Death Dwellers Motorcycle Club:: Fifteen Bad Boy Biker Books

by Kathryn C. Kelly

  “She was my mother, Puff,” he said, as if he needed to explain himself.

  “Yes. Whenever you want to talk to her, you have a place now.”

  “Why?”

  “We only have one mom, Matthew, and she’ll never be replaced. Good or bad, there’ll be no other person like her. Our mothers give us life,” she said softly. “When she’s gone, we want to know that we did everything we could to love and honor her. Cherish her. We work with what we have to provide for our children and hope that they know, that despite everything, most of us try our best. I don’t agree with some of her tactics, but you hold onto the good in her. Honor her here. Tell her about our kids. Let her know what a fine husband and father you’ve become. I’m sure she’s so proud of you.”

  “Are you?” he asked in a choked voice.

  “Of course. I’m proud to know you and proud to call you my man.”

  “Fuck, Puff.” She, alone, had always known how to humble him. “I love you so fucking much.”

  Smiling, she laid her head on his shoulder. “Not more than I love you.”

  Val tangled his hand in Zoann’s hair, breathing in her scent. It dawned on him what had guided him to her and he closed his eyes. “Thanks, Davi,” he whispered to his mom, the name he’d once called her.

  Only his mother’s intercession could’ve brought him and Zoann through all they’d endured to the years of happiness that lay ahead.

  “I can do your hair, Kendall,” Fee offered, stroking her fingers through Kendall’s hair and meeting her gaze in her vanity mirror.

  The results of her pregnancy test hit Kendall in the face again, almost like a lick, as she glanced at the pee stick on the edge of her table. She wanted to feel happy but fear, more than anything else, swamped her.

  This time around, she’d do the right thing and continue with her meds, not wanting to risk another meltdown as she’d had a few weeks ago. It seemed the more she stopped doing as the doctor ordered, the worst her episodes became.

  The moment she’d felt her bleeding start, she’d known she’d made a mistake in taking out her revenge against an innocent baby. She just hadn’t been able to stop herself. If Johnnie ever discovered that she’d purposely destroyed their baby, out of anger, he’d never forgive her.

  Despite a niggling worry that Johnnie would desert her, prior to the events of the past year, somewhere deep down she’d known he wouldn’t abandon her. Sending her away had always been for her own good, something she recognized in the right frame of mind. Like now. She understood that she controlled the ending of her marriage.

  No more. Johnnie had gotten the upper hand, and Kendall knew, without a single doubt, he’d leave and take their kids if she didn’t get her act together. Not even pregnancy would stop him. She’d pushed him once too many times.

  “Kendall?”

  “I don’t feel like doing anything,” she told Fee quietly, and stood. “I’m really tired.”

  “Yeah, but the guys have something planned, and they want us there.”

  She wanted to be there, but she’d have to face Meggie—and Outlaw—neither of whom she’d seen since Bunny’s wedding, a month ago.

  “I’m probably the last person anyone wants to see.”

  “By anyone you mean my brother, right?” Fee asked on a sigh.

  Kendall nodded. “And Meggie.”

  “How about I call Meggie? Ask her to come over. If she agrees, you know everything is fine with you.”

  “I miss our brunches, Fee. I’ve been such a beast to her.”

  “To everyone,” Fee corrected, bumping Kendall’s shoulder and smiling. “It’s okay. We were all pretty angry with you, but it’s in the past and we came out basically unscathed.”

  Abandoning thoughts of hair and makeup, Kendall turned and grabbed Fee’s hands. “Is it? At Bunny’s wedding, I told Meggie to tell Johnnie to do a wedding like that for me. I wanted her and him to plan it. My husband was right. I couldn’t be bothered with all those details. I even told her what wedding dress I wanted and where to get my cake from. Everything! She didn’t respond.”

  “Kendall,” Fee started in warning tones.

  “But I want a big wedding, too. If Meggie had agreed, I would know she’s forgiven me. She’s always helped me. Looked out for me. Had my back.”

  “You’re Kendall Donovan,” Fee reminded her, stuffing her phone back into her jeans pocket. Still early in her pregnancy, she wasn’t showing yet. “Since when have you needed anyone to look out for you?”

  Kendall bowed her head. “Oh, Fee, since forever. I’ve just been too stubborn to admit it.”

  “Maybe, you didn’t realize it until you’d lost it.”

  Fee’s words sounded ominous, but Kendall had to agree.

