Black Sheep (Rawkfist MC Book 1) (17 page)

Justice

C
hristine sneaks into the house at three in
the morning. When I wake up for work, she remains dead to the world. We make
every attempt to “accidentally” wake Christine from her drooling and snoring
afflicted sleep. Even Poppy’s blood-curdling scream at the doorway does nothing
more than cause our mother to turn over and mumble something about the TV being
too loud.

“I never want
to be fucked that well,” Poppy says to me on the way to school.

“Watch that
language around Felix,” I mutter, thinking about the sleepy boy climbing on his
father’s Harley this morning. They’re so damn adorable together. “He gets
enough bad influences from his mother.”

“I don’t care
about that. I’m more interested in our mother.”

“She got laid.
It happens. We’ll bug her when we get home tonight.”

Except
Christine isn’t home when I get to the house late in the afternoon.
Poppy shows up not long after I do, having
grabbed a ride from Cowlick’s mom. Journey arrives next, but she doesn’t even
ask about Christine. I wonder if the two of them already gossiped earlier.

“Fess up,” I
say, cornering Journey in the kitchen.

Poppy joins us.
“Yeah, what she said.”

“About what?”

“Did you talk
to Mom today?”

“She said some
crap about youthful fun and how I shouldn’t make too much out of their tryst.”

“Tryst?” I
mutter. “Who the queef talks like that?”

“Our mother
apparently.”

Poppy narrows
her eyes, looking ready to punch someone. “We should tackle her when she gets
home and then force her to explain herself. She owes us complete obedience.
That’s how motherhood works, right?”

“Her sex life
is like our sex lives,” Journey says. “Private.”

“When I lost my
virginity, you all insisted on a play-by-play,” I mutter.

“Yeah, but
that’s only because we’re bored. Tonight, we have a movie to watch so let’s
allow Mom to keep her dignity.”

“Too late,”
Poppy says, walking to the front door to open it for Court and Felix. “Mom lost
that chance when her daughter yelled about condoms in a crowded parking lot.”

Court frowns at
Poppy’s random comment. “Do I even want to know?”

“Probably. Have
you given Felix the sex talk yet? I’ll do it if you want.”

“No,” Court
growls. “Stay away from his brain.”

“He already
knows about bestiality, dude. You might have missed the boat on the big talk.”

Felix laughs at
their exchange, but I think he’s relieved when the topic switches to school and
homework.

“Can I stay
over again?” Felix asks me.

“Of course.”

“Mom was
freaking out when I got home from school earlier. Someone stole her car.”

I look at
Court, who stares right back at me. His expression is unreadable, but he’s obviously
hiding something. When I stare for too long, he gives me an easy smile.

“I’m not
impressed,” I say.

“Give it time.”

Now I’m
smiling, only because he’s irresistible. I’d love to tiptoe to my room so he
can enjoy me naked while I allow him to service me.

Felix has
homework, though. Nearby, Journey cooks dinner while refusing to talk to
anyone. Poppy has homework and wants to talk to everyone to avoid doing it.

By the time
Christine arrives, I’ve nearly forgotten about her playing suck-face with Jared
the day before.

“Oh, yeah, the
hussy,” I mumble, getting up from the kitchen table to follow Journey and Poppy
outside.

A
hickey-covered Christine climbs out of her car and smiles at us. “Guess what I
got?”

“Crabs?” Poppy
deadpans.

Rolling her
eyes, Christine reveals a big jug of what I assume is water.

“We can get
that from the faucet, Mom. Did you bash your head too much against the
headboard during your fling with my father?”

“Hush,”
Christine says, walking to the porch. “This is moonshine. Today, a high school
friend brought in his Coonhound for vaccinations, and we got to talking. Turns
out he had some handy and gave it to me as a thank you.”

“That doesn’t
sound like a real story,” I grumble. “Who carries booze around with them?”

“Is Coonhound a
sex thing?” Poppy asks.

“It’s a dog,
and stop being gross.”

“That’s some
pretentious deflection coming from the lady who humped a convicted felon in a
parking lot yesterday.”

