Page 187 of Ruptured
“You don’t get to speak to me about club business, you little assholes,” Uncle Cash said.
“Even if they’re right?” Diesel demanded. “And by the way, if I find out you put hands on Fee again, you won’t have to worry about Stretch beating your ass, because I’m telling Uncle Chris, and we’ll scoop your ass up.”
The anguish on Aunt Fee’s face was reflected on Uncle Stretch’s. A flicker of fear passed over Uncle Cash, but it was brief. Within moments, he returned to supreme assholery.
“Shut the fuck up, Diesel. Tell your brothers don’t fucking interfere in my family. Ophelia is my fucking woman—”
“Barely,” Axel yelled, still dangling in CJ’s grasp, but wiggling like a fucking worm. “Mom and Dad got rings on their fingers, so does all my other aunts and uncles. Only you and Uncle Stretch got rings, so Aunt Fee ismyaunt, not your woman cuz if you really valued her, you would’ve got a ring for her, and you wouldn’t send her to a kitchen when you got fuckinghands to cook. C. knows how to cook, and he does it for Mom sometimes. Ryder, Ransom, and me are kidnapping Dad and making that motherfucker learn kitchen duties, too. Cuz not only are you a ratfink friend to Dad, you’re a miserable motherfucker to Aunt Fee, so shut up.”
Well.
“You’re too young to understand the relationship I have with your Aunt Ophelia,” Uncle Cash bit out with a little less steam. “I don’t answer to children.”
“Apparently, you don’t answer to nobody,” Axel said sullenly.
“We aren’t stupid, Uncle Cash,” Ransom said with disapproval. “We know you and Uncle Stretch are married and Aunt Fee is your baby mamas. Ax is right. She don’t have a ring and Aunt Fee is sweet and kind. If no one else will defend her, we will.”
“Defend her from what?” Aunt Zoann asked as she walked up with Uncle Val. “What’s going on here?”
“Finally, some fucking justice!” Uncle Cash escaped Uncle Stretch and gestured toward the vandalized house. “They’ve been tormenting me for a fucking hour.”
Uncle Val whistled. “You boys did this?”
“Put me down, C.,” Axel ordered, and marched to Uncle Val the moment his feet touched the ground. “We did,” he said, and explained why, omitting Uncle Cash’s shoving Aunt Ophelia.
Never mind if Dad ever found out,Aunt Zoannwould’ve beaten Uncle Cash’s ass.
“We’ve vetted the brothers, Aunt Fee,” Axel said into the silence. “We have a wonderful man for you. He’s loyal to Dad and everything.”
“Axel, as your attorney, I’m telling you to be quiet,” Diesel ordered.
What alternate reality was CJ living in? His big brother was representing their younger brother because ofwhatagain?
“And asyourclient, I’m telling you to shut up,” Axel retorted. “I pay you a lot of money to get meoutof trouble, not stop me from gettingintotrouble.”
“You pay me five fucking dollars a month. I can’t even buy a meal with that,” Diesel argued. “And repeat what you said in your head. Remember, you wouldn’t need to pay me if you didn’t get into trouble.”
“Exactly, Diesel,” Axel countered. “I’d keep my hard-earned money. Since we both know I will run foul of Dad again, I need your services.”
“Afoul, and—”
“Okay, enough!” Aunt Zoann ordered. “This is going nowhere.”
“Boys, you want to come and help me with Hogzilla?” Uncle Val asked, not in the least fazed.
“Wait a minute!” Uncle Cash cried. “They don’t get off so easily. They disrespected me and fucked up my house. You’ve definitely run afoul of Outlaw, buster.”
CJ bet Dad wouldn’t give a fuck but he kept that to himself.
“I’ll tap some brothers to cover up the spray paint,” Diesel promised.
“That isn’t good enough,” Uncle Cash said.
“It has to be,” Diesel said in a steely tone and indicated the graffiti. “Considering I’d just as soon gut you for your desertion–”
“You’rea club member.Theyare children–”
“Yeah, Outlaw’s children,” Ryder snorted. “And, motherfucker, you fuck over him, you fuck over us.”