  “I don’t even have Roxy anymore.”

  “Roxy wouldn’t have deserted you if she could’ve helped it.”

  Just thinking of Bailey’s mom sent tears to Kendall’s eyes. She managed a nod.

  She’d brought it all on herself. Now, she would further alienate everyone if she didn’t attend whatever the guys were planning. She’d taken a shower right after Johnnie left, and washed and dried her hair, but hadn’t styled it in a particular way. She rarely did. Her hair had grown out again, to where she could wear it as she liked it best—loose and free.

  “Can you bump it a little? It could use some body.”

  “Sure,” Fee agreed without hesitation.”

  By the time Fee finished, the ends of Kendall’s hair had a nice curl. She stared in her mirror, then sidled another gaze at her pregnancy test. She’d wanted this, so she’d have to make the best of it.

  Johnnie adjusted the turquoise-colored bow tie of his tuxedo as he considered himself in the mirror of Wilkins’s bedroom in the church rectory, grumbling under his breath. He’d hated wearing this shit for Megan’s wedding. Doing it for Kendall was worth it, but still goddamn uncomfortable.

  But Kendall wanted a formal wedding, and a formal wedding she’d get. Thanks to Meggie, he hadn’t had much to do but go to his fitting with the guys. And, of course, cough up the money.

  The door opened and Christopher walked in, his frown fiercer than when he wanted to kill someone. Turning, Johnnie smirked at the tux his brother wore.

  “Not a motherfuckin’, goddamn, fuckin’, fucked up word,” he growled. “If Megan ain’t sucked my cock to get me to wear this, I woulda been in my fuckin’ cut and jeans. But the wicked little bitch made me for-fuckin-get my motherfuckin’ name. Next thing my ass knew I was agreein’ to this.”

  “Meggie girl got your ass wrapped around her little fuckin’ pinky,” Mort said, making his presence known with that comment.

  “No, motherfucker, my girl got my ass wrapped around the motherfuckin’ nail on her lil pinky,” Christopher corrected without shame.

  “C’mon, Ro,” CJ instructed, just as he squeezed between Christopher and Mort, dragging Rory with him. Both boys were adorable in matching tuxedos. “Uncle John-John, him cry for Ant Kenda. Mommie told him his mommie coming but him tired of Tilda. Him say her a bitch-ass baby.”

  Johnnie wanted to be outraged that Rory had cursed, but CJ looked happy at Christopher’s and Mort’s snickers. In all honesty, Johnnie was so proud of his son, he could only clear his throat.

  “Girls are pussies, Dad,” Rory said with a wide grin, encouraged that Johnnie hadn’t chastised him.

  “No, silly, girls got pussies,” CJ corrected. “Remember?”

  “Nuh-uh, Mother say girls got ginas and boys got peenies.”

  “Enough, you two,” Johnnie said sternly, the only adult with enough coherence to speak. Mort and Christopher were almost pissing themselves laughing so hard. “Wait until you’re older then you can have a cock measuring contest if you’d like. You’re too young to talk about cocks, peenies, pussies, and ginas.”

  “Knock, knock,” Megan said, walking in as she spoke.

  “MegAnn,” CJ and Rory chorused.

  She smiled, lovely in her
turquoise colored, sweep-trained dress that gave the barest hint of her baby bump. Her swept up hair had tiny seed pearls throughout, with a few stray curls hanging down, showing off her turquoise and diamond earrings that Johnnie gave to her for helping with Kendall’s wedding. He’d asked her to be matron of honor, but she’d refused, saying it was in bad form to take that role just because she’d planned it.

  He hoped Kendall didn’t mind there’d be no one to take the role, but he’d worked with what he had, hoping Megan wasn’t so fed up with Kendall that she only gave her the bare necessities for Kendall’s dream wedding and intended to return most of his money after the fact.

  “Fee and Kendall are on the way,” Megan said, settling a hand on the shoulders of each little boy and smiling at Christopher with love and tenderness. “They’ll be here in about ten minutes. We’re right on schedule. We’re all going to work to get Kendall into her gown and veil.”

  “That you haven’t let me see,” Johnnie pointed out.

  “It’s bad luck for a groom to see his bride before the wedding,” Megan retorted. “That’s why I asked for a check to cover certain items, so you wouldn’t know how much her gown cost.”

  As opposed to listening to her about the bridemaids’ gowns, the invitations, and the reception.