Journey wants
us to stop hassling Christine. She also wants Christine to stop hiding from
what happened. I wait to see what my sister wants more.

“Isn’t
moonshine illegal?” she asks Christine.

“Illegal? Do
you have any idea what your father does for a living?”

“No,” I say
immediately. “Is it fun? Can I do it too? Should I call him and ask?”

Christine gives
me a dark frown. “Stop bugging me.”

“What happened
with Jared Sheerer?” Poppy asks. “Did that boy take advantage of you?”

“Fine! Do you
want to know?”

We nod in
unison, and Christine throws up her hands.

“We fucked!
That’s it! That’s all!”

Somehow
surprised by the truth, Poppy cries, “Oh, barf!”

“Was it any
good?” Journey asks.

“Do you really
want me to tell you about your father’s sexual abilities?”

“Yes, very much
so,” I say, and Journey nods.

“He’s great in
bed. We always have fun in bed. It’s out of bed where things get complicated.”

“So you had
fun, but you and Dad can’t make things work. Is that what you’re saying?” Journey
asks.

“Yes.”

“Was it so
difficult to just say those words?”

“No, I guess
not. Although it’s awkward since he’s your father.”

“He’s not my father,”
Poppy says, now standing in the house. “You could have told me, and I’d have
kept your secret.”

“Bullshit.”

“Language,
Mother. We have a child in the house.”

Christine
glances through the screened door and smiles at Felix. After she says hello to
the two dudes in our kitchen, she looks at Journey and me.

“We had fun,
but it’s just fun. Nothing’s changed.”

“Fair enough.
Can we drink your black market booze now?” Journey asks.

Christine nods,
giving us a little smile.

“I wouldn’t
drink that if I were you,” Court says while we pour a few ounces into three
cups.

“Do you want
some?” I ask him as he joins us outside.

“Who made it?”

“Walton
Deacon,” Christine says, sipping the moonshine.

Court snags my
cup and pours the drink in the yard.

“Hey, I was
planning to rot my brain with that queef!”

“Wally has no
system to his moonshine,” Court says, frowning at me frowning at him. “He dumps
a bunch of things together, using no measurements and calls it moonshine. It’s
not safe to drink.”

Journey studies
the drink in her hand and then tosses the liquid into the yard next to mine.

“It’s burning
the grass,” she says before taking Christine’s cup. “You're reckless. Fucking
Jared is one thing but drinking this shit is another. Don’t forget you have an
annoying teenager to finish raising.”

Christine rolls
her eyes. “I’m not a child.”

“Neither are
we,” I point out. “We’re adults and super mature, so do what we say before we rat
you out to our mommy.”

Laughing,
Christine hugs me, and I let her despite wondering how many times she’s
showered since Jared nailed her. I love my dad, but I don’t need his sex
cooties on me.

Once Christine
heads inside with Journey to finish cooking dinner, I stand outside with Court
and watch the moonshine eat the grass.

“You’re my
hero.”

“If you want
decent moonshine, ask your dad for some. His doesn’t taste like poison and
won’t kill you.”

“My dad fucks
well and makes good moonshine. Huh, well, I’ve learned many things today that I
really could have lived without.”

Court wraps me
in his arms and kisses my forehead. “That’s why they say ignorance is bliss.”

Resting my head
on his chest, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. My life has always been more
glass half full than half empty. Even without much to complain about in the
past, my present includes a man I love, his sweet kid, a solid job, and my
family. Except for Court’s bitch ex and the big jug of moonshine I need to
dispose of, my life is perfect.

Court

M
y personal amusement at stealing Becca’s car
costs others quite a few headaches. Astrid looks a wreck when I arrive to pick
up Felix. Inside the house, Becca rants to someone on the phone. In the small
yard, Otto and Matilda lifelessly sit and stare at the passing traffic. Felix
doesn’t look much happier when he exits the house.

“Mom is trying
to figure out who took her car,” he says even though he already told me this
information in a text. “She thinks it’s her ex-boyfriend or that girl from the
Cracker Barrel.”

“Or the friend
she’s fighting with over fifty dollars,” Astrid adds, sounding exhausted.

