“As if you’d fucking confess.”
“I-I told you I-I needed time to myself to think. What you told me about you and Rory, knowing about the girls and—”
“Fuck you. You ran away from me and your children because you didn’t like what I said to you?” That didn’t make any fucking sense, especially since he’d apologized to her.
“I expected better from Rory.”
Johnnie allowed those words to sink in and her insinuation deepened his anger. “But not from me?”
Instead of responding, she said, “Don’t take my kids away—”
“You know you couldn’t win, don’t you? It doesn’t matter what Brooks and Diesel or whoever argued, you’re unstable. You always have been and you always will be. Even now, you’re a danger to yourself. You’d be a danger to them.”
“Johnnie—”
“You want to keep the kids? Then don’t leave and let me back in your bed.”
“What?” she cried, her outrage coupling with her despair. “That’s coercion. Forced intimacy.”
“Is it? I just fucking proved once I start licking your cunt, you’ll let me fuck you.”
Kendall shuddered, then wilted against him and triumph surged into Johnnie.
“Now, tell me where the fuck you went orI’llstart divorce proceedings and take everything from you. You’ll have nothing, not even your fucking sanity. Tell me who you met? You’re pitching pussy everywhere while I’ve been celibate. How could you betray me?” he roared.
“I didn’t…I didn’t meet anyone,” she said, her words barely understandable through her tears.
“Then why the fuck did you leave and suddenly decide we have to fucking divorce? You must’ve gone for a tryst.”
“I didn’t. I swear. I-I went on a retreat. A spa and—”
He laughed bitterly. “Liar!” he screamed. “You would’ve taken Mattie.”
“I needed time to myself,” she said desperately, gut-wrenching sobs escaping her. “I swear!”
He wanted to believe her, but he couldn’t. The last time Kendall left without warning was the worst six months of his life.
“So what’ll it be, wife?” he demanded, sensing victory.
Kendall bowed her head. “You win, Johnnie.”
Kendall wasn’t in any shape to present the terms of the peace agreement to the members as well as Bash and the Scorpions, invited for that purpose, but frisked and checked with metal detectors. Wherever the fuck Mortician and Johnnie had gotten off to, both those motherfuckers walked in within fifteen minutes of each other.
Christopher wouldn’t ask questions now. Nor would he fault their equally surprised expressions. As Val pointed out earlier, nothing had been on the calendar for the week. Even Church was postponed for tomorrow because of the DNA tests.
“I didn’t know we had a meeting planned, Prez,” Mort said, walking to the podium whereChristopher stood, looking over his notes, two hours after that fucked-up scene at Kendall’s office.
He was just happy he’d been nearby.
Val and Stretch were setting up the equipment to bring in other chapter presidents and whatever members were in the clubhouse.
“I wouldn’t have left.”
“You could’ve given me a little advance notice, Christopher,” Johnnie said, stopping on his opposite side.
Christopher glanced from Mortician to Johnnie. Mort looked tired and drawn. Johnnie looked like a smug fucking asshole. Wherever Mort went without cluing Christopher in could be excused. He still fucking hated Johnnie and glowered at him.
Johnnie scowled but turned and stomped to the table. Someone had wheeled Cash and Digger to their places. Val and Stretch finished with the video equipment, walked to the table, and sat down.
