Page 100 of Remorseless
“We need to talk about the future. Specifically, our future roles,” he started.
“We can’t join the club, bro,” Mattie said. “Unless you intend to change the rules?”
“Dream on,” Ransom said with a snort.
Rory glared at Ransom, then smiled at Mattie. “No, Matt. Girls will never patch into the Dwellers, but think about Mom, Aunt Zoann, and Aunt Meggie.”
“Aunt Kendall’s an attorney. Momma has a good head for numbers, and Aunt Zoann is a nurse practitioner?” Rebel guessed, her interest piqued. “They contribute to the club in their own way.”
“Exactly—” CJ started.
“Mommie’s a psychologist,” Harley inserted, barely audible.
Lou scowled. “Mom’s disqualified herself. She doesn’t act like an auxiliary like the rest of the wives anymore.”
Harley’s face fell.
CJ moved on. “Aunt Bunny’s a teacher,” he added, not only for Mark JB’s benefit but because CJ hadalways shared a special bond with her. He wanted no one to only see her as his mother’s underling.
“What does all this mean?” Devon asked.
“A bunch of bloated bullshit,” Ryan scoffed, recovered from his encounter with Rule.
“It isn’t bullshit,” Rory insisted. “My dad runs the medical lab. Your dad is good with wiring and installations. Uncle Stretch knows how to hack into anything. Uncle Cash is the explosives technician. Sooner or later, they will step down. We have to make sure we can fulfill those roles in the event we can’t tap the general membership.”
“I definitely think members with a variety of skills should be recruited,” Mark JB said.
Lou nodded. “And tax brackets.”
“Mattie can hack into anything,” Rebel volunteered. “She wants to study cybersecurity. Maybe, she can’t join the club, but she can assist.”
Rory looked at JJ, smiling at his little brother taking notes on an iPad.
“So, you’re mapping out the future and you invited me to take part?” Ryan asked, his tone unreadable.
“Aren’t you part of our family, assface?” Axel demanded.
Ryan scowled. “I’ve never felt like it. No one ever listens tome.”
“You rarely have a fucking thing to say,” Rebel replied. “Except hate and bitterness. Really, fuckhead, who wants to listen to that?”
Ryan stiffened. “Rebel—”
“You’re either a part of the group or you aren’t, Ryan,” CJ interjected. “You have something different to discuss, call your own fucking meeting. If you can’t contribute to this topic, shut the fuck up atmymeeting or get the fuck out.”
Ryan backed against the wall. He glanced away, then sighed. “Sometimes, I think about otherbusinesses the club should pursue. Especially strip clubs. I also think I know of a way to cut out some of the middlemen for our drugs.”
“Unless we create our own, I have no idea how we can do that,” Rebel said.
“Youcan’t do anything, Reb,” Ryan retorted. “You don’t have a cock, so you can’t join.”
“Don’t waste your time explaining that to the Blonde Viper,” Ryder said. “She has a girl brain. It’s hard for her to comprehend she can’t interfere in men’s business.”
Mutiny gathered in Rebel’s eyes, but CJ threw her a warning look. She huffed but remained silent.
“We don’t run women, Ryan,” CJ said, hoping to speed the conversation along before Rebel lost her battle not to punch the fuck out of Ryder.
“Dude, we don’t have to run them,” Ryan countered. “We can offer high-end girls in an exclusive club. Bill them as mysterious and out of reach. Treat them good, pay them well, and dress them up pretty.”