“Fuck you!”
Becca screams into the phone as she storms out of the house. “Hello, asshole.”

I don’t respond
as she stomps out of the yard. We watch Becca peel out of the driveway in
Astrid’s car and speed up the street.

“Have fun at
the fair,” Astrid says to Felix.

Studying the
other kids, I’m struck by a mixture of guilt and pity. These children are as
miserable as Felix, but their fathers don’t visit them. Matilda’s father likely
doesn’t know or care that she exists. Otto’s dad only provides child support
because the state takes it out of his paycheck. Virtually fatherless, they’re
stuck with a bitch mother and a depressed grandmother.

“Would it be
okay for me to take Otto and Matilda to the fair?” I ask Astrid.

Her expression
is the only yes I need. Felix looks relieved about my question too.

After I call Justice
to see if she’ll bring her car, Astrid cleans up her grandchildren. Soon, Justice’s
SUV is packed with kids while I follow behind her on my Harley. No way am I
leaving it behind where Becca might exact her revenge.

“I should have
asked if you were okay with this first,” I admit to Justice once we get
organized at the fair. “They looked so pathetic, and I acted without thinking.”

“I’m glad you
feel the need to apologize for being a good guy,” she says, messing with me.
“This will be good practice for when I’m a mom.”

“Every time you
say you want to be a mom, I want to fuck a baby into you.”

“Of course, you
do.”

“No, trust me
that having another kid scared me for a long time,” I say, wanting her to
understand how much I feared another girl showing up with a positive pregnancy
test.

“Makes sense.
Your first kid is great, but your first baby mama is an unhinged
queef-sniffer.”

Grinning, I
wish I could nibble Justice’s throat. Hell, I want to do way more than that,
but the children are waiting.

Journey arrives
with Christine and Poppy. She looks at the kids and then at Justice. The
sisters shrug in unison.

“Oh, they’re
precious,” Christine says, bending down to smile at the kids.

“Who’s she?”
Otto grunts.

The blond kid
is a male mini-Becca, and I don’t envy the woman who ends up falling for him
one day.

Christine
introduces herself. Rubbing his buzzed head, Otto only frowns. I watch him and
realize I kinda hate the little turd. My animosity at his mother has made her
offspring suspect in my mind. Felix is only amazing because he takes after me
more than his shithead mother.

“Stop
frowning,” Justice says, caressing my forehead. “Look at how the little girl is
holding my hand. She has good taste.”

The always
frowning brunette studies Justice, who smiles down at her.

“Her name is
Matilda,” I say.

“I know,” Justice
whispers before leaning closer and adding, “Isn’t that sad?”

Laughing at her
expression, I realize everyone’s broken into their small groups. Poppy and
Felix are talking about the upcoming Call of Duty release. Christine tries to
make nice with Otto while Journey is already walking toward the fair’s
entrance.

I remain close
to Justice and Matilda. Feeling paranoid, I know despite the family atmosphere,
the fair is popular with thieves. The lack of police presence tends to bring
out the criminals, and I’m on the lookout for anyone with sticky fingers.

“I want a hot
dog!” Otto yells at Christine.

“We’ll eat in a
bit.”

“Now!” he says,
kicking her leg.

I move to grab
him, but Christine already has the seven-year-old under her arm and is heading
for a nearby bench. Journey walks with her mother and blocks Otto’s attempts to
escape.

Felix looks to
me, panicked that his little brother’s behavior will force us to leave.

“Mom can handle
a brat,” Poppy tells Felix. “Look at how she managed to raise Justice.”

Justice gives
her sister a side-glare before kneeling down to calm a whining Matilda. The
little girl also assumes we’ll go home because of Otto’s bad behavior.

On the bench,
Christine holds Otto still on her lap. Based on her expression, she’s calm
while speaking to him. Whenever the thrashing boy looks ready to break free, Journey
plays the goalie role.

“Who wants to
go on the Ferris wheel?” Poppy asks.

Felix looks at
me and then back at Otto. The kids are so damn tense, and I can’t imagine what
an average day in that house must be like.

“You guys can
go for a ride,” I tell Felix. “I’ll wait here until Otto calms down.”

