“Even better,” Meggie said viciously.
“I’m sorry, Megan,” Johnnie sobbed.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Bash said in disgust.
Christopher lit a cigarette. “Nope. That motherfucker like to cry like a bitch.”
His sobs annoyed Meggie so much becauseeverythingwas his fault.
“Would you please shut up, Johnnie?” she said. “We don’t care how miserable you are. You should be. We bought that school for a reason. Soourchildren, the children of our members, could be safe. Christopher put you in charge because you have a lot of business acumen. You missed the line when common sense was handed out, but somehow you’re brilliant in the office. You’re so filled with moronic delusions, you couldn’t even find it in yourself to keep our children safe. Mattie doesn’t deserve any of what you do to her, but this is the most egregious. And I hope Mortician beats you to a bloody pulp for risking Harley.”
“I deserve it.”
“First thing we agree on in ages,” she fumed.
“Are you going to have me killed?”
“You know you should die. That’s why you’re so worried.”
“I love life.”
“You could’ve fooled me. You don’t love it enough if you keep crossing Christopher. Hmmm. Let’s see.” She laid a finger on her jaw. “Brother-in-law? Husband? Christopher or Johnnie? Yes, right!” she said wildly. “You should die before you get my husband killed. Because,you, idiot, didn’t think you should go to the clubhouse and give Bash’s side so Christopher wouldn’t risk his life cominghere.”
“I’m sorry,” Johnnie said again. “No one at the clubhouse wants me. Bash was talking to me. We were trying to figure out how to save Easton.”
“All you needed to do was pick up your phone andcall Christopher.”
“Iwant to be a hero.”
“Heroes know their strengths and weaknesses.”
“Do you think Christopher does?” Johnnie cried.
“Yes, jerk. How many times has he said how much he needed you and that other moron, Cash?”
“You have it wrong. Heroes save the day, Megan. I wanted to be a hero in yours and Kendall’s eyes.”
“You’re so far from that, you couldn’t achieve that goal if you walked through the frigging desert for the next fifty years.”
Christopher and Bash snickered.
“Talk to Kendall for me. Tell her how sorry I am. She won’t listen to me, but she’ll hear you.”
“No.”
“Please. I’ll do anything. I can’t lose her.”
“You’ve betrayed me too many times for me to believe you won’t do it again.”
“Megan—"
Meggie looked at Christopher and he lifted a brow, silently asking to kill Johnnie, anticipation and hope in his eyes. She shook her head. As much as it galled her, if she didn’t pull back a little, her husband would give into his urge. Right now, they needed to stand by Kendall while she supported Mattie, not add to their trauma by killing Johnnie.
“I left Kendall at the clubhouse,” Meggie said, wrestling her temper under control. “She’s in a state, Johnnie. I don’t understand how you couldn’t foresee your actions wouldn’t somehow affect her and Mattie,” she said, forgetting herself. She wanted Johnnie dead, too. “How could you?”
“I’m so–”
“If you say that lie again, I will let Christopher kill you. You’re no one’s hero, especially not Kendall’s.” She hated to use herself because mentioning Kendall should be enough. For Johnnie, it wasn’t. “And you aren’t mine. In my eyes, you’re nothing but Logan Donovan in a different body. You’re pathetic, vile, and evil. You are a lost cause and a disappointment. You want to be Christopher, but you don’t deserve the Caldwellname because you’re a Donovan to the bone.” A stray tear rolled down her cheek. Long ago, Johnnie had severed their friendship, but she’d still seen him as a vital part of their family and Christopher’s circle.
