Misfit(182)
“Slipper comes in here from time-to-time.”
“Fuck.”
“He’s a real loyal brother,” Derby said. “Admires you. He was here a bit ago. That’s why it surprised me to see you. Slipper told me a story, a variation of what he’s been saying for a while. This one’s more…troubling.”
Christopher knew what it was. They’d all seen how Cash and Stretch had acted at the hospital. Then, today, during church, those two motherfuckers couldn’t stay away from each other. He couldn’t protect fuckheads who didn’t want to be fucking protected. “Spit it the fuck out,” he growled, pretending to be clueless.
“When Slipper went to get Ghost from his house, Stretch’s bike was parked in front the door.”
“So? The motherfuckers friends.”
Derby shrugged. “There’s a lot more. He’s gathering evidence to bring to you that Ghost and Stretch are fucking, so far he hasn’t gotten what he needs, but he claims he’s hot on their trail.”
“The motherfucker on the wrong fuckin’ trail. His ass should be findin’ fuckin’ Noah, not worryin’ if two brothers fuckin’.” Wait until he got his fucking hands on Slipper. He’d go the way of fucking Cowboy and his cronies.
Then, when Fee was out of the woods, Christopher intended to kick Cash and Stretch the fuck out of the club for their own fucking safety.
Fuck, for making him have to lose Cash and Stretch, Slipper’s death would be so painful.
He got to his feet, his fingers twitching to pull his weapon. “Don’t be spreadin’ fuckin’ rumors about my brothers, Derby.”
Standing, Derby held up his hands. “I’m not. I just thought you should know. Personally, if it was me—”
“It ain’t you. If you lay a fuckin’ hands on my brothers cuz of fuckin’ rumors, I’ma fuck your entire club up.”
“Fuck, Outlaw! Sit.”
At Christopher’s growl, Derby sighed.
“Please? I’d never get on your bad side. I didn’t say that to offend you.”
Christopher scowled between Derby and Jax. “Get back on my good side and scope out fuckin’ Noah.”
Taking his life in his hands, Derby grabbed Christopher’s arm. As a fellow president, he had a certain status. However, no man grabbed another motherfucker without expecting to die.
“I’m forty-five years old, Outlaw,” Derby whispered. “With a twenty-six-year old son. A gay son. I’d kill any motherfucker who went after him. My members are aware. I gave them a choice when my kid first came out. They could patch out and pretend not to know if they wanted to live. Or they could stay and look the other way. They didn’t have to agree with my kid, but if they fucked with him, I’d kill them. Plain and simple.” Releasing Christopher, he licked his lips. “Slipper also said Cash and Stretch have been fucking Ophelia. Together. Take it from me. The brother’s intentions are good. He thinks he’s doing you a favor by spying. Warn your brothers to lay low. Slipper won’t move without solid proof and he doesn’t want to piss you off. He’s fucking scared of you. After you avenge Ophelia, give your members the choice I gave mine. I know your brothers aren’t your kid, but if they mean anything to you—to your little sister—take my advice.”
For a long moment, Christopher stared at Derby, rolling his words over in his head. He nodded, clapping the man’s back. “Thanks, brother,” he said.
Sometimes, a little advice went a long fucking way.
When Megan was stabbed, Christopher couldn’t sit around the hospital and wait for status updates about how she fared. He didn’t have children to see to nor had it settled into him that she was his heart and soul. Her shooting revealed just how much she meant to him and how lost he would’ve been without her. News of his sisters’ and nieces’ deaths had come while she’d still been in the hospital. He’d locked himself in his room and taken out his grief and frustration alone. Not necessarily in peace, but in solitude, broken only by his rage.
Arriving home after visiting Fee and then Derby, Christopher didn’t have the luxury of pondering all that had been discussed in the past few hours. Megan was ordering him to get ready for dinner over the music she had blasting. His children were running through the house, screaming at the top of their lungs. Digger was entertaining Ryder, while Bunny set the table before rounding up the kids so they could eat.
The entire noisy process took twenty minutes. Christopher didn’t feel like eating. He wanted to go to his room and lock himself inside. Or go to his office at the club.