Page 16 of Relentles
Christopher aimed his gun at Brooks.
“Wait, Dad!” Rule cried, rushing forward. “Don’t shoot him yet. I have to pray over him first. He must be shot thirteen times since he’s a Judas.”
“Sit the fuck down, boy,” Christopher ordered as CJ said, “Not now, Rule.”
Once Rule complied, Christopher set his gun down again.
“Potter, take Brooks to the meatshack.”
Johnnie’s blood ran cold, but before he could protest Potter hoisted a still unconscious Brooks over his shoulder and walked out.
“Here, Johnnie,” Cash said quietly, handing him a piece of T-shirt he’d torn from the one he wore. “Press this against the wound until we can get you help.”
“The club’s in danger,” Christopher said with the calmness of a diplomat rather than the insanity of a dictator. “I’m orderin’ a lockdown—”
“You owe me, motherfucker,” Cash said under his breath and stood. “The club’s overflowing with brothers, Outlaw,” he said. “Not everyone brought their families. The logistics will be a nightmare. Not to mention the space needed. I respect you to the highest as a brother, my Prez, and my friend, but I want peace not war. Our last lockdown went on for months. I’m not againstyou, Outlaw. I’m just against the lockdown.”
“I understand, Ghost,” Christopher said, “but it ain’t safe while Bash and Cleaner and all those motherfuckers on the loose. We’ll make it fuckin’ work. As your fuckin’ president, I’m makin’ the call.Lockdown.”
Tourniquet in place, Johnnie wobbled to his feet. “As vice-president, I’m against the call,” he said weakly. “I propose we let those brothers who want to leave to do so. In this particular instance, I believe this is a personal matter—”
“It ain’t!” Christopher snapped. “Accordin’ to Reddin’, Bash gunnin’ for Megan, Matilda, and Kendall to avenge one of his brothers.”
“That you killed for disrespecting Megan,” Johnnie pointed out. “That was personal too, yet you did it at a club meeting.”
At the grumbles, he bowed his head and winced.
“Dad!” Rory called again. “What are you doing?”
“Shut the fuck up, Rory,” Johnnie commanded, averting his gaze from Christopher’s promise of death and feeling like a supreme dickhead. “You don’t fucking question me. I’m your father and the club’s VP. You’re not a member, so I don’t know why the fuck you’re here. Since you are, club rules apply, and I’ll beat your fucking ass for disrespecting me.”
“So, my dad has every right to kick the fuck out of you for disrespecting him, right, Uncle Johnnie?” CJ said dryly.
Johnnie waited a beat, allowing Christopher a chance to reprimand his son. He didn’t. “I beg your fucking pardon?” he said. “The same rules apply to you,nephew.”
As his indignation rose, his pain receded.
Ryan smirked at CJ.
Christopher looked at the disrespectful little motherfucker and lifted a brow. Immediately, CJ clenched his jaw and looked away.
“CJ’s right, though, Johnnie,” a voice called from the crowd. “Prez ordered lockdown. Whether we like it or not, we have to follow his orders.”
Johnnie wanted to be anywhere else and he’d kill not to be in his current predicament. If the club went on lockdown, it would give Christopher time to discover everything Bash wanted. Though his main target was Megan, Kendall and Mattie were still at risk. All Johnnie needed was a smoking gun to either make Bash back off or to bring to Christopher or both. If Johnnie prevailed, Christopher would be too busy looking after Megan toworry about all the fine details of what Bash wanted. Yes, he’d still be out for Bash’s blood, but his focus would be distracted. “He’s using the club’s resources to take care of a personal problem!”
“I’m usin’ the club’s resources to take care of a fuckin’ problem,” Christopher said flatly. “Megan got in the crosshairs.” His narrowed eyed contemplation chilled Johnnie. “Somehow. It might be because I fucked up Cole, but that shit don’t make fuckin’ sense. Whyyoupayin’ Bash to keep the Scorched Devils safe? Those motherfuckers barely fuckin’ allies of the Dwellers. If any motherfucker payin’ up, it should be Derby and the fuckin’ Hounds. Ain’t fuckin’ pointin’ out how that shit don’t make sense either and I ain’t pointin’ out howyouand Brooks involvedmy wifein club business then don’t expect me to use club fuckin’ resources to fuck up every motherfucker involved.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Johnnie should never have told Brooks to involve Megan. “You’re reaching, Christopher—”
When Christopher walked from behind the podium, paused to snatch Ryan by the throat and drag him over to Johnnie, he thought about running. But Christopher might’ve shot him in the back.
“You know what the fuck I think, Johnnie,” Christopher said menacingly, ignoring Ryan’s struggles. “Bash after Megan for club shit. Just like Cee Cee was, but it’s club shit between the Dwellers and the Scorpions. Know what the fuck else I think? Kendall somehow entangled in this web. That’s why you and Brooks involved. I just ain’t figured out if you and Brooks dragged my woman in to protect Kendall. Or if MeganandKendall was in danger from the beginnin’.” He head locked Ryan. “Now,Ryan, you disrespectful lil’ motherfucker, if I break your fuckin’ neck, your ma and old man goin’ to be devastated. But Rule got in the Scorps’ sites by savin’you. You wanna be afuckin’ man, Imatreatyou like a fuckin’ man and stomp the fuck outta you.”
He shoved Ryan away so forcefully that the boy stumbled and fell on his hands on knees.
“Go and get your Aunt Bitsy, CJ,” Christopher said, turning to Ryan and stalking toward him, while CJ followed his father’s orders.