  “Better your fuckin’ bank account than mine,” Christopher said, digging in his pocket and pulling out a flask.

  “Are you sure Kendall will be okay walking down the aisle alone?” Johnnie asked, thankful when Mort pulled out a roll and held it up.

  Christopher exchanged the flask for the joint with Mort. “You doubtin’ my girl got your bitch covered?”

  “Fuck, after the way Red treated Meggie girl, I’d doubt that shit, too, Prez.”

  Megan rolled her eyes, then pointed to her expensive as fuck earrings. “You wouldn’t have spent ten grand on a pair of earrings if you truly doubted me, Johnnie.”

  “No, baby, my ass wouldna let this motherfucker spend ten grand on your fuckin’ earrings if he hadn’t fuckin’ asked me, doubtin’ you or not.” He pulled out a lighter. “Now, get the fuck before you, CJ, and Rory high like motherfuckers.”

  “You’re sooo bad, Christopher,” Megan said, hustling her son and nephew out the door, just as a loud squeal reached them.

  “Red here,” Mort said with a grin. “Probably just figured out what the fuck goin’ on.”

  “Yeah.” Johnnie’s nervous anticipation surprised him. It hadn’t dawned on him how much he’d wanted a big wedding. Now that the day had arrived, he wanted it to be perfect for both him and Kendall, and regretted his decision to allow Megan the majority of the planning.

  She’d grown up, no longer bending over backwards to be friends with anyone, if they mistreated her. For whatever reason.

  Had Megan changed so much that she’d use this to derail Kendall’s day?

  Thirty minutes later, Father Wilkins informed him it was time to walk to the church. Kendall being at the rectory dawned on Johnnie. For Megan’s wedding, the priest had given her a storage closet at the church to dress in.

  “You sure you know what you’re doing?” Val joked as Johnnie walked into the living room where him, Digger, Cash, Stretch, and Diesel waited, along with someone else. Brooks.

  Christopher growled. “What the fuck you doin’ here?”

  The attorney raised his hands defensively. “Meggie,” he said quickly. “She asked me to walk Kendall down the aisle. I wanted to refuse. Please believe me, but she reminded me that Kendall sees me as a father. Meggie swore you wouldn’t hurt me, Outlaw.” Swallowing, he looked at each of them. “None of you.”

  “Megan some-fuckin-how got your bitch in the wedding, too, yeah?” Christopher guessed.

  Refusing to meet Christopher’s eyes, Brooks stared at the floor. “For what it’s worth, Charlotte apologized to Meggie.”

  Christopher drained the rum from his flask. He’d been very generous, sharing it with Johnnie and Mort. “Lemme fuckin’ guess. My girl accepted your bitch boo-hoo sorryness?”

  Brooks nodded, ignoring Christopher’s glower, although he paled.

  “We not able to fuck Brooks up, then clean up the blood, Prez,” Mort said. “Meggie girl’ll be pissed if you fuck up all her hard work.”

  “You know what’s going on?” Johnnie asked. Mort knew a helluva lot about Kendall and Megan, almost as much as he knew about Bailey.

  “Fuck, Johnnie, yeah. Prez got me on her detail.”

  “Even when I didn’t have you on her goddamn detail, you know what the fuck goin’ on with my wife, motherfucker.”

  “We’re in the house of God’s messenger,” Father Wilkins said tightly. “Please refrain from the language.”

  “As usual, Wilcunt, you mess up a good thing, goin’ from fuckin’ Jazzman back to your bitch-ass priestiness.”

  “Christopher!” Johnnie said in outrage as Val winced and Mort said, “damn, Prez.”

  “C’mon, let’s get the fuck to the church,” Christopher ordered. “I’m fuckin’ ready to be the fuck out this motherfuckin’ monkey suit.” He stared at Brooks. “You better hope your bitch don’t fuck up. I killed my old man at my wedding for fuckin’ with Megan. You know what the fuck I’m gettin’ at.”

  “Charlotte will be perfect,” Brooks said quickly.

  In silence, they walked across the garden to a side door at the church. When they reached the building, only Johnnie and Christopher continued to follow the priest. The others branched off, heading toward the entrance. Johnnie supposed they were part of the ceremony.

  Inside, Johnnie stopped, shocked at the simple beauty of the white and turquoise décor and filled seats. A lot of his brothers and their old ladies were there, dressed in their cuts. Bailey’s sisters and brother. Three of Charlotte and Brooks’ children. Doctors’ Hughes and Wills. Bunny’s parents. Some of Kendall’s socialite friends. Members of Phoenix Rising, although he didn’t see Georgie or Sloane Mason.

