“MAAAAAAAHHHHH!” Gunner whined in his heavy little voice, running into the room. If the little motherfucker changed that ‘m’ to a goddamn ‘b’, he’d sound just like a fucking sheep. As it was, he was making fucking goat sounds.
“MAAAAHHHHHHH,” Gunner called again. “I wanna fugging shing.”
Christopher had never heard a goddamn kid that sounded like he had a fucking frog stuck in his throat. Usually that shit was reserved for adolescents on the fucking verge of a fucking voice-change or old motherfuckers with thick phlegm caught in their throats.
“Fugging shing, MAAHHH,” Gunner demanded, stomping his foot.
Christopher frowned at him. “Hey, boy, if you ain’t wantin’ my ass to spank your lil’ ass don’t talk to your ma like that.”
He poked his lip out. “But, ‘Law, I bored.”
“I’ll take you to the swing, baby boy,” Megan responded, kissing Christopher’s cheek and pulling Gunner closer to ruffle his hair.
Megan had shed her hell goddess façade and was turning back into his sweet angel again. She’d fuckingcried. Although the reasons hadn’t come about because of the usual bullshit, her tearsstill came. That was the important thing. He could breathe easier. Really investigate whatever the fuck happened between her and Nyx. IfMegansaid the video wasn’t pretty, he could only imagine what it contained.
She slid from Christopher’s lap and crouched down to their son’s level. She kissed their boy’s cheek again. “That’s what I came to tell Daddy.”
Gunner walked around Megan and tugged Christopher’s sleeve. “’Law, Ma taking me outshide to fugging shing.”
“Blade wants to go outside, too,” Kendall announced, striding into the mancave and heading straight to Johnnie.
Christopher and Kendall’s weekly meeting would happen the day after tomorrow. He hoped she’d discovered all the secrets surrounding Ma and Cee Cee’s marriage. The more Kendall uncovered, the more the threat against Megan seemed overblown. That fact allowed Christopher to relax and turn his interest to the lies his mother told rather than Bash’s misinformation. Motherfucker was probably just jerking Johnnie’s chains because they pegged him as an easy mark.
“Did you hear me, Johnnie?”
Johnnie tapped the ashes from his cigar. “I did.”
Kendall scowled.
Megan got to her feet. “Let’s leave them to it, Kendall, and take the boys outside.”
She smiled at Christopher, his very own earth angel.
Johnnie puffed on his cigar. “You heard Megan, Kendall. Leave us be.”
“How about you leave me be when we get home and you find a fucking doghouse to sleep in, motherfucker? You aren’t changing my fucking mind with your fucking behavior and you aren’t fucking impressing me.”
“I doubt you’re trying to impressme.” Johnnie narrowed his eyes at Christopher, then smirked at Megan. “How does it feel to see your husband and my wife so buddy-buddy?”
“Shut the fuck up, Johnnie,” Christopher ordered as the others grumbled.
Megan smiled serenely. “I don’t remember you asking how Christopher and Kendall felt when you and I were so buddy-buddy.”
Incredulity widened his eyes. “It isn’t the same thing!”
“How do you want me to feel?” Megan demanded, lifting Gunner into her arms.
“Outraged,” Johnnie said. “Put upon!”
“May I askwhy?” Megan asked with irritation.
“Because…because…” Even Johnnie didn’t know why and floundered for an excuse for his assfuckery.
“Becausehe thinks I want to fuck Christopher as he wants to fuck you,” Kendall said.
The sadness in her voice reminded Christopher how vulnerable she was, a fact Johnnie once recognized. He’d been so kind and patient with her. Somewhere, he’d lost that as he metamorphosed into Logan, little by little, with each passing year.
Mort gave her a half smile, forever her friend and big brother. Megan hugged her, pulling her to the side and talking quietly to her. They all had reactions—Val, Cash, Stretch, and Digger included—except Johnnie. Motherfucker didn’t even deny her accusations. Didn’t remark that Kendall used the present tense.
