Kendall hovered in the doorway, a part of her wanting to reach out to Megan and, at least, hold her little boy while she threw her guts up, but she couldn’t do it. Especially not now when the barbeque designed to showcase her worthiness was such a miserable failure.
She backed away and stared at the door. Maybe, she should’ve accepted Megan’s offer to cook the brisket, but, just as she intended, she’d shut her out, convincing Bunny and the others Meggie needed rest. While they declined Megan’s offers out of concern for Megan, to Megan, it seemed as if they were spurning her.
Now, because of it, Kendall’s barbeque was a disaster. Tension hung in the air like a poisonous cloud. Instead of having fun, everyone danced around…Megan.
It frightened Kendall to think what might happen if Johnnie discovered her role in Megan’s behavior. He kept his distance from the girl because he knew Kendall needed his show of loyalty. He stayed at Kendall’s side in the evenings and called everyone over to introduce her, if they didn’t already know her.
He bent over backwards to make her feel happy. When she wondered if she had happiness in her. She didn’t know how to be happy and doubted she ever had.
The door opened and Kendall jumped back. She’d been staring at the door like a dork, not moving one way or the other.
“Ma ma ma ma ma,” Little Man chanted around screams, yanking at Megan’s hair with one hand.
The entry door opened and Meggie gazed in that direction, a touch of happiness lighting her eyes.
“Meggie girl.” Mortician smiled.
She sagged in relief. “You’re back,” she said, then glanced around. “Where’s Bailey?”
Mortician scooped Little Man out of her arms and nodded toward the door. “Out there.” Little Man grabbed Mort’s dreads, stuffing his little fist in his mouth. “Yeah, boy, teeth hurt like a motherfucker when they coming in.”
“Mortician!”
“Aww, Meggie, girl, I’m telling the truth.” He gave her an under eyed look. “You didn’t open your mouth, did you?”
Megan rolled her eyes. “You know better than that.”
“Go to bed,” he said gruffly. “I’m gonna talk to Prez.”
“No, don’t. I…please…I don’t want to hurt him. I’ll…I’ll work through it. I…Mr. Gillson just shocked me and I knew what Christopher…how he…my daddy—“
Instead of allowing Mortician to continue and coddle Megan over a grave mix up and feeling left out, Kendall stepped forward and hugged the man, encompassing the baby as well.
“What’s up, Red?” he asked, hugging her back and kissing her cheek.
“E-excuse me.” Megan squeezed past them and went to her mother. She whispered something to her, then headed for the exit.
“Meggie!” Dinah screamed the moment she lost sight of her daughter.
“Yo’, Dinah,” Mortician called, sauntering over to the woman and placing his hand on her shoulder. She jumped. “She coming right back. She getting Bailey for me. Remember? K-P’s daughter?”
Dinah trembled, then screamed, encouraging Little Man’s hollering.
Kendall decided Outlaw had radar where his wife was concerned. He barreled through the kitchen door—since that way led to the barbeque—and paused to grin at Mortician.
Outlaw slapped his hands with Mortician’s. “Bout time you got back, motherfucker.”
“You missed me, Prez?”
Outlaw set his tequila bottle down. “Fuck yeah.” He lifted Dinah into his arms and tightened his hold when she started struggling. “Get the fuck to work. Bring me a fuckin’ fizzy special.” He nodded to Little Man who struggled as much as his grandmother. “Don’t fuckin’ drop my boy. Where Megan?”
“Outside,” Mortician responded.
Pausing, Outlaw lifted a brow. “For?”
Mortician shifted Little Man and scowled. “To get fucking Bailey.”
Outlaw stared, speechless and shocked. “Kendall, get your man, Digger and Val in here,” he ordered after a moment, hooting with laughter. “Time to pay up, motherfucker.”
Not saying anything else, he carried Dinah away, cursing roundly at another ear-splitting scream.
“Fuck.” Clutching Little Man, Mortician stomped behind the bar. “C’mon, now, boy, give Uncle Mort a break.”
By the time Kendall went through the kitchen and rounded up Johnnie and the others, Little Man’s whining continued, Bailey and Megan sat at a table and Outlaw was walking back into the room, carrying a Styrofoam cup.