  Only then did Johnnie pick up on the sound of piano music, and glanced in the place where the organ usually stood. Sloane sat at the piano, playing Canon in D, along with two women, one playing the harp and the other the flute.

  Seeing Johnnie, Sloane acknowledged him with a nod and continued playing.

  People near and dear to both Johnnie and Kendall filled the church to capacity. Choked up for the first time in a while—if ever—Johnnie continued on to the altar.

  Father Wilkins beamed at him, obviously in on the plans. Johnnie wondered how much the priest had pocketed this time around, to allow the secular music.

  “You have the rings, right?” he asked Christopher, searching for a way to get control of himself.

  “Yeah, motherfucker,” Christopher answered, forever the same.

  Two minutes later, Potter and another Probate, wearing white gloves, tuxedoes, and motorcycle boots, opened the door, two old ladies of their brothers whispering to Matilda and Ryder and pointing to where Johnnie and Christopher stood.

  Wearing a satin and lace dress, Matilda was almost the spitting image of Kendall, with her mass of red curls and big, brown eyes. Johnnie’s heart swelled with pride at the sight of his daughter. Next to her, Ryder was adorable in a tuxedo, a smaller version of what the men wore. Looking at him, Johnnie understood why Kendall had gone off the deep end. From afar, the little boy resembled Johnnie more than Christopher. Understandable, since Ryder was Johnnie’s blood nephew. Up close, Ryder had green eyes, like Christopher, but paler.

  So busy contemplating the two cousins who’d been born hours apart, Johnnie almost missed as the women started down the aisle with them as they looked all around. Before Fee could catch him, Lou, Mort’s thirteen-month old son, toddled down the aisle.

  Everyone laughed, although the kids were oblivious. Next, came Devon, hands in pockets, and smiling as he marched like a little soldier toward them, just as Matilda, Lou, and Ryder reached Johnnie and Christopher.

  Johnnie lifted his baby girl into his arms and kissed her che
ek.

  Once Devon reached the halfway point, Rule appeared with Bryn Mason. The raven-haired daughter of Sloane and Georgie wore a dress, almost identical to Matilda’s. As Devon made it to the altar and Rule and Bryn were at the halfway point, Ryan started down the aisle, looking more and more like Val as the days passed. The kids seemed to have finally fallen into rhythm. Golden-haired Rebel started down the aisle with Chance Mason, both of them grinning with confidence.

  “Hurry up, Elle,” CJ called from the doorway, standing next to Harley, who held a basket overflowing with petals.

  A crown of roses wreathed her head, as both she and CJ bounced with energy.

  Fee pointed to the altar, whispering to them. Once Rebel and Chance sat on the bench with the rest of the kids, CJ pulled Harley forward, making her stumble. Scowling at him, she elbowed his side. In response, he grabbed a handful of her rose petals and took an exaggerated stride forward.

  Harley giggled, and followed CJ’s lead, throwing the petals—up into the air, instead of on the ground.

  “Between us, there’s twelve children,” Johnnie said to Christopher, including Sloane’s kids in that number, as Rory appeared in the doorway.

  “We been doin’ a lotta fuckin’, John Boy,” Christopher responded. “Megan, Fee, and Bunny pregnant. If you wanna count Patrick and the two babies Kendall lost, that’s about eighteen lil motherfuckers.”

  “Fuck, a goddamn tribe.” Setting Matilda on her feet, Johnnie watched his son march to him, holding himself perfect, looking neither right nor left, as Fee closed the door again. He was so proud of Rory, his son. He would’ve had another son if Kendall hadn’t lost their last baby. A moment of sadness hit him, but he pushed it aside, grateful for his family. “We’re lucky motherfuckers, Christopher.”

  “Yeah, John Boy.”

  Rory and Matilda were the only kids standing at the altar. The others had sat on the first row of seats. As the kids arranged themselves, several additional musicians joined Sloane and the two women.

  While the band played a piece Johnnie recognized as a Handel arrangement, Potter opened the door again. Wearing a tulle gown, Charlotte looked dignified as an usher escorted her to a seat, usually reserved for mother-of-the-bride. She’d lost a lot of weight, but she still had that air of superiority. He supposed she’d take that to her grave, which she’d soon be introduced to if she fucked with Kendall’s head again.