Felix glances
at his crying brother, still trying to break free from Christine’s grip.

“Okay,” Felix says,
sounding defeated before walking with Poppy to the ride.

“Why is
everyone so crabby?” Justice asks me. “It’s a tantrum. I have those on a daily
basis. Poppy freaked out this morning because the dog stepped on her foot.
Sometimes, people just need to let off steam.”

Despite my
anxiety, I smile at Justice. She sees the world in a way I never can. When I
look up at a dark sky, I worry about the rain causing damage and car accidents.
She thinks a storm will be good for the plants plus thunder makes watching a
horror movie extra fun.

“I love you,” I
say, caressing a lock of her hair.

Justice grins.
“I love you too.”

Matilda tugs Justice
down and hugs her. The child will never be like her mother. She’ll likely end
up like Astrid, going from one abuser to another in a desperate attempt to find
someone to love her.

Justice picks
up the child and bounces her on her hip. “I’ve got this thing down pat. I just
need someone to do the midnight feedings, change poop diapers, and deal with
the crying. Otherwise, I’m solid.”

I kiss her
forehead and look over at where Otto sits quietly next to Christine. He’s
listening to a bent-over Journey, who is eye to eye with the boy. Whatever she
says, the boy nods and then looks at us. Standing up, he calmly walks with
Christine and Journey.

“All better,”
Christine says.”

“Nicely done,” Justice
tells her mother and gives her a high-five. “Poppy and Felix are on the Ferris
wheel. Let’s go meet them and then play a few games before we eat.”

Journey again
walks ahead of everyone, and I get the feeling she’s on guard as much as I am.

When Matilda
gets heavy in Justice’s arms, I put the little girl on my shoulders. At first,
she’s terrified, but Justice holds her hand until she settles down and realizes
she can see everything from her perch.

“Such a sexy
daddy,” Justice whispers. “Later, it’ll be my turn to sit on you.”

I try not to
laugh and jiggle Matilda, but Justice is giving me some seriously odd sexy
faces. That or she’s passing a kidney stone.

The next thirty
minutes at the fair are easy fun. I keep waiting for Otto to lose his shit
again, but he’s calmer than I’ve seen him in a long time.

“Friend of
yours?” Journey asks when we stand near the ball toss game.

Following her
gaze, I spot Donovan wearing a ball cap and sunglasses. His incognito outfit
makes him look like a cop. Or maybe a con on the run. Either way, I gesture for
him to join us.

“He’s my
cousin.”

“Cop or con?”
she asks.

“Cop.”

“People really
don’t like the police around here, huh?”

“No.”

Donovan removes
his sunglasses, instantly looking less suspicious.

“I didn’t want
to bother you during…” He glances at my crew and frowns. “Family time, I
guess.”

“This is Justice,”
I say, introducing him to my bouncing girlfriend.

“I have a
natural talent for this game,” she tells Donovan. “Why is your hat on so low?
Are you hiding from the cops?”

Donovan grins
at me and fixes the cap. “Something like that.”

I make quick
introductions of the rest of Justice’s family and Becca’s kids. Donovan gives
me a weird look when I tell him whose children they are.

“As if you
don’t have enough problems,” he mutters.

“Surprised
you’d be at the fair.”

“I like cheap
food and games too. I’m a cop, not a machine.”

“You can hang
out with us if you’d like. No doubt you’ll blend in better if you aren’t lurking
alone.”

Donovan nods
and buys tickets for the ball throw. He gets three in a row and smiles at Justice.

“I’ve got
natural talent too.”

“Show off,” she
grunts, turning toward me.

For a moment,
I’m leery of Donovan smiling at my woman. Possessiveness isn’t something I’m
accustomed to, and the heat of my jealousy surprises me. Justice’s evident
disinterest in him helps ease the anger in my gut.

I might be more
experienced with relationships than Justice, but everything still feels new and
overwhelming. I never needed anyone as much as I need her. I’ve never dreamed
of any woman the way I dream of her nearly every night. Never once have I
considered cutting a man’s throat for smiling at my girlfriend, but when
Donovan bragged a moment earlier, I was very aware of the blade in my back
pocket.