“You.You’rewrong with me.You’rewrong with your children and your husband. You’re just a fucking fuck-up.”
“Christopher and I have had issues the past few weeks,” she acknowledged. “But whatever wrongs I’ve done to Christopherwillbe righted.”
“Do you really think your husband is so goddamn perfect?” he said bitterly.
Christopher was far from perfect, but he at least tried to make amends. Johnnie played the victim.
“He isn’t. He intended to shoot Rory, Megan. A child. He’s a stock villain.”
Meggie snapped her brows together. “Christopher threatened to shoot Rory?”
Triumphant, Johnnie nodded, aware his revelation shocked her. The boys were minors, family members, and untouchable because of her No-Kill list. Two of the three saved their fathers from Christopher’s wrath countless times over the years.
Sagging against her pillow, she closed her eyes to hide her pain. If her nephews were subject to such punishment, then hersons were, too. Christopher might not hurt them. However, he’d sew seeds of resentment if he killed or injured sons of the other members and that would leaveherboys open to retaliation.
What was Christopher thinking? What had warranted such retribution—
Meggie’s eyes flew open, and she met Johnnie’s icy silver gaze. She searched his face, lined with hostility and ravaged by resentment. “What did you do?”
“I beg your fucking pardon?”
“You’re a moron,” she seethed. “Whatever the reason Christopher shot your stupid fingers off is what almost got Rory killed.”
“No matter my crime that’s no goddamn excuse to put a gun to my son’s head.”
The memory of Rory visiting her in her office, grappling for words, rose in Meggie’s head. He’d been terrified for Johnnie, while she’d been reeling from her conversation with Torie. If Rory had been frantic to protect Johnnie two months ago and secrets were coming to light, it stood to reason her nephew still sought to save his idiotic father.
“I agree,” she snarled. “Christopher shouldn’t have threatened Rory if he didn’t mean to follow through on it.”
Johnnie blinked.
“It would’ve been much better for all concerned if he’d shotyou,” she yelled, so furious she willed herself to have the strength to pick up her IV pole and beat Johnnie with it. “We both know whateveryoudid, Rory wanted to protect you and Christopher attempted to force you into confess.”
“Fuck you,” he said, not denying the accusation. “Turning into such a hard, bitter cunt will age you more than your inability to get a wet pussy and push out any more children. I’ve heard hysterectomies destroy everything that makes you a woman. Is that it? Knowing it won’t help no matter how much Christopherlicks your pussy?” Leaning in, he pressed his lips against her ear. “Will you just take his big cock dry? Let him split you in two or will you give up and know he’ll search for younger,bettersnatch? Maybe then you’ll find your heart again and realize that your fucking husband is a cold-blooded psycho, womanizer, and would-be child killer. My son is innocent. If he was trying to protect me, then what do you expect? I’m his father. He loves me.”
Meggie turned her head, unconcerned that her lips almost brushed Johnnie’s. She curled her mouth into a sneer. “At least someone does, but if you keep it up, you’ll lose him, too.Mysons are innocent and yet that won’t stop them from facing justice if they run afoul of the club. Rory made his choice. He protected you rather than showed loyalty to the Death Dwellers. We all must live with the consequences of our actions.” It was rare that she used foul language. To get her point across, this situation warranted it. “All my boys except Gunner, and my husband are in danger. I no longer give a good fuck who else dies. Now, get out.”
He swept her with another look and left her in peace.
Mattie sat in the hospital cafeteria, drinking a cappuccino, munching on biscotti, and scrolling through her phone. She’d brought CJ a note from Ms. LeBan and a stack of homework, since Uncle Christopher insisted she go to school today.
Aside from the younger kids, she and Harley were the only ones from their family in attendance at the Upper School. At lunch, Mattie went to watch Harley’s rehearsal, and the hour just reaffirmed how much she disliked Nardo.
He was so mean to Harley when Ms. Mendez wasn’t around, so Mattie suggested Harley tell Uncle Mort as they walked back to class.
Unfortunately, her cousin thought her father wouldn’t care. Mattie disagreed, but Harley made her promise not to interfere, so she wouldn’t.
“Mattie, right?”
“Yep,” she said, not glancing up. She didn’t have to. She knew how Kaia Riggs sounded.
Like a cheating asshole, but whatever.
“Hey, Matt,” his brother, Kayce, greeted.
She took a delicate bite of her biscotti and kept her focus on her phone. “CJ’s upstairs.”
“We just saw Rebel in the elevator,” Kaia volunteered. “She was on her way back to her room after a test. We told her we’d give her a minute to get settled.”
