Black Sheep (Rawkfist MC Book 1)

by Bijou Hunter

  Inside, Poppy peels her eyes from the movie long enough to say hi to Felix. We end up on the couch with me wrapped against Court. Felix slides onto the floor so he can pet Hal.

  “Texted Mom,” Journey says, sitting in a nearby chair, “and told her to come home decent since we have an impressionable child in the house.”

  “Jared and Christine went on a date, huh?” Court says, smirking at the date part. “Love is in the air.”

  Felix focuses on Journey and asks, “Do you want a boyfriend?”

  “I don’t like men.”

  “Oh, you’re a lesbian?”

  “No, I don’t like women either.”

  “Are you into bestiality?”

  Poppy laughs while I look at a shocked Court.

  “Felix, where did you even learn that word?” he asks.

  “I was reading a news thing online, and I saw that word. If you highlight a word, you can look up the meaning.”

  “Ah, he’s smart,” I say, patting Court’s chest as he remains horrified at knowing his sweet child has the bestiality definition rolling around in his head.

  Journey shrugs when Felix keeps watching. “I’m not into animals. My life is fine without dating. People are too obsessed with finding someone to make them complete. I’m complete all by my lonesome.”

  Poppy stares at Journey, fighting the urge to say something bitchy. I watch my sisters and wait to see if Poppy’s brain will win over her mouth.

  “Shut up so I can watch my movie,” she finally says and then exhales hard as if she’s injured herself by not mocking Journey.

  Smiling at their truce, I nuzzle Court jaw. “Did you have a nice day?”

  “It was okay,” he says, giving me a little smirk.

  Studying his smiling face, I know he’s hiding something. I love how I can read him. I’m less in love with how he won’t share certain parts of his life. Sure, I logically get the secrecy around the club. Emotionally, I don’t know what it’s like to have secrets.

  I tell my family everything, even things they don’t want to hear. Court’s not me, though. I guess I’ll need to learn to deal with his secrets, just like he’ll deal with my inability to keep anything private.

  30 Black Sheep

  Justice

  Christine 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.

  31 Black Sheep

  Court

  My 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.”