excellent leader.”
“As I said you stick with them,” Axel said. “I love CJ a lot and ifyoucan’t tell him, thenIwill. Dad always says you have to make quick decidings and stuff that sometimes won’tbe liked by a lot of people. CJ is so cool and he takes care of everybody. A motherfucker that likes to help people won’t hurt them if they need it. And I can count on twenty fingers the fifty motherfuckers that need blowing up, gutting, strangling, or shot.”
“Goddamn, Ax,” Diesel said, laughing. “The number of fingers don’t match the number of dead men walking.”
“I included my toes.”
Diesel wasn’t going down that rabbit hole, so he simply said, “okay.”
“I might call Kaia,” Axel announced suddenly. “Make sure he’s okay ‘cause when we get home I don’t want no fucking belches that’ll piss Mom off again.”
“Hiccups.”
Axel growled.
“I’ll stop correcting you for now,” Diesel promised.
“I won’t call you a motherfucker then. Anyway, Kaia might cheer Reb up. She’s really sad, Diesel. She won’t go near a pool. Even though she has a cast on, she could come in the natatorium.”
Natatorium, huh? “Tell me again where you went shopping, Ax.”
“Rodeo Drive.”
Yeah, Diesel knew exactly where they were even before Ryan gave the thumbs up sign. Axel pronouncedRo-DAY-Oasro-dee-o.
Uncle Christopher and CJ sagged in relief.
“Oh, yeah, Diesel. Mom’s worried about you,” Axel revealed. “She said her leaving must be hardest on you ‘cause of your mom, but that she loves you very much and will talk to you when she gets home. So, I asked her could you call her mom and she said…drum roll…”
Diesel gritted his teeth to keep from snapping at Axel to reveal the answer.
“Drum roll, Diesel.”
Knowing it was useless to argue, Diesel obliged.
“She said it’s up to you, but she feels like a poster ‘cause if she had been a good mom to you, you wouldn’t be so upset over your real momandshe should’ve made you get counseling instead of letting you choose. She said she failed you like she failed Rule, so she doesn’t think she deserves to be called your mom.”
“What?”
“Before they all came in and was cooking and stuff, it was just Mom and Lolly. And, D., Mom wants Uncle Johnnie, Uncle Digger, and Uncle Cashdead.” Axel laughed happily. “Do you know Uncle Johnnie went to Mom when she was in the hospital and said a bunch of stuffs about how CJ should’ve been his? She thought he was going to strangle her? Told you that motherfucker was insane. She was really scared and she was praying you or Dad or Uncle Mort walked in. And Uncle Digger did worse stuff to Mom than she let on. He was starting rumors about her and everything. Then, Uncle Cash is Uncle Cash. But she’s scared that Uncle Johnnie and Uncle Cash will do something that gets Dad hurt. She’s so mad at them because they are dangering her husband and she’ll see them dead first. Her words. Then, she talked about me, Ryder, and Ransom. She said she’s accepted that you and CJ aren’t hers anymore, but suppose the club members turn against Dad and her babies–my men and me–are there when we haven’t even gotten a chance to live yet. It was hard to keep spying ‘cause I started to cry. Unfortunately, Mom and Lolly agreed she can’t order those motherfuckers’ deaths. One, ‘cause of Dad. She thinks he’s good and that would make him feel bad.” The little motherfucker roared with laughter. “Two, ‘cause of Aunt Bunny, Aunt Kendall,Aunt Fee, and Uncle Mort. She said their deaths would destroy our family when we were finally feeling like a family. Ryan liked us again and Dad likes Aunt Kendall like a sister.” He sighed. “Mom’s just really sad about so much and mostly it has to do with us and Dad. When we get home, I’m not going to the club as much. I’m going to tell Ran and Ry to try to stay home a little more. Oh, oh, oh! She said Kaia isn’t cut out to be a biker, so he’s perfect for Rebel. I forgot that part.”
Kaia’s death moved from Diesel’s urgent list to priority number one. “How long were you eavesdropping?”
“After I left the natatorium, I washed off the sunscreen so Mom wouldn’t know how much fun I was having, then I went to the kitchen for juice and she was sitting at the counter, talking to Lolly, so I got a coloring book and pretended to color but I was actually listening.”
“Axel, where are you, love?” Aunt Meggie’s voice rose in the background and suddenly the entire room came alive. They all rushed to the bar and surrounded it, staring at Diesel’s phone. “It’s almost time for dinner…you have your phone?”
“I’m bored, Mom,” Axel complained. “I just wanted to talk to Diesel. He won’t rat me out, I promise.”
Diesel winced.
“Diesel? Are you still on the phone, son?” Aunt Meggie asked coolly, not sounding at all sad or heartbroken. “Hello?”
“I’m here, Aunt Meggie.”
Uncle Christopher reached his hand out as if he could touch her, but then shook his head and drew it back.
