He passed a look from Val to Mortician. Neither of them responded.
“Bunny at your house, Outlaw,” Digger said into the silence. “I’m heading that way to spend some time with her.”
Megan reappeared, carrying a plate, using dish towels to hold it to protect her fingers from the heat. She sat Christopher’s at his spot and kissed him.
“This shit smell delicious.” Another kiss. “Go home, baby. Get ready for me to fuck you.”
“Christopher,” Megan said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Yeah, baby?”
“Don’t do anything to Brooks. Please? You weren’t supposed to find out.”
“How was I gonna be kept in the dark? I knew some shit made him not get me out.”
“Yes, but let this go. For me. Please?” she said again.
“You interferin’ in club business again.” Hypocritical motherfucker. If she hadn’t interfered today, his ass would still be locked up.
“I know.”
“And wasn’t you the wicked little bitch who was gonna have Johnnie fuck Brooks up if he didn’t get me the fuck outta jail?”
“Yes, but you’re out. He did what I asked of him.”
Christopher sighed and wrapped his arms around her, as he and Johnnie engaged in silent communication.
Johnnie lifted a brow. Fuck Brooks up or no?
Christopher gave a hard stare. Fuck no. Megan asked me not to.
Johnnie nodded and clenched his jaw. Fuck, my fun is ruined.
Christopher grinned. Some other time, motherfucker.
“Come on, Meggie,” Val said, standing. “I’m ready to leave.”
“Okay,” she said quietly, flushing at Christopher’s close scrutiny, still searching for the evidence he needed to exonerate Val. Or execute him. She turned to Val. “Ready?”
Mort shot to his feet. “I’m heading that way myself. Bailey probably wondering where I’m at. She’s missing Roxanne real bad.” Sighing, he reached the door. “Ready, Meggie girl?”
“Yes,” she answered, turning to Christopher. “I know you have to be tired. Try not to be too much longer. I’m going to wait up for you.”
He nodded. “Gimme twenty minutes. If that.” The moment Megan left, he looked at Johnnie. “Once.”
Eyes lighting up, Johnnie walked to Brooks and punched him in the gut, throwing in a second one for good measure. Brooks crumpled to the floor, coughing and sputtering.
“Can you fuckin’ count?” Christopher snapped. “I said one, assfuck.”
Disappointment pulling his features down, Johnnie backed away. “He needs to fucking bleed.”
“You promised Meggie,” Brooks gasped from the floor.
“Shut the fuck up, Brooks.” Christopher balled his fists at his side, regretting that fucking promise. “I promised her I ain’t doin’ nothin’ to you. Ain’t say fuck-all about Johnnie or Cash. I wanna fuck you up so fuckin’ bad. Cuz, see, I gave you a fuckin’ pass when you fucked over me with fuckin’ McCallister. Shot you in your fuckin’ shoulder. Then, you fuck over me a-fuckin-gain? What kinda brain-dead motherfucker you be?”
Johnnie crouched next to Brooks. Releasing a frightened cry, the attorney raised his hands in an effort to shield his head. Johnnie knocked them away. “If you don’t want me to break these motherfuckers off, keep them down.”
“Johnnie—”
Grabbing his hair, Johnnie yanked Brooks to his feet, rising along with the shaking fuckhead. “How fucking much does this club send you every month?”
“Legitimate fuckin’ bills from the fuckin’ laboratory,” Christopher added, circling like he had Slipper.
“Please, please, please,” Brooks sobbed.
“Answer my damn question, Brooks,” Johnnie barked.
“A lot,” Brooks said around sniffles.
“A lot, huh?” Johnnie sneered. “You shouldn’t be afraid to say how many ass whippings you deserve.”
“We’ll just fuck him up a fuckin’ lot,” Christopher said in a low, deadly tone.
“Do you know why we pay you so much?” Johnnie shook him, using Brooks’ salt-and-pepper hair as leverage. “So you’d drop everything when we call you to handle any club problems. Payoff who the fuck won’t deal with us to take money directly from us. We pay you to put out small fires and raging infernos. We pay you for your troubles. And this is how you repay us?”
“Look here, Brooks.” Christopher halted in front of him. “We was makin’ a good fuckin’ profit at the lab before we put you on the fuckin’ payroll. We barely breakin’ fuckin’ even cuz of the money we send you every month.”