Chapter Three #2
“Forbidden?” Johnnie snapped his brows together. “You make me sound like a fucking creep. They aren’t forbidden, asshole.”
“They’re something . Hidden in a locked fucking drawer as they are.”
“I didn’t show you those motherfuckers for a fucking psychoanalysis,” Johnnie barked. “You wanted information on her. You have it.”
“Is she a fucking cunt? Will she be easy to talk to? Does she pitch pussy? Is she a good cocksucker? That’s information, dickhead. Answers. None of which still shots of her provide. I don’t even know if she’s truly that achingly gorgeous. Photos can be manipulated.”
Yesterday, Kendall and Mattie had a spa date with Megan and Rebel.
Because Bash was lurking again, Johnnie handpicked brothers he trusted to watch over his wife and daughter from afar.
They were younger members, in Diesel’s crowd, which amused Johnnie to no end.
He’d tapped brothers close to Diesel—and thus CJ —to assist him.
Some of the baddest and most brutal motherfuckers around, on par with Diesel’s viciousness.
And Bash had the audacity to call Johnnie stupid at yesterday’s meeting. He was fucking brilliant.
Smirking at his own magnificence, Johnnie dialed Dementor’s number and put him on speaker.
“Sorry, John Boy,” Dementor greeted. “Forgot to tell you I got the money just fine. Already gave Exorcist, Bedhead, Turbo, Nitro, and Alchemy their portion.”
Pounder lifted a brow. He needed to take a lesson on badass biker names. No matter the reason to have ‘Pounder’ as a nickname, it was still fucked up.
“Glad to hear, but I wasn’t calling for that,” Johnnie said. “I’m sure you would’ve let me know if you hadn’t received the fucking money.”
“Right, right,” Dementor agreed. “What can I do for you, boss?”
Johnnie straightened his shoulders, pleasure shooting through him. Big Joe hadn’t been the only Boss out there. “You never sent any shots from yesterday.”
Silence, then Dementor cleared his throat. “Big Red and Little Red are home all safe and sound. Why do you need the photos now?”
“Do you call Megan and Rebel Big Blondie and Little Blondie?”
Dementor snickered. “A fucking contradiction. Meggie is older but she sure the fuck ain’t bigger. Besides, never heard a motherfucker refer to those two as nothing other than Megan, Meggie, Rebel, or Reb.”
Johnnie grunted. “Can you send me date stamped photos of the four of them from yesterday? ”
“Inside or outside?”
“I beg your fucking pardon?”
“Ex bought a spa day for Nyx and her friends to celebrate her upcoming initiation. He asked to take a leak. After plunking down so much fucking cash, I guess they couldn’t deny him. Opening the wrong doors—”
Pounder’s laughter annoyed Johnnie as much as the dumbness of the guards.
“What the fuck is wrong with you fuckheads?” he yelled. “You’ve blown your fucking cover.”
“They didn’t see us, Johnnie,” Dementor huffed.
“Ex was watching the broads on the cameras. He saw Meggie leave one room and go to another one. He told me he asked the receptionist cunt why would a client walk the hallway in a robe. She told him she was going to a room with a bath in it or some shit. Fuck, I wasn’t there.
You got to ask him all the fucking details.
But he got a picture of her naked, floating in the water, with a mask over her eyes.
The stuff of fantasies. We also got photos of them going in and leaving. ”
“Send them,” Johnnie pushed out, and disconnected.
A moment later, he received an alert of a multimedia message coming through.
He stared at his phone, afraid to pick it up.
It had been years since he’d seen Megan without clothes.
He couldn’t imagine the level of betrayal he would commit.
Especially toward Kendall. Violation of Megan’s privacy would be another crime and make Johnnie no better than his grandfather.
Another message alert.
His gut twisted. The weeks of his treachery as Megan recovered had been put behind everyone.
Christopher still wanted to kill Johnnie, but even he was thawing.
If Johnnie looked at a nude photo of Megan, allowed another man from an enemy club to see her, there would be no turning back.
The only way he’d survive would be to run if Christopher ever discovered this perfidy. Megan would never forgive Johnnie.
Message alert three.
He didn’t know which photo came through first.
Licking his lips, he snatched the receiver from his office phone and dialed Dementor’s number.
“Yo?”
“Get rid of that fucking naked picture of Megan,” he snarled. Placing the call on speakerphone, he set the receiver down and covered his face. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“C’mon, John Boy. Cut us some slack. Ever since you told us how Meggie fucked you and Outlaw—”
Johnnie choked and dropped his hands. “I didn’t tell you that!”
“You don’t know what the fuck you said,” Dementor huffed again. “You were hopped up on pain meds. We didn’t even believe you until you showed us all those photos from that locked box in the closet.”
“I remember showing you the goddamn photos.”
