Chapter 15b Kendall #2
“I’m well aware. What do you want?”
Ophelia stepped closer. “One is exclusively for the ballroom.”
Meggie glowered at her.
“You know when Mama died, Christopher was so alone.”
“Who’s fault was that?” Meggie bit out.
“You’d left him and—”
“Not. And if you aren’t about to add you and your sisters deserted him, don’t say another word.”
“We were hurting. We blamed him for Mama’s death.”
Meggie wondered how they’d feel if they knew just how vile Patricia had been.
She didn’t care. Her concern was Christopher’s reaction.
Discovering her own mother’s treachery wasn’t as shocking to read about in those horrific letters as finding out just what a bitch his mother had been.
She’d killed so many people, including Cee Cee’s granddaughter. She was a psychotic hypocrite.
Did Cee Cee’s violation destroy her sanity? Meggie didn’t know since her craziness started after. Cee Cee’s assault was so disturbing that Meggie couldn’t help but feel for her mother-in-law. But that didn’t excuse everything she’d done between that time and when Rack killed her.
Christopher blamed himself for his mother’s lot in life. He blamed himself for her death. Yet Meggie knew he still idolized her. If the truth wouldn’t completely destroy his faith in humanity, she’d tell him she’d gotten her wretched self killed.
Snake, that idiot, just threw out my father, your mother to torture Christopher.
“Mama meant everything to us, Meggie,” Ophelia went on. “She wanted Christopher to stop being a biker. If he had, she would’ve lived.”
“Don’t you hand me that nonsense,” Meggie snarled. “After all these years, you have the unmitigated gall to still blame Christopher for Patricia’s death. Rack killed her.”
“I’m not blaming him. And he killed her because of Christopher.”
“What do you want? At the moment, you’re thoroughly testing my patience. Tell me why you sought me out and then get out of my face with your nonsense.”
“Christopher loves you.”
“I’m not interested in discussing my marriage, or your brother, with you.”
“We were friends.”
“As long as Cash is against Christopher and you are aligned with him, we are enemies.”
“But—”
“I’m not interested in anything you have to say, Ophelia. We went through this song and dance at dinner. You aren’t changing my mind.”
“Christopher and I made up because of you,” Ophelia pressed.
“Remember? You facilitated that. I’m trying to help you see how wrong you are.
Our jobs, as women, is to stand by our men and raise their children.
I cannot believe you’d walk away from him when he needs you the most. You aren’t the woman I thought you were and my brother may be better off without you.
You keep him all twisted. I refuse to confuse Cash by adding my two cents.
I may not agree with him. However, I have to stand by him until he works through this.
Cash is brilliant. Like Johnnie. If they think peace is what’s needed, then I’m not going to get in his head and make him second guess himself. You need to try that.”
Meggie studied her nails.
“Did you even hear me?”
Every word. “I’m sorry, what?” She held up one of her hands. “I was just wondering what color nail polish I should get at my next mani.”
“You’ve turned into such a cold-hearted bitch!” Ophelia cried. “No wonder your marriage is falling apart.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Meggie said with a wave of her hand. “If you’re through talking to the air since that’s the only thing willing to listen to you, I’m going to check on Gunner and Blade.”
She stood, but Ophelia laid a hand on her arm and stopped her.
“I love my brother. Zoann and I are his only sisters left, and I won’t turn my back on him again.”
“In theory,” Meggie retorted. “In practice? That Harley rode out the gate when Cash opened his stupid mouth and aligned with Johnnie.”
“Cash isn’t stupid,” Ophelia gritted.
“Cash is a moron,” Meggie said flatly. “I don’t care if you like it or not. It doesn’t matter if you agree. It doesn’t change the facts.”
Ophelia blinked rapidly, then folded her arms. “I talked to him, okay?” she shouted, swiping at an angry tear.
“I talked to him, and he told me that when Tarmac was born, something fundamental inside him changed. He had a child to carry his name and he wants to protect that child at all costs. He begged me to understand. I don’t, though.
I try. Stretch is so furious with him, they might be headed for divorce.
My family is disintegrating, and I don’t know what to do.
Cash won’t listen.” She glared at Meggie.
“So Miss Genius Know-it-All, what now? I’ve talked to him about the way he treats Winnie since Tarmac was born.
I’ve talked to him about how he deserted Christopher.
I’ve fucking talked to him about it all and it didn’t help!
He’s still against Christopher. He’s still running our house like it’s a fucking boot camp.
I don’t know what’s invaded him in these last few months. ”
Johnnie. Meggie didn’t know how he’d gotten Cash on his side, but she knew Johnnie was the reason for his most drastic changes.
