Misfit(174)
“I knew your brother,” he blurted. “But my loyalty has always been with Outlaw. I’d never betray him.”
“Not purposely,” she said.
She was right. As long as he had an affair with Fee, he was betraying Outlaw.
She took her hand in his. “That doesn’t matter right now. We just want Fee to survive.” Her words cracked, but she forced a smile. “I didn’t realize you’d been around so long,” she continued, swiping at a stray tear.
“I became a hangaround about three months before Big Joe was gunned down and his head sent to the club.”
Meggie stilled, the color draining from her face, her watery eyes widening. They very air around them stopped.
“Fuuuucccckkkkk,” Mort groaned as Val and Johnnie covered their faces.
“Daddy’s head?” she gasped.
Stretch floundered. “I-I thought you were aware of what we did to him.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Johnnie reached for Meggie, scowling when Mort got to her first, pulling her into his arms and whispering to her.
“C-Christopher beheaded my father?” she managed.
“I did,” Johnnie bit out, his look murderous enough to strike Stretch dead. “Do you understand me, Megan?”
In other words, don’t hold his brutality against her husband.
Before Meggie responded, the door opened and Outlaw walked in. Mort dropped his hands from Meggie’s shoulders and straightened up. Val leaned against the banister and looked over it. Johnnie clenched his jaw, although Stretch doubted Outlaw noticed their actions.
He honed in on Meggie and her trembling.
“What the fuck goin’ on in here?” He pulled her into his arms. “Megan, baby, why you cryin’?”
She gripped his cut and drew in a sharp breath. “Do you have any news of Fee?” she asked around sniffles, swiping at her eyes.
His brows snapped together and he took her face between her hands, studying her. “How the fuck me agreein’ to get them two motherfuckers the fuck away from them three assfucks end up with you in fuckin’ tears?”
No one said anything. As Outlaw lasered them with his gaze, each of them looked away.
“I didn’t realize how long Stretch had been in the club,” Meggie said, her eyes downcast.
Outlaw’s confused frown deepened. “That shit makin’ you fuckin’ cry?”
“Can we talk about it later?” she asked on a desperate note. “Once we know about Fee.”
“Fee in recovery,” he said and judging by his look, he didn’t intend to drop it. “She not outta the woods, but she made it through the fuckin’ surgery. Now, tell me why the fuck you cryin’, Megan.”
She glanced in the direction of the stairs, then looked into Outlaw’s eyes. “J-Johnnie decapitated Daddy after you killed him.”
It wasn’t a question but a statement that stunned Outlaw speechless. Once again, his look skewered them before he focused on Stretch.
“Leave, Megan.” Outlaw’s hard voice shook Stretch up.
“Christopher…”
“Go, now.”
“Don’t do anything to Stretch. It just shocked me.”
“I ain’t fuckin’ blowin’ this motherfucker goddamn face off and tossin’ his lifeless motherfuckin’ body over this goddamn banister for bringin’ this shit up.” The look Outlaw gave to him told Stretch he wanted to. Badly. “I just gotta tell him one fuckin’ thing.”
Suspicion entered Meggie’s eyes. “Promise?”
Outlaw bent and kissed her. “Scout’s fuckin’ honor.”
At the door, she paused. “Are you hiding anything else from me that I should know?”
“You trust me, Megan?”
“You know I do.”
“Then if I’m fuckin’ hidin’ anything from you, it’s to protect you. Hear me? Ain’t involvin’ no other bitch. It’s all about you and your happiness. Some shit you just don’t fuckin’ need to know, baby.”
She thought for a moment, then nodded, her eyes traveling to Val and then turning to the floor. “I understand,” she whispered.
Outlaw scowled at Val. “I’m sure the fuck you do.”
Without responding, she walked out, leaving them alone to face her husband’s wrath.
Outlaw waited. Or counted. He stood still for a minute, before the door opened and Meggie stuck her head back in.
“See, baby? We fine. You ain’t even heard me raise my voice.”
Relieved, she smiled and backed out. This time, Outlaw didn’t wait. He grabbed Stretch by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
“Listen up, assfuck, you fuckin’ like your motherfuckin’ head on your goddamn shoulders, don’t fuckin’ ever, ever bring shit up to Megan. Don’t talk ‘bout fuckin’ Big Joe or Dinah and fuckin’ especially not motherfuckin’ Traveler. Don’t mention no fuckin’ club shit to my girl. Got me?”