Page 123 of Restless
“And I’m Joey,” the little white boy said. He sat directly across from Bash between the gray-eyed man and a brown-haired, brown-eyed man who wore a Scorpion’s cut. “Joe’s my dad.”
“Why don’t we all play nice and introduce yourselves to my boy?” Daddy said.
“This summit isn’t on your fucking dime,” Sharper said. “I make the fucking rules.”
Bash pursed his lips, surprised at the minister’s harshness. “Aren’t you a holy man?”
Sharper stiffened, his stare cold and malevolent. “Shut the fuck up, asshole.”
Smoking his cigarette, Daddy caught Bash’s eye and gave him an imperceptible shake of his head before walking behind the brown-haired man. “Hello, Fred.”
Fred swallowed. “Cee Cee.”
“How’s my boy?”
“Christopher’s fine. Almost thirteen.”
“Christopher?” Bash echoed. He hadn’t heard that name in years. Sometimes, he remembered a dark-haired kid that Daddy had left him in charge of named Christopher, although Bash couldn’t quite put together the circumstances. He hadn’t been sure if it was just his imagination. Now, he knew it wasn’t. “That baby I played with when I was eight?”
“Your brother,” Daddy said.
Bash had lots of brothers, so it wasn’t a great earth-shattering moment to discover the boy he thought about from time to time was one as well.
“The one I put old Fred in charge of watching,” Daddy continued, squeezing Fred’s shoulder.
The man flinched. “I have. He’s been well looked after, Cee Cee.”
“I wish he would die,” Joey said.
“Shut up, son,” Joe snapped.
Daddy cocked his head to the side. “You want my boy to die, kid?”
Joey raised defiant eyes to Daddy. “Yes,” he hissed. “I fucking hate him.”
“I see.” Daddy glared at Joe, then looked at Bash. “We call him Boss, son. The old motherfucker is Logan Donovan. The fat, pig-eyed fuckhead is Wally.” He smiled. “Excuse me,Rack. The skinny, pig-eyed shithead is his son, Wally, Jr. The quiet, thoughtful one is Kaleb Paul. K-P. The little black kid in the suit is Roddie Banks.”
“Cleaner,” Boss said, leaning back and folding his arms. “He’s one, clean little motherfucker.”
“Look who his Daddy is,” Sharper boasted, dusting the lapels of his expensive suit coat.
“Not only were you fucking your fat slut, but you’ve been sticking your cock in another cumrag,” Logan growled.
“Jesus Christ, Vivian is Logan’s wife,” K-P said with disgust. “Mother to his sons. Show her that much respect.”
“Dad?” Roddie said, his eyes wide and filled with fear.
“Why don’t you and Joey go to the bedroom, boy?” Sharper said.
The two little boys stood and left the table, heading for a door on the opposite side of the room.
“I should fucking shoot you for bringing that cunt up in front of my seven-year-old son,” Sharper snarled, glaring at K-P.
Daddy sauntered around to Joey’s vacated seat and sat next to Bash, before leaning over and dragging an ashtray closer where he discarded his cigarette. K-P had no reaction to Sharper’s words, while Logan grinned.
“What’s the reason for the meeting, Sharper?” Daddy asked.
“I have several things I want to discuss,” Sharper admitted. “I didn’t realize you were bringing Bash.”
