Page 196 of Restless
“To whom do you refer, sir?” Jeremiah asked.
“To whom am I fucking looking at,sir?” Digger said. “If it was left up to me, your ass wouldn’t be here.”
“He’s here because of Jaleena, Uncle Digger,” CJ said with meaning, glancing at Christopher in a silent plea for assistance.
Christopher bet his balls his boy wouldn’t want the assistance he had in mind.
“You’re right, young man. I’m here for my daughter. She means the world to me and I want her happy, though I’m certain you are bad news.”
Christopher jumped to his feet. “Ain’t puttin’ up with your fuckin’ disrespect of my boy a minute fuckin’ longer. Get the fuck out—”
“Dad!”
“Outlaw, Jeremiah doesn’t know CJ,” Knox said. “Give him a chance—”
“Motherfucker ain’t never knowin’ my boy if he ain’t fuckin’ talkin’ to him. I ain’t wanted none of you motherfuckers here right now for a big ass dinner that my woman plannin’. She still fuckin’ healin’ and ain’t needin’ the stress. Since it happened anyfuckinway, I ain’t standin’ for the fuckin’ disrespect.”
“Meggie not even in the fucking room, Outlaw,” Digger said with a noted lack of regard. “You sound like you talking about disrespect toward her, instead of little bruh.”
Christopher squinted. “You fuckin’ stupid or tired of fuckin’ livin’?”
“This is the reason I don’t want my daughter associated with you people,” Jeremiah said. “You’re classless, ignorant, and violent. Jaleena is a queen, better than a two-bit criminal.”
The words arrowed through Christopher. He’d gone to great lengths so he wouldn’t embarrass his wife and children. And, now, he was doing exactly that.
Clenching his jaw, Christopher reseated himself.
“All my daughters are queens,” Jeremiah continued haughtily. “My wife. Cam’s wife. Knox’s wife. Not only that, Roxanne’s quite forgiving.”
Knox glanced between Christopher and Jeremiah. He laughed uneasily. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“Er, I-I thought…I…she didn’t tell you about the night she and JaZuria met?”
Cam whistled. “Oh, that. She told Jordan.”
“No, she didn’t tell me. And, if she told Jordan and you knew, Cookie, why didn’t you tell me?” Knox demanded.
“I don’t repeat what my woman tells me, my brother.”
“Revealing pertinent information is part of the bro code,” Knox said.
Mortician laughed. “The bro code, huh, Knox?”
Digger grabbed a handful of peanuts and shoved them in his mouth. “Roxanne taught you well.”
When he went for another handful, Johnnie slapped his hand away. “Dinner is almost ready—”
“I don’t give a fuck,” Knox interrupted. “I want to know what Miah meant.”
“You never thought it was odd JaZuria calls RoxanneMrs. Harrington, Wafer?” Cam asked, his brows lifted. “You never asked her about it?”
Knox flushed. “I’ve learned my lesson about questioning her.”
“Ain’t the fuckin’ questionin’, Knox,” Christopher said. “It’s the way you fuckin’ questioned her.”
“And the types of fucking questions,” Mortician said. “Usually, dead ass wrong.”
“Anyway, what exactly did your wife do to mine?”
