Page 4 of Remiss
Anger marched across Bash’s face, disappearing just as suddenly. “You’re giving up everybody, huh, John Boy? Don’t know why those brainless motherfuckers wore my club’s colors, but I’ll find out and see to it that mistakes like that don’t happen ever again.”
Johnnie gasped. He hadn’texactlydoubted Megan. “So theyareScorpions?”
“Did I say that?”
“Yes, in so many words.”
“Always the smartest cookie in the jar, huh, little brother?”
“Good of you to finally recognize my superior intelligence.”
Bash guffawed. “Only to Marvin the Martian. You likeLooney Tunes, right?”
He elbowed Easton, who was also chuckling.
“Your teasing isn’t funny,” Johnnie spat. “I have a very good sense of humor especially at my own expense, but I’m offended. Jokes are only as good as audience response. Eastonhasto laugh. Do you seemelaughing?”
“Did you hear a joke?” Bash said, still chuckling. “I sure the fuck didn’t. I spoke the truth.”
“You’re a fuckhead.”
Easton’s eyes rounded and Bash’s laughter abruptly stopped.
“You’re lucky we’re kinfolk or I’d fuck you up. Don’t let it happen again.” He narrowed his eyes at Easton, who suddenly found his boots very interesting. “Disrespect like that will get your tongue and an eye removed. Understand?”
“Perfectly, Bash.”
“I don’t!”
“How fucking shocking.”
“Tongue I understand. Why an eye?”
Bash shrugged. “Whynotan eye? Forewarned is forearmed. You see an eyeless, tongueless fuckhead moping around, are you committing the same offense or will you learn from that motherfucker’s mistake?”
Johnnie wouldn’t debate torture and punishment with the motherfucker, though Bash’s retribution had inherent flaws.
“Fuck, Bash, what games are you fucking playing? Tell me now!”
Bash blew smoke in Johnnie’s face. “Don’t have time for the fucking long game, asshole. I strike and get it over. We just have to look at how you’re yanking my nuts to see why my fucking patience is so thin.”
“You were happy enough to take my fucking money.”
“Would’ve had more if you got me the right will and I killed that cunt.”
Johnnie’s nostrils flared. As much as he resented Megan, he didn’t want her dead.Mostof the time, though he had his moments.
“But it’s your lucky day. I’m bored so I’ve decided to play.”
“With?”
Taking a last drag on his cigarette, Bash threw it on the pristine wood floor and stomped it out. “Is it you? Who knows? Could be.”
“I take umbrage to that. I have superior bullshit detection. You couldn’t play me if you tried.”
Bash exchanged a look with Easton, then smiled at Johnnie. “Must be nice to live with that level of delusion.”
“Get out, asshole.”
