Page 102 of Misrule
Shoving his annoyance toward Kendall aside, Knox headed toward Outlaw.
“’Law!” CJ yelled, just as Knox reached the man. Baby Thug didn’t seem the worse for wear from his run-in with Kendall. “I wanna ride your cycle like you let me do before.”
A frown crossed Outlaw’s face and he glanced in Megan’s direction. Her brows snapped together.
“Not to-fuckin-night, boy,” Outlaw responded. “We ain’t ate yet.”
“The way Meggie girl glaring at you, you not eating no time soon,” Mortician observed with a snicker.
“The lil’ motherfucker just don’t know how to shut the fuck up. I think he do that shit on purpose.”
“Nuh-uh, ‘Law,” CJ said with a grin, then looked up at Johnnie. “I want to play monster again, Uncle Johnnie.”
Johnnie held up his drink. “Later. For now, play with the other kids. Where’s Rory, anyway?”
“Him stealing candy for me.” CJ dug in his pocket and came up with a chocolate. “I sent him, but him didn’t come back yet. Maybe, he saw his ma.”
Digger, Val, Cash, Stretch, and Mortician sniggered. Cam turned away and sipped his drink. While Outlaw stared at the Baby Thug, Knox felt a spark of anger towards both the biker and his son.
“Fuck me, boy. I ain’t even knowin’ where my ass need to start,” Outlaw said on a sigh.
“Try with the stealing?” Johnnie suggested, not at all happy.
Knox wouldn’t be either if his kid was involved in criminal activity at the behest of someone else.
“Wait a fuckin’ minute, CJ.” Outlaw sat his bottle of rum on the bar and gave his full attention to his son. “My fuckin’ ass heard your ma say you ain’t able to have candy ‘til after dinner. You fuckin’ asked her when she let your lil’ ass outta time-fuckin-out for callin’ psycho cunt a big giant bitch.”
CJ’s lower lip trembled at his father’s harshness and his face crumpled.
“Not only aintcha listenin’ to her, you gettin’ another fuckin’ man to doyourfuckin’ dirty work. Don’t lie to your ma and don’t send no motherfucker on a job you ain’t willin’ to fuckin’ do.”
CJ’s face brightened, and he held up the chocolate that had been wrapped but now was partially squeezed out by the child’s fisting it. “But, ‘Law, I stoled already. When Mommie let me up.”
The idiots who’d been laughing before howled again.
“You ain’t supposed to fuckin’ steal and you ain’t supposed to fuckin’ lie. A thief as miserable a motherfucker as a fuckin’ liar. Motherfuckers ain’t able to trust neither, and if you got nothin’ fuckin’ else you gotta be a man of your word, boy.”
“I’m is,” CJ protested, his brief moment of happiness disintegrating at his father’s stern lecture.
“What about your ma?” Outlaw continued, surprising Knox with his correct pronunciation ofabout. “You ain’t listen to her.” He swatted CJ’s butt. “That’s for your fuckin’ thievery.” Another swat. “That’s for tryna bitch your ma out. You always respect your ma.Al-fucking-ways,” he roared, ignoring CJ’s tears. “If she tell you to fuckin’ do somethin’ or don’t fuckin’ do somethin’, follow what the fuck she say. Hear me, boy?”
“Yes, ‘Law,” CJ sobbed.
From Knox’s point-of-view, the taps on the brat’s ass hadn’t been enough. Outlaw should’ve given CJ a real spanking. Therefore, Baby Thug’s screaming wails were unnecessary.
“Come here, potato,” Megan called from the other side of the room.
“MegAnn,” CJ sobbed, running to her and throwing himself into her open arms. She pulled him onto her lap as he cried against her neck.
“Rory and CJ aren’t men,” Johnnie snapped, glaring at Outlaw, as CJ’s tears quieted. “They’re little boys.”
“No fuckin’ shit,” Outlaw said. “They gonna be men one fuckin’ day, Johnnie.”
“They’re children,” Johnnie said flatly. “So let them be children.”
“Uncle Johnnie,” CJ called in a pitiful voice. “Monster.”
“Later,” Johnnie responded.
