Meggie
He felt so fucking low, he doubled the amount of the cashier’s check, though he’d almost had a fucking heart attack giving the go-ahead. Fuck, he’d broken out in a cold sweat. But, as much as he wanted to fucking kill Digger, he didn’t want that stupid motherfucker to die.
Prez had been scarce since the meeting at Derby’s clubhouse, so Mortician went out of his way not to talk to Digger. That motherfucker would never learn. If Outlaw got a whiff of trouble between them, he’d want to know what’s up.
“I was thinking for tomorrow’s dinner, I’d cook Italian roulade,” Bishop said.
“We can sit at the table with you?” Kaia asked in surprise.
“Yes, of course, you’re part of the family—”
“We didn’t know,” Bishop said. “You haven’t been down to eat since you got out of the hospital, so it’s only been me and Kaia…I-I mean–”
“It’s fine,” Meggie promised. “Diesel’s back from wherever and I thought it would be a good time for us to all sit and try to get back to normal.”
Mort walked into view and she smiled at him.
“Hey, Mort.”
“Meggie girl.”
Kaia and Bishop flanked her. Bishop wore an apron over his clothes, though the patches on the front of his cut were still visible.
The chef’s hat was completely unnecessary, but if it made Meggie happy, he wouldn’t comment.
Here. He couldn’t wait to get that little motherfucker at the club, where he’d tease the fuck out of him.
Unable to meet Mort’s eyes, Bishop mumbled a greeting, then looked at Meggie.
“S-suppose we don’t want to eat with Diesel, er, the family?” Bishop asked nervously. “Would Outlaw shoot me for turning you down?”
“He better not,” Meggie said tightly. “Besides, you and Kaia are officially on the No-Kill List. He can’t touch you. Or else,” she added ominously.
Kaia and Bishop both swallowed and looked at Mort.
He shrugged. “Her ‘or else’ has more weight than you will ever know.”
“Do you want to eat with us. Mort?” she asked. “I told Bunny to invite Digger. I need to talk to him.” Not giving him a chance to reply, Meggie nodded to the stack of dishes in the sink. “Empty the dishwasher then refill it, Kaia.”
He studied the overflowing sink. It wasn’t like Meggie having a dirty kitchen. “Do I have to put all those dirty dishes in after?”
“You let them pile up.”
“I’ll help,” Bishop volunteered. “I’m cooking a simple meal tonight, so it won’t take long.”
Mortician sat at the island while Kaia and Bishop started emptying the dishwasher. Sighing, Meggie sat next to Mort and smiled at him.
“If a motherfucker want to feel like a giant, all he got to do is sit next to you,” he told her.
She lost her smile. “Christopher isn’t here,” she said abruptly.
Though Mort wondered what went through her mind, he didn’t ask. “I know. I need to talk to you.”
“First, I have a question for you that no one will answer.”
Fuck. Mort knew what she was about to ask, but he nodded.
“How’s Rule? No, where is my son? No one will tell me anything. Even Father Wilkins won’t answer my calls.”
“Prez got that information, Meggie girl,” Mort said carefully, hating to lie to her, but not knowing what else to do.
“I was scared Christopher wouldn’t tell me because he doesn’t think I deserve to know. That I’m an unfit mom.”
“You know he don’t really feel that way,” Mort said, walking a fine line and trying to console her while not betraying Outlaw. Prez didn’t feel that way, but not only didn’t the motherfucker have impulse control, he was on a quest to gentle Meggie down.
“Do you think I’m being too hard on my husband?” she asked.
Mort intended to talk to her about the argument, much preferable to the subject of Rule, but he had to save Digger first. He didn’t want Kaia and Bishop to overhear, so he lowered his voice. “I-I need to talk to you about my brother.”
Meggie’s eyes flared in surprise. “What about Digger?” she asked suspiciously.
Digger had committed a grave offense on whatever side of the law it was viewed.
On the ‘right’ side of the law, the badges would swoop his ass up. On their side of the law, Outlaw would kill him.
Fuck, but this was so fucking hard. If he’d thought he wouldn’t know how to get the words out, actually attempting a confession was so much worse.
“I-I saved CJ,” he blurted.
Folding her arms, Meggie leaned against the back of the stool and narrowed her eyes.
Heat and nausea rose in Mortician. Images of his brother’s dead body haunted him. More than likely, he would have to carry out Digger’s punishment or suffer the same fate.
Even now, he risked retaliation.
Clearing his throat, Mortician dug inside his cut and pulled the cashier’s check out of the pocket. He held it up, then placed it on the breakfast bar and slid it to her.
“It’s double what, uh, what–” He blew out a breath. “I’m begging you not to tell Outlaw what I’m about to say, Meggie. To explain…to…uh…”
She clenched her jaw and glared at him.
