Page 126 of Remorseless
“You’re a miserable fuckhead,” CJ roared.
“Fuck you,” Diesel responded, swinging at CJ.
He bobbed, dodging Diesel’s punch and shoving him again. Chairs scraped and girls squealed. “You and Dad taught me to fight, fuckbag. Be fucking careful about swinging on me.”
Narci stepped between them. “Boys, enough! You two go home all bruised, how the fuck will you explain that to Outlaw?”
“CJ’s probably telling Outlaw anyway,” Joplin said, her high-pitch nasally laugh a classic airhead’s.
“You’re probably right, Joplin,” Diesel snarled, then glowered at CJ and pushed him so hard, he went stumbling back. “Are you, fucker?”
CJ grabbed a handful of Diesel’s shirt and threw him over the table. “I should. If anything happened to you, he’d be devastated.”
Diesel landed on his feet and threw his fist in CJ’s direction. He jerked back just in time.
CJ threw his own punch, clipping Diesel’s jaw. “I would be devastated, too, asshole. You’re my brother.”He ducked, but not fast enough. Diesel’s hit landed on his jaw. “I love you dearly, motherfucker.”
At the last minute, Diesel turned. Instead of flattening his fucking nose, CJ hit the side of Diesel’s head.
“You love me? You see me as your brother?” he asked, blowing hard and searching CJ’s face. As if he couldn’t fathom anyone loving him. Even his own family.
CJ nodded. “Axel would be inconsolable. He idolizes you.”
Eyes flaring in surprise, Diesel shook his head. “Ax idolizes Uncle Christopher.”
“We all love Dad, Diesel. There’s no greater man in my eyes. Uncle Mort comes a close second. For Axel, it’s you. Rebel wasn’t the only one who missed you when you moved out.”
Uncertainty clouded Diesel’s eyes. CJ hated using Rebel to get through to Diesel. No matter how he framed it,Dieselwould take it another way. But he had to reach the stupid motherfucker. “Think about how Rebel would react if you overdosed. Do you want that for her?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw; he shook his head. “No.”
“She’s our little sister,” CJ said, helpless. He had the feeling he couldn’t stop the disaster in the making that was Rebel and Diesel, although he’d try like hell to talk sense into him until her eighteenth birthday. “She’d be devastated.”
Diesel thrust his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, your point is made. I’ll stop.”
“Can you?”
“Yes, I swear. And, if I can’t, I’ll seek help.”
“Did you miss dinner tonight to get high?”
“I was withJana—”
“Who the fuck is that?” CJ demanded. “We had to put up with that bitch while you were fucking another girl?”
The tension eased from Diesel’s shoulders. “Better you than me.”
CJ snickered. “That’syourwife, asshole.”
“More’s the fucking pity.”
“Promise me no more coke, Diesel.”
Diesel blew out a heavy breath.
“You’re interfering with my money, C.” Narci’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Diesel’s my best client.”
“He said he uses recreationally,” CJ reminded them.
