Scowling, he took her into his arms just as Janet Jackson sang the first notes ofFunny How Time Flies. Kendall laid her head on his shoulder, following his lead, trusting the movements of his body, feeling safer and more secure than she had in months.
When Miss Jackson began speaking in French and moaning, his cock stirred against her and he released her, ordering the device to stop the song.
Kendall tipped her head back and held Mortician’s gaze. Just for a moment, they connected on a different level, saw each other in a different light, but she knew reality would tear them apart and she’d lose him forever when their bond was the one constant in her life.
Their lips touched, a short, barely there kiss that righted their world again and put their temporary madness behind them.
She stepped out of his arms and cleared her throat. “Beer or vodka?”
“Another beer.”
“You get the cards out of the drawer.” She pointed to the drawer in question. “I’ll get our drinks.”
“Deal.”
Mortician and Kendall spent Tuesday together.
When no one could find Kendall that day, Johnnie hadn’t made much of it, especially with everything else going on and Mattie so upset.
Yesterday with time on his hands and time to ruminate about all that happened, Johnnie pulled up the information from Kendall’s tracking devices. Her car had been at the office, but Beams told him she’d left on the back of Mortician’s bike, so Johnnie pulled that motherfucker’s information.
As an officer, he had access to whoever Christopher tracked. On a daily basis, it was their family, but when there was important business one of the brothers went on, he tracked them too.
He’d been so distracted he hadn’t enjoyed castrating and disemboweling Wally, Jr. It was a disappointment anyway because the motherfucker was already dead. Instead of respecting Johnnie and summoning him to Tee’s,Morticiankilled Wally, Jr. To score points with Kendall.
Fury, laced with distaste, flowed through Johnnie.
Mattie washisdaughter and, from what he understood, Gypsy was already fucked up. Mortician didn’t have to kill that fuckhead. Something else for Johnnie to resent the enforcer for.
He’d deprived Johnnie of vengeance and the sight and smell of spilled blood that sent him into a frenzy. He’d wanted to make Wally, Jr. suffer. Cry. Beg. Plead to keep his cock attached and his intestines inside his abdominal cavity.
But, no.AllMortician left for him was a fuckingcorpse. Fucking asshole.
Tipping his head back, Johnnie glanced at the star-dotted sky. Progress hadn’t touched this area of Hortensia as much as ithad almost everywhere else, so artificial lighting didn’t affect the nighttime panorama as much. He could walk to the side of the clubhouse or a few yards near their private access gate and gaze at the moon’s beauty or the interplanetary gleam.
Maybe wish upon a star and have his life return to happier times. An annoyance had turned into chaos. Now, that chaos was at a boiling point threatening to explode into an unrecoverable rampage.
Lately, all of Johnnie’s efforts fell apart. He still couldn’t believe how Kendall smashed his gift. He probably could’ve chosen better words to express his feelings, but he’d just wanted her to know that he admired her maturity and that Bash’s tactics reminded Johnnie that he’d fight to the death for her and to keep her at his side.
His nostrils flaring, he backed into the shadows, leaned against the wall, and lit a cigarette. All around him, groups of brothers laughed and joked. The men he’d courted didn’t hang around long nowadays because they realized Christopher didn’t give a fuck. Even the prospect of being voted out couldn’t stop him. Because of Megan.
Johnnie had overplayed that fucking hand, something else he regretted. But she was her father’s daughter. He should’ve expected her ruthless viciousness to emerge.
Fuck her and her unpredictability. Johnnie was so fucking glad hehadn’tended up with Megan. She would’ve driven him fucking crazy. One day, she’d act sweet and loving and the next fucking day she’d want heads rolling.
Fuck her.
Fuck.
Her.
Swallowing, Johnnie shoved thoughts of that blonde aside, drawing on his cigarette and wishing for a blunt.
Memories of Kendall’s earlier devastation overtook his admiration and annoyance toward Megan. Kendall was such a good mother. Unlike Megan, who only punched,Kendallwas willing to swing that bat herself in her quest for justice.Meganwould’ve sent Christopher or Diesel to do her bidding.
Fuck her.
Bash wanted to fuck Megan just to humiliate her. With Kendall, he admired her brain and beauty. She was a real woman. Megan was just prey.
