“Yeah, boy.”
“Is he holding a memorial service, Prez?” Mortician asked.
Outlaw shook his head. “Either her ashes already scattered or they in a fuckin’ closet, already forgotten. He was already back to his regular behavior the last time I talked to him.”
“Fucking asshole,” CJ griped.
“I need some air,” Rory cried.
“You need to apologize to your mother,” Johnnie snapped, but Rory ignored him, shoving his way through everyone until he escaped. “I’ll talk to him, Kendall.”
Only time would heal Rory’s bitterness toward her. Kendall’s reasons, her disappointment in him, wouldn’t matter.
Wishing shehadn’tcome tonight, she looked at the next sheets. “To put an old rumor to rest: RyderisOutlaw’s son.”
Despite the pain that suspicion had once caused Kendall and was a product of her own insanity, the announcement elicited chuckles.
“Everybody says how much me and JJ look alike,” Ryder said, smiling at Meggie. “It’s good to know you didn’t sneak one of my brothers to Aunt Kendall and Uncle Johnnie.”
“It is, son,” Meggie agreed.
“Bash, Easton and Tio are your sons.”
Bash smiled. “I appreciate your thoroughness, although I knew since DNA already confirmed it.”
“I understand, but I wanted my own copies,” she said.
“Understandable, gorgeous.”
“Johnnie, Outlaw, Bash, Celia, Tabitha is your niece.”
“What the fuck that mean?” Outlaw demanded.
Johnnie winced and averted his gaze. Motherfucker. He’d already known they were related and kept that a secret, too.
“Surprise, everyone,” Tabitha said with a broad smile. “I’m Charles’s daughter.”
“One of the motherfucker’s that fuckin’ kidnapped Val and me?” Outlaw gave Bash a furious glower. “You sent that cunt to spy on me, ain’t you?”
Diesel’s look promised murder. “And you fucking used me to do it.”
“You allowed yourself to be used,” Tabitha told him. “I was just helping Uncle Bash however I could.”
“She really loves you, Diesel.” Celia sent a pleading gaze to Outlaw. “It might’ve started nefariously but it isn’t now.”
“My little sister’s right,” Bash inserted.
“That’s grounds to terminate the peace agreement,” Diesel said. “You’re forcing me to stay married to her when you sent her to me under false pretenses.”
“Fuck, no.” Bash shook his head. “Absolutely not.”
“You knew, huh, Johnnie?” Outlaw asked, not addressing Diesel or Bash’s assertions.
“Not at first,” Johnnie said warily.
“Excuse me, gentlemen.” Before someone said or did something that ruined everything, Kendall intervened. “The peace agreement was not contingent on family ties. The payments were.”
“What does that matter?” Tabitha smiled evilly, like a cartoon character in a sweater dress. “Diesel’s my husband and either he does what I want or I will ruin him.”
