Chapter Thirty-Four #2
“I suggest you start. First, you sponsored creeps who raped my niece and intended to assault my daughter. Now, you’re associated in a situation that almost cost me my son.
” Tears rushed to her eyes and she swallowed, reminding herself CJ survived, was home, and would be fine.
“I don’t care what Christopher or the club decides, you have one more infraction to commit against my children or my nieces and nephews, and I’ll see to it that you disappear and not even a chunk of you will be found. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
He nodded. “I’m sorry—”
“I don’t want to hear it, Potter.” She swiped at a renegade tear.
“You’re all idiots. I love my husband, but I’ve spent my life fearing for him.
Afraid I’d lose him. Then, I had to let my oldest son go.
I thought Diesel would focus on his law career.
The closer CJ got to eighteen, the more I braced myself to let him go, too.
” Her lips trembling, she glanced away, refusing to rehash the pain of that plan gone awry.
She sniffled. “Do you know the clubhouse was breached twice? Not long after I arrived and, again, when CJ was two. What if it happens again? Only this time not only will my husband be in the line of fire, not only Diesel, but every one of my sons, except Gunner. I can lose them all at once in an instant. And you idiots put CJ at risk? Men who are supposed to be on his side? And you expect me not to feel anything? Smile and say everything’s fine?
I think not. I don’t want your apologies.
I don’t want your explanations. I want you to act like you have sense, find your testicles, and protect my children.
If I can’t save them, I’m not interested in saving anyone else.
Now, get your bike and hope I’m interested in waiting for you. ”
Hands in pockets and head hung, Potter loped away.
“I’m Diesel’s friend, Meggie,” Torrin started.
She glared at him. “Are you searching for special privileges?”
“No, but I wasn’t there,” he cried. “Neither was Bishop. We wouldn’t have let CJ drink that shit.”
“I don’t believe you. You all suffer pack mentality with a pecking order. CJ was at the bottom—”
“That’s Outlaw’s son, woman!” Narci said. “Are you insane? He’s above everyone else.”
Torrin smiled. “Even Diesel.”
“Diesel’s older and also Christopher’s son, so how is CJ ahead of him?” Meggie demanded and smirked at the moron’s floundering.
“Meggie, we undervalued you,” Narci said, changing tactics. “I swear we’ll never do it again, but not only do we want to make amends and come back to the club, we need you to tell Outlaw to stop his killing spree.”
“If we have to get on our hands and knees and beg you,” Torrin added.
“One has nothing to do with the other,” Meggie said .
“I think it does,” Easton said. “He can accept them back and then shoot the fuck out of them anyway.”
“Did I ask for your opinion, Easton?” she said sweetly. “By the way, what’s your road name?”
“I’m just Easton.”
“You’re a biker and want to join the Dwellers. I’d stake my life you have a road name, but I’ll let Christopher figure that out.”
“Good, since you aren’t a club member,” Johnnie said. “So this isn’t your business.”
“Johnnie, Meggie still haven’t given Prez her cease and desist order to halt his kills.” Mortician still held his gun, but his hand rested at his side, barrel pointed to the ground. “Shut the fuck up before she have you killed.”
“You’d stop him, wouldn’t you, Megan?” Johnnie asked. “If only because of how you once felt about me.”
Shaking his head, Mortician huffed.
The avid interest of the other men didn’t escape Meggie’s notice. Johnnie put her in this predicament on purpose. Rumors were flying around the club about her promiscuity and suddenly, she knew, without a doubt, Johnnie was responsible.
Long ago, the tiny piece of her heart he’d once claimed was released under the weight of his bitterness and anger. She’d become his favorite punching bag, figuratively. Christopher mourned the loss of her sweetness. She just mourned the loss of her innocence.
Even after years of danger and peril, after years of all the women, Meggie still searched for the good in people and the beauty of life.
She played peacemaker and devil’s advocate for the sake of her husband, in the interest of her entire family, and for the good of the club.
With one wrong word, one bad decision, she affected too many lives to count .
Because Christopher made it his life’s mission to study her, dissect each little quirk, unmask her soul and her heart.
For so many years, he knew when she was upset or hurt or cranky or tired.
He knew her better than he knew himself.
Her doctors reported to him. She had trackers on her car and her SUV.