“Do you remember laughing your ass off and bragging Outlaw wasn’t the only one who knew how her pussy felt?”
Jesus Christ, he was so fucking dead.
“Do you remember telling us Meggie sucks your cock so you’ll keep the secret of you and her fucking from Outlaw?”
He felt sick.
“Changed our entire perspective of that slut.”
“She’s not a slut—”
“According to Mortician, Val, and Digger, although he joined in our bet to see who can fuck her first. Now that they’ve seen her in her altogether, it’s even more of a race.”
“Listen to me—” Johnnie started.
“ And ,” Dementor went on. “It was Digger who amended the bet. He pointed out Outlaw already fucked over Meggie, so why waste our fucking money. Like you said, she’s a fucking whore. If we press her enough, she’ll open her legs to one of us.” He snickered. “Or all of us.”
“I was angry with her, Dementor. I was furious with Kendall and Mattie. Megan is a good woman. She’s only ever known Christopher— ”
“Digger said the same thing. We don’t believe you. You said she has a pussy bush. The picture shows she has a pussy bush. You said she had beautiful tits and red nipples. The photo proved you right again.”
Before Johnnie responded, his office door opened and Rory walked in. Pounder leaned over and turned.
“Dad—” Rory’s gaze fell on Pounder and his eyes widened, then flew to Johnnie’s.
“Meet me at the fucking club in two hours,” he ordered.
“Sure thing, Johnnie,” Dementor said.
Ignoring Rory’s narrowing gaze, Johnnie disconnected and set the receiver back on the base. He glared at Rory. “What are you doing here, son?”
Rory dragged his focus away and looked at Pounder. “Dude, whatever fuckery my dad is involving you in with Aunt Meggie, run . Uncle Christopher will kill you and Dad, and leave Mom devastated.”
The words killed Pounder’s amusement. Fed up, Johnnie jumped to his feet.
“You know better than to barge in my goddamn office and interfere with a business meeting.”
“Dad, listen to me . You don’t have a man who looks like Aunt Meggie’s fucking celebrity crush in your motherfucking office on a motherfucking Sunday for shits and giggles.”
“Except coincidence!” Johnnie roared. “DeLuca, this is my conspiracy theorist son, Rory.”
Pounder got to his feet and extended his hand. Rory squinted, looked at Johnnie, then at Pounder, and shook his head.
“You want to die, Dad.”
“I don’t—”
“DeLuca?” he cried. “This is fucking Pounder . He’s a Scorpion. He was there the day you killed those two Dwellers.”
“You saw me?”
“You were one of the Scorps with the shotgun,” Rory cried in frustration. “I was looking at everyone to figure out how to save my dad.” He turned to Johnnie. “You didn’t recognize him?”
That day started off on the wrong foot and ended with Johnnie having no choice but to kill his brothers to extricate himself, Rory, and Ryan out of a tense situation. Everything was a blur except the pain of the recent gunshot wound and the fear of dying.
“Don’t tell anyone, Rory,” Johnnie ordered.
Anger burned in Rory’s gray eyes. “Despite how much you’re trying to die, I still want you to stay alive. If for no other reason than Mom.”
“What are you doing here?”
“We just picked up Kaia and Kayce and were heading to Portland for the music festival. I saw your Navigator and asked CJ to pull in.”
Johnnie forgot about the festival. Otherwise, he would’ve parked his SUV around the back. It was just his luck, Kaia Riggs didn’t live far from here. Had it only been Kayce, this route wouldn’t have been used.
“Pounder was a certified financial professional once upon a time,” Johnnie said. “I’m interviewing him on behalf of Megan.”
Rory’s hard stare enraged Johnnie and he balled his fists.
“Hit me, Dad. Knock me the fuck out. You’re still so fucking wrong.”
“You’re my son. If I hit you and you hit me back—”
“I’d never,” Rory said with biting sarcasm. “I’ll just tell Mom.”
A confrontation Johnnie preferred not to have.
“You’re not doing anything for Aunt Meggie. She’d go to Uncle Mort, Lolly, Mom, or Uncle Knox for financial advisor recommendations. It’s how she ended up with Brett.”
“Are you fucking calling me a liar? ”
“I’m calling you a stupid fucking asshole. You’re not doing this for Aunt Meggie,” Rory reiterated, ignoring Johnnie’s growl. “This has Bash written all over it.”
“What are you doing here?” Johnnie roared, embarrassed and uneasy. “If it’s just to be nosy, you’ve seen me. Now, get the fuck out, keep your fucking mouth shut, and enjoy the goddamn festival.”
“Dad, listen to me ,” Rory said with the same urgency as before.
“Bash is jerking your chains. He’s just trying to see what he can make you do.
Don’t do whatever you’re about to do. Please .
I’m begging you. Please . I love you. I want the man I grew up around.
The one I admired and respected. I’ll beg you on my knees if I must.”