Kendall intercepted Johnnie as he headed to their table and put her arms around his waist, leaning into him to kiss him. Her body responded to the small contact. She wanted him so badly.
Val reached Bailey and kissed her cheek. “How are you doing?”
“Idiot,” Megan chirped, glaring at him.
He chortled with laughter. “Maybe, Meggie, but I’m a fucking idiot about to be 5Gs richer.”
“What are they talking about, Johnnie?” Kendall asked, wondering why Mortician hadn’t shared the 411 on Bailey with her.
“A fucked up bet, sweetheart.” He stepped away from her and smirked at Val. “You’re not the only one, fuckhead. I’m part of the fucking bet, too.”
“What bet?” Kendall tried again.
“I’ll tell you about it in our room, gorgeous,” he promised in a distracted manner, caught up in the insults flinging back and forth between them.
Megan stood, pulling Bailey up with her. “C’mon. Let’s leave them to trade insults.”
“Okay,” Bailey agreed, starting behind Megan.
“Hey!” Outlaw yelled. “Ain’t you fuckin’ forgettin’ somebody, baby?”
A frown creasing her brow, Megan turned. “Who?”
He pointed the bottle in Kendall’s direction. “Her.”
Instead of inviting her back, Megan shook her head. “She has her barbeque to preside over, Christopher,” she hissed and rushed away.
An hour later, Johnnie glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the pool tables, where Val, Digger, Christopher and Stretch flanked Mortician. Kendall stood behind the bar, though, and she didn’t want him out of her reach.
Despite how badly he wanted to shoot the shit with the guys, Kendall feeling safe took precedence.
He felt bad on her behalf. Her first event—a bust. He gulped down his beer, knowing the problem. Megan. Although he didn’t know what Bunny meant, he didn’t appreciate Megan’s latest infraction.
Kendall leaned on the bar, directly in front of him, aiming for a kiss, which he was happy to give to her. Maybe, later, he’d try to make love to her. He didn’t want to set her off, but he needed to be inside of her. Jerking off only went so fucking far. He caressed her cheek.
“I want you,” he whispered, wishing she understood just how much.
Her eyes lit up and a flush stained her cheeks. “I want you, too.”
“John Boy!” Christopher called. “Get the fuck over here. I want to talk to you, then leave you the fuck alone to get to my gorgeous fuckin’ girl.”
Mortician whispered and they laughed, even Christopher.
“You fuckin’ right, motherfucker,” he said with a smirk.
Glancing between Kendall and the guys, Johnnie felt left out. He knew they were being lewd and crude, and he wanted to join in. Kendall needed him, but, fuck, if he didn’t want to spend some time with the boys.
“Johnnie, come the fuck over here,” Val demanded, laughing like a lunatic.
Irritation flashed in Kendall’s eyes but she covered it with a wink at Johnnie. “I call dibs on him.”
“Don’t be like that, Red,” Mortician complained.
“Just a few minutes, Kendall.” Johnnie planted another kiss on her lips. Getting to his feet, he hurried to the pool area.
“Johnnie, Johnnie, ever so tall, who’s the fairest one of all?”
Kendall’s words took Johnnie aback. She had issues to work through, yes, but her need for attention got fucking exhausting. More than that, her
need to compete with Megan. Although the very thought was blasphemous because of Megan’s huffy attitude lately, Johnnie suspected Christopher calling his wife gorgeous set Kendall’s insecurities off. Again.
“My fuckin’ wife,” Christopher answered into the sudden silence.
Kendall’s face fell and anger and frustration stole away his anticipation of talking amongst his brothers.
“Shut the fuck up, Christopher,” he growled and paused his advance toward the pool tables.
“Don’t worry,” Kendall responded with a forced smile. “He’s her husband. He had to say that.”
Mortician tipped back his bottle of vodka, then snorted. “Yo’, Red, you don’t learn, do you?”
Balling his fists, Johnnie glared at him, remembering he needed to take Mortician aside and warn him to keep the fuck away from Johnnie’s woman. “What the fuck’s that supposed to mean, asshole?”
“Just what the fuck I said, John Boy,” Mortician snapped, his body tensing up. He glowered between Johnnie and Kendall. “Red need to stop fucking competing with Meggie. Life’ll be much fucking easier around this motherfucker.”
