Misfit(122)
“Cash is right,” Johnnie said. “You owe your family nothing.”
“I owe them me,” he reminded them. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Listen up, Stretch,” Outlaw started as Meggie walked in from the kitchen and distracted him. She carried a plate of crackers to the bar, went back into the kitchen, and returned a moment later, guiding Kendall to a stool.
“Potter, get Kendall a 7-Up,” Meggie instructed.
“Sure thing,” the Probate responded.
She smiled and waved to Outlaw. The place was relatively quiet. Stretch was grateful. He didn’t need a bunch of motherfuckers he didn’t trust, in his business.
He trusted Cash and the men who surrounded him. No one else.
Meggie and Kendall engaged in a low conversation. It surprised Stretch that neither Outlaw or Johnnie interrupted.
“This pregnancy is hitting Kendall hard,” Johnnie confided on a whisper. “She doesn’t have morning sickness, but she’s miserable.”
Val sidled Kendall a dirty look, one they all saw, including Outlaw.
“What the fuck goin’ on now?” he asked.
Johnnie flushed and looked away. Val shoved his hands in his pockets. Mort shifted and Digger scratched his chin.
“Kendall’s pregnant,” Johnnie said. “Need I say more? Their dinner party could’ve been better.”
It was clear not only Johnnie, but the other men had also heard about the dinner party at Fee’s. Only Meggie and Outlaw were clueless. Stretch winced, watching Meggie care for Kendall.
“Keep your woman in line,” Outlaw warned. “Then your dick. Get it fuckin’ snipped like my ass soon doin’.”
“I might do that,” Johnnie said. “Just, please, bear with her.”
“As long as Megan fine, she fine. She ain’t fuckin’ with the club no more cuz she ain’t at the office.”
More shifting. Fee had talked to Johnnie, so he must’ve told the others.
“Stretch has to get on the place,” Johnnie said, a catch in his voice.
“Yeah, Prez,” Mort agreed quickly. “He do. We holding him up.”
“Get the fuck goin’.” Expecting Stretch to leave, Outlaw addressed Johnnie, his voice raising. “I ain’t fuckin’ talkin’ to your bitch, John Boy. I’ma over-fuckin-look whatever the fuck she do, for you. Make sure you fuckin’ tell her, her life now de-fuckin-pend on her treatment of my wife and our marriage.”
“Hey.” Meggie inched between Johnnie and Outlaw. “What’s up?”
Val snickered. “You heard Outlaw going into Psycho Stalker Wildman, huh, Meggie?”
She nodded.
“Girl, you got Psycho Stalker Wildman radar,” Digger added. “We so fucking lucky.”
“Kiss my motherfuckin’ psycho Wildman stalker ass.” Outlaw glared at Meggie. “You and Kendall gettin’ along?”
“We always get along,” Meggie said smoothly.
“Bull-fuckin-shit.” Scowling, Outlaw pulled his ringing phone from his pocket. “Fuck. This Fee. Hold the fuck on,” he instructed, and broke away from their little group.
“Is everything okay with you two, Megan?” Johnnie asked.
She shrugged without enthusiasm.
“Megan. Sweetheart. I’ll owe you my life if you tolerate Kendall.”
“Johnnie, Kendall is insulting and mean. I believe she’s responsible for the whole Daphne situation.”
Johnnie stiffened. “Wait a fucking minute.”
“No, Johnnie. I’m not listening to you. You listen to me,” she ordered, stunning them. “Christopher couldn’t live with himself if he killed Kendall. Because of you. He loves you and he’d have to kill you, too. But you’re like him, so you could kill him. I’ll bow to Kendall, literally, if it keeps my husband safe, alive, and happy. At the moment, I feel for her what she feels for me. Total dislike.” Rubbing her brow, she sighed. “I miss the Kendall we had after Rory’s birth. You love her, so you want to protect her. That’s your job. My job is to stand at my husband’s side, in whatever way he needs me. Am I clear?”
“Fuck, you’re sounding more and more like Christopher,” Johnnie mock-complained, his gaze touching on every feature of Meggie’s face and body. Her loose hair. Her clear blue eyes. Her serenity. “He hit the jackpot with you, sweetheart.”
She grinned, flushing in pleasure. Glancing toward the bar where Kendall sat, her smile fell away and she rolled her eyes. “This is for you, not Kendall. Okay?”
“What?”
“I know you love Kendall. You’re like Cash and Christopher. Not the most patient person. If you didn’t love her, you would’ve…” Her voice trailed off and she wrinkled her nose. “You would’ve gotten rid of her. Marriage is about the good and the bad. There’s been a lot of bad lately for you and Kendall, but you’re a loyal man, just what Kendall needs. Don’t ever think your love for her goes unnoticed or unappreciated.”