“You’re being a concerned friend, son. I will figure something out. Let me think on it.”
She isn’t telling the truth.
Fuck you! She is. I believe Mom.
Although Rule was taller than his mother, she urged his head on her shoulder and stroked his hair, just as she once did when he was a small kid.
“Do you want to hear what Rebel bought you?”
“A lot,” Rule said, his chest easing. His twin loved to shop. “I can only imagine.”
Mom laughed. “That girl canshop.”
Rule relaxed against his mother. “She didn’t steal it, Mom. You can shop, too.”
“True.”
Sadness enveloped him again. “I guess since we’re meeting in the visitation area, you can’t stay long.”
“We’re meeting here so I can borrow Father Wilkins. I will have lunch with him and Freya, while you, Rebel, and Bianca eat here. We’ll have dinner on the bluffs about five and then Rebel and I will head back to Uncle Mortician’s estate. We fly home tomorrow.”
“You’re spending the whole day with me?” Rule whispered.
Mom kissed his forehead. “We are, son.”
Rule couldn’t think of anything else to say, except, “Thank you, Mom.”
Instead of going home after she concluded her business in Nampa, Kendall headed straight to the office. Not only did she have to complete Diesel’s new contract that gave him equity in the firm, she had to count the genealogy tests she’d ordered. When she got back into the area and turned on her phone, she had a ton of messages. Outlaw informed her the meeting would be moved to Celia’s and told her he’d emailed her a list of people that still needed to be swabbed.
Thankfully,hewas footing the bill. He’d tapped more motherfuckers than Kendall had on her list. She would’ve suggested only the genealogy kits if not for the urgency. She alsoconsidered foregoing them altogether, but they’d help her to build proper family trees.
She’d already started on the Donovans, even adding Jana as one of Johnnie’s children. The worst kept open secret ever that only needed confirmation.
Just as she realized she needed to order ten more kits, her door opened and Charlotte breezed in. She wore a frosted blue tweed skirt and jacket with satin trim, her hair in a tight bun and light make-up on her face. Today’s jewel of choice was pearl—studs in her ears, a triple row bracelet on her right wrist, and a choker around her neck.
Kendall smiled at her, happy to see Charlotte once again able to own designer clothes and expensive jewelry. “I was going to return your call.”
Charlotte also left a message for her. She considered telling Charlotte about her plans if Johnnie didn’t straighten up, but she didn’t trust the woman not to open her mouth.
“Don’t worry about that, dear. I know you’ve been busy.” Charlotte lifted a brow as if she expected Kendall to expound. “With whatever,” she added with meaning. “I’ve been so worried about you, darling. You usually respond to me by the end of the day, but nothing.”
The weight of what Kendall intended to do pressed down on her. Thinking about escaping and losing contact with Brooks, Charlotte, Roxy, Meggie, Mortician…everyoneshe loved wasgood in theory. Faced with the actuality, though, and her grand plan fell apart. It seemed selfish and cowardly.
Tears rushed to her eyes and her shoulders slumped.
“Kendall, darling…” Charlotte halted, took one look at Kendall, and rushed forward. “You’re crying! Has Meggie done something to you? I told you not to trust her.”
“Meggie hasn’t done anything to me,” Kendall said tiredly. She hadn’t even spoken to her sister-in-law. Had Meggie even left her a message? Odd. They called each other several times a day. “I…” What the fuck could she say?
“Is it one of those children?”
Deflating, Kendall rested her elbows on the desk, and dropped her head into her hands. “What children? Never mind. Meggie’s, I assume. I haven’t seen them in several days.”
“Nothischildren.Hischildren. Your husband’s.”
Kendall stiffened, straightened, and slowly lifted her head. “Are you referring tomyfucking children?”
“I am. They are vile little savages. You know I love those kids as if I gave birth to them myself, but you must admit they are bringing you down as much as Meggie. Were it me, I’d ship them off to boarding school and hire a hitman for her.”