“Ain’t no competition between no bitch and Megan.”
Nothing new, but the finality of Christopher’s statement grated.
“Megan fuckin’ first always, hands-fuckin-down.”
“No need to start an argument,” Kendall inserted, chuckling. “Just because you feel that way, Outlaw, doesn’t mean they do.” She beamed a smile in Johnnie’s direction, the uncertainty in her brown eyes hitting Johnnie in the center of his chest. “Johnnie thinks I’m first and I’m the most beautiful one. You, too, right, Mortician?”
For a moment, everyone went silent and Johnnie wondered if they’d let her comment pass. On the other hand, Kendall was as out of touch with reality as Dinah Nicholls—only at the opposite end of the spectrum.
She fought through her emotions in her own way, reaching a turning point and graduating from fear of her own shadow to anger at her plight. That anger came across as bitterness and a rejection of almost everyone’s kindness.
Dinah had just given up. Checked out of talking, thinking, damn near living. Unlike Kendall. Filled with self-doubt and uncertainty, she needed constant attention and reassurance.
“Kendall—” Johnnie began.
“Wait, John Boy, I gotta answer Red.” Mortician stepped next to him and gave Kendall a level look. “I told you you gorgeous, Kendall. So’s Meggie, though. And, Bailey,” he added on a swallow. “Zoann beautiful, too. That don’t make you any less gorgeous, but, no I don’t think you the most gorgeous.”
“What’s going on out here?” Megan called from the doorway. She stepped amidst their circle and looked from one to the other, throwing Kendall a dirty look. “Another party I’m not invited to participate in.”
“I’m fuckin’ sick of this bullshit, Megan,” Christopher snarled, jerking her away from Mortician. “From this bitch and from you cuz you fuckin’ better than this. Fuckin’ ruinin’ what coulda been a decent fuckin’ barbeque if you woulda just gave us one of your pretty smiles. All this competition bullshit endin’. NOW, Megan. You fuckin’ first in my eyes. I thought you, amongst any-fuckin-body would fuckin’ reach out to Kendall. Just when I’m fuckin’ distracted with Club Business, you been actin’ like a spoiled little bitch, poutin’ cuz Kendall gettin’ some attention.”
Anger flared in Megan’s blue eyes. “I have not!”
Mortician winced. “Prez—“
Christopher scowled at Mortician and the man snapped his mouth shut.
“The fuck you haven’t been actin’ fuckin’ spoiled, Megan,” Christopher continued, looming over a foot taller than Megan, but she still looked ready to clock him. “I’m tellin’ you this fuckin’ bullshit comin’ to a stop here and now. Ain’t no bitch replacin’ you, but that don’t fuckin’ mean there ain’t no room for other bitches in our fuckin’ circle.”
“Christopher—”
“Don’t fuckin’ Christopher me.”
“Shut up,” she snarled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, so shut up.” To emphasize her point, she shoved him.
Well, she tried to. One thing about her, Megan had a fucking temper.
“The fuck I don’t know, baby. I got two fuckin’ eyes. I see how the fuck you been actin’. I’m orderin’ you to cut it the fuck out. To-fuckin-night.”
Megan blinked. “Ordering me?” she asked in a strangled voice before narrowing her eyes.
“Aww, fuck, Prez, why you always got to stick your dick up your ass with Meggie?” Mortician asked.
Megan jerked Christopher’s bottle out of his hands and splashed the contents on him. “You big jerk!” she cried, slapping his hands when he yanked the bottle away.
He wiped his wet face on his arm. “Calm the fuck down, Megan. You pregnant, remember? This simple shit. Behave. Welcome Kendall. Act like you have a fuckin’ brain and everythin’ gonna be fine again.”
Megan stiffened, hurt and furious. “Why can Kendall work behind the bar and I can’t?” she blurted.
Christopher rolled his eyes “You ain’t workin’ behind a fuckin’ bar,” he spat, kicking the chair in anger. “Motherfuckers adore you just cuz you you.”
Did Megan cower? Of course not. She picked up the closest bottle and lobbed it at Christopher.
Kendall’s eyes rounded and she went white as a sheet. Johnnie wondered if he should remove her or let her see this play out. Would it help her to understand she could go batshit, over-the-top wild, and no one, no one would hurt her?