She agreed to trackers in whichever purse she used and on her phone.
Sometimes, she even had one in a piece of clothing she wore. Cameras were all over the house.
In her head, Christopher’s measures meant her children were also protected.
In her mind, the issue had been settled about which son would join at what point in time.
She understood some of the brothers could take her or leave her, and that was okay.
For the most part, however, she believed the majority of them liked her. At least enough to never harm her kids.
Yet, her years of service to the club didn’t matter. They thought her a hypocrite. She understood what Nyx meant now. Somehow, Johnnie made them believe something lurid about her.
“Let me ask you something, Johnnie?” she said, sniffling and swiping at the tears pouring down her cheeks. “What would Kendall say if she knew you were spreading rumors about me?”
“Rumors? You’re out of your fucking mind?”
“No, jerk. I know you. Mean, bitter, and spiteful. How many ways do I have to tell you I never saw you as lesser . Once. I—”
“Once?” he spat. “Does that mean you do now?”
“I think you’re a raging moron, so yes, you’re so far below Christopher, you couldn’t climb out of the mire and up to his level in a thousand lifetimes.”
“You little bitch.”
She looked at Narci, Torrin, and Bishop, damning her tears.
This is why everyone looked at her with such derision.
She preferred the icy version of herself, but she still hadn’t gotten over almost losing CJ.
She sucked in a breath. Her son had survived.
That was all that mattered. If she expected her husband and children—especially the victim in this entire situation—to move forward, she needed to pull herself together.
“I owe none of you an explanation. The next time you want to know who I slept with, ask Christopher and see how that works out for you.”
The roar of Potter’s bike filled the silence, so she waited until he rode into sight and halted next to Mort’s bike before she continued.
“Furthermore, hypocrites, you all sleep with everything around. If my sex life is so interesting, you must lead very boring lives.”
“We’re so sorry, Meggie,” Narci said, truly regretful for the first time since he’d appeared. “Talk to Prez. On our behalf and on the behalf of…of…”
“The world,” Torrin added.
Meggie rolled her eyes. “Overdramatic much?”
“You like thinking about Prez killing all these motherfuckers, Meggie girl?”
She shook her head.
“The motherfuckers responsible for CJ’s overdose dead,” Mortician continued.
Sighing, he returned his gun to the holster at his side, walked to her and tipped her chin up.
“I know we all been shady motherfuckers lately and we hurt you a lot, but Outlaw was so feared because he don’t hesitate to pull the fucking trigger.
You gave him a conscience. You don’t think he not making up for lost time? ”
She clenched her jaw.
“All right, baby,” Mortician said bleakly, dropping his hand away. “If you want those motherfuckers who wronged you iced, then I’ll call Prez.” He cleared his throat and gave her a sad smile. “But that mean Digger too, and maybe, even Bailey.”
Johnnie, too, which would devastate his wife and children.
“I’ll tell him to stop,” she whispered .
Once again, the sound of Harley pipes halted conversation. She, along with everyone else, turned. It didn’t surprise her to see Christopher roaring their way, helmetless, a beautiful speed demon on an exquisite machine.
She ignored the collective groans and didn’t pay attention to Johnnie angling himself in front of Easton. Christopher dismounting and storming to her captivated her.
Until he reached her.
He grabbed her and shook her. “What the fuck, Megan?” he snarled. “Sneakin’ here to pitch pussy at Easton fuckin’ Love? Of all the fuckin’ places? You had to twist the fuckin’ knife deep as possible and couldn’t even get a motel to get your revenge.” He shook her again.
Meggie had had enough. Because of his jealousy, Christopher had inadvertently played right into the rumors circulating about her.
She managed to get her bearings, stood on her tiptoes, balled her fist, and connected with his jaw. Then, she shoved him, catching him when he was still reeling from her punch, and knocking him off his feet. She sprung on him and rained blows on his head and jaw. Somehow, he gripped her wrists.
She bounced on his stomach.
“Oomph,” he gasped, though he didn’t release her.
Leaning forward, she bit his chin.
“Ouch, you little pain-in-the-ass motherfucker.”
She punched him again. “You big jerk. I haven’t slept with anyone. I didn’t think about sleeping with anyone.”
