Misfit(209)

“What are you going to do?” Kendall shoved Meggie. “Hit me? I fucking dare you. I’m the pregnant one. Me, alone, so I have the advantage.”

“Do you? You don’t know what I am. It’s been weeks since you’ve been civil to me.” Glowering, Meggie pushed Kendall with all her might. “By the way, don’t ever dare me again. Pregnant or not.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Kendall gasped, staring at Meggie’s stomach. “No way are you pregnant again.”

“Kendall…oomph!” Meggie reeled back at Kendall’s vicious punch to her midsection.

“Fuck!” Stretch rushed forward, managing to catch Meggie before she hit the floor. “Are you out of your fucking mind, Kendall? Suppose she is pregnant?”

“Then she won’t be much longer, will she?” Kendall scooted around them. “If you want your precious Christopher to see the light of day anytime soon, he’ll let me have my job back.”

Stretch ignored Kendall’s words as he helped Meggie back to her stool. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, her mouth tight with pain. “Give me a few minutes.”

“You want some more, Meggie?” Kendall taunted. “Come at me like a fucking woman.”

Standing, Meggie breathed in deep, staring at Kendall’s smirk. Without warning, she balled up her fist and punched Kendall’s jaw. Once again, Stretch was shocked. Not as much as Kendall, however. They stared at each other before Meggie punched her again.

Kendall reeled back, tears forming in her eyes. Holding her stomach, Meggie stumbled back to her stool.

“Get out of my house,” she puffed out.

Stretch smiled and offered Kendall a two-fingered salute as she ran away, a sob floating in her wake.

Meggie had taken care of Kendall pretty good. Outlaw would be so proud of her. Stretch was. But he also knew she’d never tell her husband. He’d really kill Kendall. However, Johnnie should know.

“Do you want me to tell Johnnie?”

“No. I’ll deal with Kendall myself. First, I need to talk to Charlotte.” She drew in a deep breath and pressed her fingers against her belly. “I’m going to call her to let her know I’m heading to her house to talk to her. Can you bring me?”

“Of course.”

Neither of them spoke on the drive to Charlotte’s house, later that afternoon, since the woman claimed she wouldn’t be home until then. Now, Meggie blew through more than one yellow light, her foot heavy on the pedal. She must’ve been taking lessons in speed from her husband. Or, maybe, the urgency of the matter had her driving so fast, handling her VW Beetle like a race car driver.

“You don’t have to come in,” Meggie said when she screeched to a halt along the circular driveway. “I won’t be long.”

Kendall had already punched Meggie and she was in cahoots with Charlotte. They were both insane enough to kidnap Meggie to force Outlaw’s hand.

“I’m not leaving your side,” Stretch promised as she rang the doorbell.

A moment later, a maid answered the door, and gave them a snooty once-over. Behind her, the fine appointments of the house made Stretch tense up. He wore his cut. Everything he’d heard about Charlotte Redding from Fee made him think she wouldn’t want him near her.

“I’ll see if Mrs. Redding is in,” the woman said sharply.

“She knows I’m coming!” Meggie declared, to no avail. The maid slammed the door in her face and left them standing in the drizzle.

Stretch felt sorry for his Prez’s girl, doubting she’d get any satisfaction from such a formidable woman. As tired and harassed by Kendall as Meggie was, Charlotte would squash her hopes.

The door reopened, revealing the same sour-faced woman. “Follow me,” the maid said.

She led them to a room with deep orange walls. Light yellow décor softened the effect of the interesting color.

“That’ll be all,” Charlotte called to the maid, crossing her legs, not bothering to stand up.

Meggie shifted from foot to foot. “Charlotte.”

“Hello, Meggie.”

Sighing at the imperious tone, Meggie scampered to the couch closest to where Charlotte sat in a winged back chair.

She assessed Stretch, her lip curling, before she scowled at Meggie. “I don’t recall offering you a seat.”

“I don’t recall asking for one,” Meggie snapped back, raising her hands in supplication. “I’ll get right to the point. Brooks is the club’s attorney. That means he has to represent the members if one of them is in trouble. Please allow him to do so without threat of divorce. He loves you.”