“Mortician hugged Kendall. He’s never hugged me!”
Christopher yanked her toward Mort and shoved her into the man’s arms. “Hug my wife, motherfucker, so she can be happy.”
Mortician rocked back on his feet, not touching Megan just looking at the top of her head suspiciously before glancing at Christopher. “You not…you not breaking my fucking fingers if I touch her, are you, Prez?”
Megan jumped back and jabbed Mort’s shoulder. “Johnnie doesn’t break your fingers for touching Kendall.”
“You not Kendall,” Val called. Instead of more anger, Megan’s chin wobbled and Val winced.
Clearing his throat, Mortician pulled Megan into his arms in a loose hug, gingerly touching her back, then stepping away. “There. I fucking hugged you.”
More silence. They were waiting on Megan. Johnnie searched his mind, veering between annoyance at her, admiration for her backbone, and concern over her misery. He wanted to scream her ear off, but it wouldn’t help her. And not because Christopher would murder him. No, something had triggered this extreme reaction to Kendall. He could only think of one thing.
“Megan, what’s the real problem? Are you jealous that I’m with Kendall?”
The promise of murder from Christopher and a combination of emotions from Kendall met the question. But it needed to be asked. They needed peace between Megan and Kendall.
“Jealous of you and Kendall?” she asked, after a moment, the amusement in her eyes showing glimpses of Megs.
“You wish,” she said around laughter.
Understanding slid into Christopher’s eyes and he smirked. “You jealous cuz this bitch showed me her pussy?”
Megan stiffened and Kendall turned red.
“That’s it, ain’t it, baby?”
She opened her mouth, threw Kendall the evil eye, then snapped it shut again. “I’m going to bed,” she said in a choked voice, turning on her heel and tripping toward the hallway.
“Megan—”
“Now not the time, Prez,” Mortician said with a bit of uncharacteristic desperation.
“At least you all see the way she really treats me,” Kendall interrupted in a shrill voice. “Crying over some stupid grave mix up with her dad when we were supposed—“
“FUCK, Red.” Mortician slammed the bottle onto the bar and thrusted his hands through his dreads.
“What the fuck you say?” Christopher managed, tur
ning ashen, ignoring Mortician’s reaction.
“Oh fuck,” he grumbled.
“Megs!” Johnnie called, realizing he hadn’t called her by his special name in days.
Val got to her and dragged her back to Christopher who stood frozen.
“That’s why she does this,” Kendall started.
“Not now, Red,” Digger warned, discomfort crossing his face.
Johnnie barely heard Kendall. An inkling of the real reason for Megan’s attitude hit him and he glanced at Christopher, who looked condemned to death and a little helpless. Someone had told Megan how Christopher had disposed of Big Joe? The very thought made him sick and he wasn’t even her husband. Joseph Foy might have been a perverted motherfucker—something Megan was accepting—but he was still her father. Boss had shown her the best of himself.
“Her father has been dead for over a year,” Kendall screeched.
Johnnie winced at Megan’s flinch and the water filling her eyes. She’d been huffing a bit before she’d accompanied Kendall to the funeral home, but, since then, she’d become almost impossible. This really had nothing to do with Kendall.
“My sister killed herself—“
Feeling as if he were caught in the middle, Johnnie appealed to Kendall. He stared at her, willed her to understand he wasn’t siding with Megan or trying to disrespect her. “Kendall, I need to talk to you about—“
“What she talkin’ about, baby?” Christopher interrupted, unaware of Johnnie’s position in this situation.
Megan stared at Christopher, her anger clear but her hurt achingly evident. Johnnie felt shitty at his treatment towards her. They’d been friends. But he didn’t handle emotional ties well. Especially with women. He’d shown Kendall his loyalty the only way he knew how. By sitting with her while she tended the bar and turning on Megan. His actions revealed to Megan how much Kendall meant to him. In doing so, though, he’d hurt her—Megan. And this had nothing to do with loving her. Because he no longer did. It had to do with fairness.
Christopher took a step toward his wife. “Megan?”
Death Dwellers Motorcycle Club:: Fifteen Bad Boy Biker Books Page 103
