Page 70 of Remiss
She offered Diesel another small smile. “Will you help, too?”
Smirking, Diesel nodded and indicated she proceed him with a wave of his hand. “After you, auntie,” he drawled.
Once Rory, Devon, and CJ finished their tasks, they surrounded the butcher block table where Celia stood, guarding her just as Uncle Christopher ordered.
The smaller kitchen was much nicer, less industrialized, almost exclusively for Aunt Meggie and used by others only with her permission. Diesel understood why Uncle Christopher didn’t want Celia to go no further, although the big kitchen had nothing important that she could pass along to Bash.
Silent, she uncovered the dishes, sidling come-hither glances at Diesel. She was a stunning woman, tall, green-eyed and dark-haired with a wrinkle-free ivory complexion and enticing curves.
“Can I talk to you alone?” she asked, rearranging the food. Salad, vegetables, starches, meats, and finally desserts. “I won’t bite.”
Diesel smirked at her. “You heard her, boys,” he murmured, not taking his eyes off her. “I’ll handle it from here.”
CJ sighed and rolled his eyes, while Rory and Devon snickered as the three of them left.
“You have five minutes,” Diesel told her.
Turning to him, she laid her palm on her chest. “Never took you for a minute man.”
“As tempting as you are, sweetheart, I’m not interested.” He’d meant he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Jana. “Now what the fuck do you want and why did Bash send you?”
Dropping her hands, she stepped back and swallowed, the starkness on her face not moving him. “I’m not here to fuck over Christopher, Diesel.”
The familiarity with which she said their names annoyed the fuck out of him.
“But he thinks I’m setting him up. Daddy always said a woman’s never more vulnerable than when she’s fucking.” She lowered her lashes and drew in a breath, then lifted a liquid gaze to him. He didn’t like the fear and devastation on her face. “I-I know Tabitha.”
Any smidgeon of sympathy Diesel felt evaporated with those fucking words, and he stiffened.
“She loves you so much. I love my brother. I leftmyhusband to come and look after him to keep that big dummy alive. Daddy would’ve let me die if not for Bash. So, if it means sleeping with you, when I know how much Tabitha adores you…” She raised her hands in supplication. “It isn’t right and my conscience will beat me up later. Right now, I need someone to convince Christopher to–”
“To fucking what?” Diesel sneered. “And, by the way, mentioning Tabitha was a mistake. I despise that cunt. And do you really fucking think your willingness to betray her on behalf ofBashwill win you brownie points? That just makes you as much of a fucking slut as she is.”
“I’m sorry!”
“Fuck you.”
Diesel stalked toward the door, but her teary voice stopped him.
“Have you ever loved anyone unconditionally? Someone you’d give up everything for?”
He refused to acknowledge the face rising in his head and instead cursed her to fucking hell.
“Jared gets so mad at me. H-he’s my husband. He’s a biker. A Scorpion. He accuses me of putting Bash before him or the kids. And, maybe, that’s true. I was days away from dying when Bash found me. I owe him my life. But there’s more to it. If Bash dies, my husband will, too. I know all about Christopher’s revenge when those five idiots kidnapped him. If he kills Bash, he’ll find a way to destroy the entire organization.”
Diesel stormed back to her. “What about if Bash kills him? Me? CJ? You brought your fucking ass here with a goddamn sob story about the motherfucker who instigated this entire situation. If he didn’t want to risk death, he should’ve stayed in motherfucking Salt Lake City. We have a woman who would be destroyed by our deaths, too. Have you ever thought of her?” Narrowing his eyes, he grabbed her throat and her watery eyes widened. “Unless you know Bash plans to kill her,” he snarled, and shook her. “How about I beat him to the draw and sendyourfucking body to him? Let him feel the pain of losing you, like we’d feel the pain of losing her.”
She started to cry, and Diesel growled, shoving her away.
“But I fucking know your death would set that maniac off.” And Aunt Meggie was out there alone. They knew her location, but she needed time to put everything into perspective. Diesel couldn’t risk her life by killing Bash’s precious little sister. “He adores you.Weadore Aunt Meggie. She’sourfucking world.”
“What the fuck keepin’—” Uncle Christopher halted as he stepped into the kitchen and surveyed the scene. “I’m fuckin’ hungry.”
Scrubbing a hand over his face, Diesel backed away.
Celia’s stomach growled and she looked at her toes. Until then, he hadn’t realized she wore no shoes.
“You hungry, too?” Uncle Christopher asked.