“The fuck you ain’t! Don’t think I don’t see this motherfucker hidin’ behind Johnnie. Obviously, Mort and John Boy smoked you out.”
“Stop judging me by what you do,” she yelled, prevented from smacking him because he clamped his fingers around her wrists again.
“I ain’t done nothin’,” he growled.
“Neither have I!” Meggie snarled. “I especially haven’t been unfaithful.”
“Ain’t carin’ if you were. I’d just hold you prisoner until you didn’t want to cheat. That motherfucker? He’s fuckin’ dead.”
“You’re insane, Christopher.”
He loosened his hold on her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and stood. She squeaked. Once he was on his feet, he set her on hers.
He thrusted his chin toward Potter, Narci, Bishop, and Torrin. “What the fuck these motherfuckers here for?”
“They’re the reason I’m here,” she said. “Didn’t you see them?”
“All I been thinkin’ about is you givin’ another motherfucker your beautiful fuckin’ smile. You lettin’ him in you. I don’t even fuckin’ remember how I got here. Once I tracked Johnnie’s Navigator, then realized Mort’s bike was here, I figured it had something to do with you.”
“You automatically assumed it was me having sex with Easton Love, right?”
“You was on the phone with him and then lied to my fuckin’ face about why you bailed on our meetin’.”
She glanced at Mortician, who nodded.
“I was on the phone with Mort,” she said. “CJ asked me to talk to them—” She pointed to the four renegades— “and hear their side so they could come back to the club without you killing them.”
Christopher glanced away. “The thought of you with another motherfucker just about kill me, Megan. Only reason Johnnie stayed alive was cuz you ain’t ever fucked him. Otherwise, that motherfucker would’ve been dead, too.”
“So me just smiling at a man or befriending him—”
“You ain’t bein’ friends with no swingin’ cock, Megan. Ain’t ever fuckin’ happenin’.”
She stiffened.
Christopher winced. “I ain’t friends with those bitches at the club! Or no other girl.”
Sniffing, she folded her arms.
He reached for her again, but Mort stepped in front of her. “Prez, Meggie girl not ever cheating on you. She love you.”
“I want to carve this motherfucker face off,” Christopher roared.
Since Meggie couldn’t see from behind Mortician, she assumed Christopher meant Easton.
“The lookalike of the one motherfucker that make Megan forget her own fucking name want to be her advisor.”
“Do you think Nyx is beautiful, Christopher?” Meggie asked.
“Yeah, but I ain’t touchin’ her.”
“We all know how gorgeous you thought Torie was,” she said.
“I’m sick of your fuckin’ bullshit, Megan.
I want my sweet angel back. She was hard efuckinuff to handle.
Hell goddess fuckin’ impossible. You got Outlaw-sanctioned motherfuckers around you.
Case fuckin’ closed. You can’t even smile at no other motherfucker.
You can’t talk to no other motherfucker.
Or they all fuckin’ die. End of fuckin’ story. ”
Meggie was so mad, she wanted to find something and knock Christopher out.
He wasn’t called Psycho Stalker Wildman for nothing and she knew the risks she’d taken by pretending she was meeting with Easton Love.
But what was she supposed to do? She hadn’t wanted Christopher to shoot Bishop, Narci, Potter, and Torrin on sight.
She figured if she and Mortician heard their story and made the decision to bring them back to the club, they’d talk to Christopher together and gentle him down.
After all, she’d unleashed the beast.
For him to expect the benefit of the doubt and not allow jealousy to blind her to their years together without affording her the same courtesy infuriated her.
She poked Mortician’s back and he glanced over his shoulder.
“Take me back to the club,” she ordered.
“You ain’t gettin’ on the back of no motherfucker bike but mine. You outta your motherfuckin’ mind?”
She shook with rage. “Christopher,” she said, fury lacing her voice, “I’m leaving with Mortician.
The next time I see your bike, it better be new since we both know I’m not the only woman who was on the back of your bike.
Narci, Potter, Bishop, and Torrin are returning to the club, unscathed.
Easton Love is leaving unmolested. And your killing spree is over.
CJ’s been avenged. We’re moving forward and getting back to our regular lives.
” She stepped next to Mortician. “ Asshole ,” she said to her husband, shoved him one last time, then turned to the enforcer. “Let’s go.”