He wasn’t sure who he was apologizing to. Meggie, Tyler, or CJ. He wasn’t an emotional man. Rarely broke down, and he didn’t want to do so now. Nor did he want to burden Meggie with his feelings.
He pulled away from her. “I just wanted to check in.”
“Okay,” she said hoarsely.
Bending, he kissed her cheek. “Still Smurfette sized.”
She smiled, forced a laugh, and returned to CJ’s side.
Mort backed out of the room, nodding to the nurse on duty and heading to the bathroom. He had to pull himself together before he walked out of ICU. He didn’t want anyone to think the worse.
Inside the bathroom, he went to the sink and held his hands under the faucet to activate the water. Leaning down, he splashed water on his face, then straightened and looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes were puffy and red, and his mouth was turned down. He hadn’t eaten in hours. Fuck, he looked wrecked.
Before he figured out what to do for himself so he could be there for Prez, Meggie, Reb, and the boys, the door opened. Johnnie entered, but upon seeing Mort, he halted.
“Any word from Christopher?”
“No.”
“Val, Stretch, and Cash left,” Johnnie said.
Mort nodded. “I’ll text Prez and ask if he need me there or if he want me to hold shit down here.”
Uninterested in talking to Johnnie, he turned and grabbed paper towels from the dispenser. After drying his hands, he intended to leave the bathroom.
“Are you all right?” Johnnie asked hesitantly, discomforton his face.
Mort still didn’t know when their friendship splintered. No matter. He’d never hold Johnnie in the same regard he once had. “I’m getting there.”
“Me, too. It’s…fuck!” Blowing out a breath, Johnnie rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s a phone call I never expected to receive.”
“It’s a sight I never expected to see.”
“I’m sure. Rory looked so fucking shell-shocked when I told him. Mattie started to cry. I can’t believe those cunts tried to kill CJ.”
“Me neither, Johnnie.”
Eyes watering, Johnnie glanced away. “Right before I came in, I went to the room to check on him. I couldn’t go in. I sawher. So devastated. Her head at his feet. I didn’t know what to say. CJ and I have our problems, but I don’t want him dead. He has his whole fucking life ahead of him.” He shrugged, got control of his emotions. “Maybe, I’m selfish but I keep thinking aboutmysons. A club girl could’ve marked Rory for death because they don’t like Kendall. How could we survive that?”
As much as he disliked and distrusted Johnnie nowadays, once upon a time theyhadbeen friends. The fuckery lurked just under the surface. For now, grief and disbelief united them. “You not selfish, John Boy. We parents. I been thinking about my children too.”
“CJ’s going to be fine.”
“He better be.” Mort forced levity into the words.
Johnnie returned the favor and chuckled. “I have an errand to run. Call me if there are any changes.”
“You got it.”
Although Christopher gave Johnnie the choice of leaving with him or staying at the hospital with Kendall, Johnnie opted to stay behind. One, Kendall was devastated and couldn’t keep still. Roxanne was looking after her, but Johnnie wasn’t sure about the status of Kendall’s meds. He’d been too angry to make sure she’d resumed taking them. Now, he feared CJ’s overdose would send her into a tailspin.
Two, he wanted to be close to the hospital to receive news on his nephew. As he’d told Mort, he had problems with CJ, but that was Christopher’s son—Megan’sson—and Johnnie didn’t want him dead.
Maybe, it was Divine Intervention that kept him at the hospital. If he’d gone with Christopher, he wouldn’t have been able to break away and meet Pounder at the office when Bash called and ordered Johnnie there.
Unlike the last time, Johnnie rode his bike. Still, he parked in the back of the building. Just as he dismounted, Pounder pulled in next to him. Johnnie didn’t halt his stride. He headed to the back entrance and unlocked the door. A moment later, Pounder walked into the building and Johnnie shut the door.
“It’s so fucking dark in here,” Pounder complained.