“So, Meggie with answers for everything, tell me what’s the next steps in your big brain arsenal. Obviously, you have the answers for everything except your own fucking marriage.”
Meggie couldn’t top Zoann’s comeback to Ophelia about marriages, therefore she wouldn’t waste her breath. She smiled coldly. “Do you really want to hear what’s next?”
“I asked the fucking question, didn’t I?”
“You did,” Meggie confirmed. “When I get home, I’m telling Diesel to kill Cash.” She looked Ophelia up and down, ignoring how the color leeched from her face and her mouth dropped open. “That should solve the problem, wouldn’t you say?”
Ophelia reached for her, but Meggie backed away. “Meggie, wait—”
“Have a good night,” she said, and stormed away.
“Meggie!”
She kept walking.
Her bedroom was fucking gray. Headboard, bedding, walls, and carpet. The door leading to the bathroom was a darker gray.
Bailey had lost her fucking mind. Or, maybe, Kendall lost hers because she’d chosen this monstrosity, thinking it would be a change from the monochromatic scheme throughout most of the house.
But, Jesus, this room was gloomier than the rest of the house. A Scottish moor with a gray fortress plopped in the middle of a cloudy sky was brighter than this.
Staring at the ceiling—as equally gray as the rest of the suite—Kendall sincerely wished Mortician wasn’t so devoted to Bailey. She didn’t fucking deserve him. He was the bright light in all their lives and Bailey was trampling his feelings.
Bitch.
However, he was devoted to Bailey and she was Roxy’s daughter. For better or worse, that made her one of theirs and Kendall wouldn’t allow another woman to fuck up what Bailey was doing perfectly well on her fucking own.
Kendall made a face and huffed out fumes of wine. Her allegiance was to Mortician, but she’d protect his marriage even if it meant protecting his wife on his behalf.
Otherwise, Bailey could fuck herself.
Turning, Kendall curled up but couldn’t get comfortable. The evening had annoyed her to no fucking end. Between Ophelia and Gypsy, she didn’t know who needed a goddamn punch more.
Growling, she sat up, leaned over, then turned on the fucking gray lamp, certain if Bailey could’ve found a fucking gray lightbulb, she would have.
She reached for her phone to pull up photos of her husband and children, then remembered she had a burner.
The only images she had of her family were the ones she conjured in her head.
Tears rushed to her eyes, but she gritted her teeth. She refused to shed one motherfucking tear. Especially over that fuckhead.
The brainless blond.
She giggled again, then burped, and laughed wildly. Somehow, her chuckles turned into sobs. Deep, gut-wrenching sobs that she couldn’t stop.
Suddenly, arms encircled her. She hadn’t heard that dark gray door opening, but she knew it was Roxy because of the coconut and bergamot she favored.
“It’s okay, sugar.”
Kendall held on tighter. “It isn’t, Roxy. Because I can’t do it anymore. I can’t stay with Johnnie. I tell myself I’m giving him one last chance by going home and trying to convince him to work with me. He won’t do it, though. He’s such a fuckhead.”
“I won’t deny that.”
“I don’t want to leave. Despite everything, I love Johnnie, but I just can’t stay. Not under the circumstances.”
“Sugar—”
“I know you’re going to tell me to talk to Outlaw. Christopher,” she amended glumly.
“That’s the last motherfucker I want you to talk to right now,” Roxy snapped. “Not until after I punch him in his fucking mouth and cut off his fucking hands.”
Kendall snapped her brows together. “What did he do?”
Sniffing, Roxy scooted back and folded her arms. “Let’s focus on you right now.”
Squinting, Kendall considered what Roxy was to do to Meggie’s husband. Punch him in his mouth. He had spoken horrendously to his wife. But cut off his hands? “Did he hit Meggie?”
“No,” Roxy grouched, then explained what he did do.
“So, let me get this straight? He screamed at Meggie, manhandled her, and hid shit from her?”
“All in one fucking evening,” Roxy confirmed.
“They are all fucking assholes,” Kendall seethed. “Except Mortician.”
“And Val.”
Kendall nodded. “I’ll agree with that.”
“Digger hasn’t been the nicest recently, but we can give him a pass, too.”
“No the fuck we can’t,” Kendall snarled, detailing Digger’s fucking crimes.
“Lawd Jesus, I’m about to catch a case in this motherfucker,” Roxy said. “Are you serious, Kendall?”
“Very,” she grumbled, rapidly sobering.
“These motherfuckers are out of hand.”
“They are. But Johnnie is the worst of the lot. He’s betrayed the club and…Mattie’s afraid of him.” Kendall started to sob again. “Did you hear my baby talk about her own father? I can’t stay under those circumstances.”
“I thought he was getting better.”