“I’m about to ask you to lie to him, but just hear me out—”
“I know my money’s missing, Mortician,” she cut in. “I found out a couple of days ago.” She slid the check back to him. “It isn’t your place to clean up Digger’s screw ups.”
“He can’t repay you. I…fuck, Meggie, I’m so fucking pissed with him, but I’ll get on my fucking knees and beg you if it means saving his life.”
“We all have choices in life. He made his. Why should you suffer because he’s a jackass?”
His nostrils flared and he studied her. “If you intended to talk to him tonight, Prez would want to know why.”
She sniffed.
“I’m not taking the money back.”
“Then that’s a million dollars wasted, because I am not accepting your money.”
“Just do me this favor. He’ll learn responsibility—” Unlikely, but—
“Doubtful,” Meggie snorted just as the thought crossed his mind. “How many years have I known you?”
“Eighteen—”
“Many years,” she interrupted. “Do you think I wouldn’t protect that ingrate for you? Bunny is also one of my best friends. I’d never have her husband killed because he’s a thief and a miserable little man.”
Mort felt so much relief, he almost collapsed, though he still wanted her to take the money. “Deposit this into whatever account you used to replace the money Digger took.”
“I closed the account.”
“Meggie—”
“Why’d he do it? If he confessed he stole, he must’ve told you the reason.”
“He was worried you’d look at the account and he had no way of undoing what he’d done.”
“What was so important that he stole my money?”
“To build Bunny a bigger house.”
“All he needed to do was ask me. I would’ve found a way to give him the money that saved his stupid pride.” She looked angry and hurt. “Never mind. He doesn’t like me. He preferred this way to being honest. He wanted to get over on me.”
“Meggie—”
“Don’t, Mortician,” she ordered and stiffened her spine. “We both know it’s true. What I do, I do for you and Bunny. His children. As far as I’m concerned, he could go the way of Johnnie.”
“He’s on your No-Kill List.”
“He’s on my Maybe Survive List,” she corrected.
Mort thought she was joking, so he chuckled, but the seriousness on her face killed his amusement.
“I’m sick of Johnnie and I’m sick of Digger.
No one can get through to Johnnie, but I wanted to get through to your brother.
I no longer count him as my friend or a member of my family.
That honor goes to you and Bunny.” She snatched the check and stuffed it into one of the outer pockets of his cut.
“I trusted him and he abused that trust too many times to count. I’m done with him. ”
“I understand.”
Drawing in a deep breath, she pushed back from the chair and got to her feet. “I’m going upstairs until dinner is ready.”
Mort caught her arm. “Meggie, baby, I know I’ve already pushed the boundaries of our friendship today by using CJ—”
“You didn’t have to,” she said. “I would’ve done it with or without that, so save that trump card for the next time Digger screws up.”
Smiling at her, he nodded. “Thank you.”
“I love you. You’re the big brother I never had. I would never bring you that much pain.”
“Even though you in pain?”
“Christopher was right,” she said flatly. “I suppose I’m angry with him because I’m angry with myself.”
“Prez always been passionate. He react then think about what the fuck he did.”
A smile tipped up her lips. “Like Rebel.”
“Just like his baby girl.”
“His words still hurt me.”
“You told him?”
“Why waste my breath?” she sniffed. “He knows it.”
Once he spoke his next statement, she might slap the shit out of him or put him out. “We not getting him back until we get you back.”
“I’ve cried buckets,” she said resentfully.
Without Mort saying it, she knew he wanted her to gentle down again.
“Angry, bitter tears, Meggie. Not gentle and cleansing.”
“I’m angry.”
He hadn’t released her arm, so he tugged her back to her stool and waited until she sat. “You told Prez about your new list?”
“I have to talk to him to tell him anything.”
Mort cocked his head to the side. “When you came up with the Maybe Survive list?”
“Two nights ago,” she said, confirming his suspicions. Probably after she discovered Digger’s theft. She didn’t say it, but the implication was there.
“Jo doing okay?” he asked, changing the subject and hoping his words sank in.
She nodded. “Kaia has been driving me to the hospital so I can spend the afternoon with her.”
“That’s tight. Maybe, I can stop in tomorrow or the next day.”
Meggie gave him a genuine smile. “She’d love to meet her Uncle Mort.”
Mort grinned, then cleared his throat, hating to circle back. But he had to secure her agreement. “I need you to find the old you, Meggie girl. Once Prez got his head on straight, fuck, order hits on any motherfucker that fuck over you, and I’ll carry it out on the down low.”
“Mort—”
“What I’m asking not fair, but no matter how the fuck Outlaw always piss you the fuck off, he adore you.”