Misfit(245)

Standing, Meggie gave her a gentle smile. “Give him time. He’ll come around eventually. Meanwhile, you focus on getting well and I’ll check on you later.”

After giving Fee another hug, Meggie departed, leaving Fee to breathe a little easier in the wake of her forgiveness.





Stretch hobbled along the edges of the gate as his duty time slugged by. At close to nine in the morning, he’d already been on his detail for three hours. He’d take a piss break soon and sneak to Zoann’s house to talk to Fee. Outlaw’s rightful anger devastated her. Although they’d wanted to accompany her to her sister’s house last night, Val told them to stay away. Enough problems existed without their presence adding to it.

Fee’s phone was off, and Cash rode out with Outlaw a while ago, so that left Stretch to stew and ponder.

“Stretch!” Slipper called from behind him.

Wary, he turned, frowning at Slipper’s burp. He was so fucking gross. “What?”

“Prez around?”

He didn’t like that question. Slipper had Outlaw’s phone number just like the rest of them. “Call him and ask.” He’d been scared when Slipper had barged into the room, but Stretch decided he had to stand up for himself. If he was going to die, he’d die fighting as he’d decided when he fought for Hanson.

Hanson hadn’t survived, but Stretch had. As fucked up as the sentiment was, life went on. It didn’t mean he’d ever forget his friend. It meant he was ready to use the second chance he’d been given.

“I haven’t been calling him much lately. The way he shot Mink and Rock scared me a little. I don’t want him to turn on me if I say the wrong thing, brother.”

Brother? Was Slipper really accepting him that easily? All Stretch could do was trust the man’s words and stay vigilant.

“You know Outlaw, Slipper. He’s said his peace, meted out the punishments, and moved on. You need to do the same.”

The sight of Zoann’s car coming from the access road and heading in his direction made him tune Slipper’s response out. He had several things to ask her.

As she rolled up to the keypad to punch in her code, Stretch indicated she roll down her window.

“Hey,” she called. “Everything okay?”

The day of Fee’s release she’d looked the other way when Stretch gave Fee the rose. “Is it okay to visit Fee later?”

“Sure, baby. You can visit any time you like,” she said, then leaned over and punched in a number.

“You have a minute?” he said quickly, while he still had the courage. Zoann was as intimidating as Outlaw and Johnnie. “There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

She sat back and shielded her eyes from the sun. “How can I help you?”

“I’ve been scarred and crippled for months and in pain just as long,” he started. “O-Outlaw offered to pay for whatever surgery I wanted. I’m ready to undergo all necessary operations so I can walk without a cane. I, um, I need to be able to protect Fee.”

Her grin lit up her face. “Good for you, Stretch! I know several bone and joint surgeons.”

“I have one already. If you know a good plastic surgeon, I’d appreciate a name and number.”

“I’ll look through my contacts,” she promised, a curious light in her eyes. “This isn’t a snap decision because of Fee, is it? You have to do this for yourself as much as for my sister.”

Grinning, Stretch shook his head. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. This isn’t a snap decision, but it was Fee who decided me.” No, it was Slipper, but he wouldn’t mention that since it didn’t seem any of the girls knew about the incident. “I want to be the best I can be for her.” Glancing over his shoulder, he stepped closer to the car. Slipper lagged in the background. “And for Cash,” he admitted on a whisper. “For me, too.”

“It’s okay, Stretch. I understand. You’re going to get the best of everything. I have an appointment to get to, but later on, I want the name of this orthopedic surgeon. If I don’t feel he’s good enough for you, you’re getting another one.”

He saluted her, laughing at her flip-off.

“Get used to it,” she ordered, finally punching in her code so the gate could slide open. “You’re part of my family now.”

As he watched her drive off, Stretch allowed those words to turn over in his head and stiffened his spine. Maybe, being amongst the living wouldn’t be so bad, after all.





Dragging herself from the bedroom, Kendall headed to the kitchen, waiting for the sounds of Rory and Johnnie. Knowing they wouldn’t come. By now, her household would be awake and she’d be heading to her home office, after going to Matilda’s nursery to change her from nightwear and into her morning robe and a clean diaper. Sometimes, she fed and bathed her daughter. Most times, she waited for Ella and sat in the rocking chair, reading to her. Bonding with her. Being the mother to her that her mother had never been. To her little girl. But her son?