She meant to diffuse the situation, but it set Christopher off.
“You’re a lyin’ lil’ pain-in-the-ass motherfucker,” he roared. “You runnin’ to LA cuz of us, Megan.”
“Watch your fuckin’ tone, Dad,” Axel warned.
“Dad’s rightfully upset, Ax,” CJ said.
“Exactly,” Diesel added.
“I’mgoingto LA to see my son, Rebel’s twin, and to take her shopping,” Meggie said, in no mood for all the pushback. She understood why they were worried, but why wouldn’t they believe she wasn’t angry? That she wanted to help Rebel without interruption and for her to feel at ease without fear of being overheard?
“Mom, take Ax,” Ryder said. “He’ll be so sad if you leave him.”
“You should take us, too,” Ransom said morosely, “but I know you really can’t ‘cause of Reb.”
“Megan, the DNA tests scheduled for Wednesday evening.” Christopher’s anger slipped away and his desperation crept in. “This is Sunday. You ain’t able to leave—”
“We’re leaving tonight, Christopher,” Meggie said softly. “We’ll see Rule tomorrow, shop onTuesday, and come home Wednesday. I promise you this is just for our daughter.”
“Cuz of Diesel?”
She didn’t want Diesel dead; she just wanted him maimed. Since she didn’t think Christopher had that type of self-control, she decided to fudge the truth until she returned.
“They had an argument,” she said, sidling another glare at Diesel. “She’s very upset and she’s been through enough. This situation, added to what happened with Rule and what Ryan did to her, has put her in a very bad place.”
“Megan—”
“Do you think I’m a liar, my love?”
“Fuck no!” Christopher spat. “Show me the motherfucker that put that in your head and—”
“You,” she interrupted. “If you don’t believe that I’m not angry and I’m only leaving to help Rebel and to see Rule, then you must think I’m a liar.”
“Megan, baby, I love you so fuckin’ much. I ain’t…without you my life nothin’. I’ll do anyfuckinthing I gotta to keep you. As long as you love me and want me, I can fuckin’ deal with anything.”
“I love you, Christopher. You’re stuck with me for all eternity. Abusing me or cheating on me is the only way you’ll ever lose me.”
“For no other reason?” he asked carefully.
“Those are two major reasons,” she said. “Aside from abusing our kids, there’s no otherreason. You can be a little careless with them if I’m not around, but you aren’t mean and abusive.”
“I love my children,” he said.
“I know.” She shoved some hair behind her ear. “I still can’t find my pills.”
“You sure you ain’t run out and forgot to get more, baby?”
“No,” Meggie said. “I checked my phone.” Which led her to another realization. Her alerts to remind her to take her pills were gone. She didn’t remember setting an expiration date, though it was possible she had because she’d planned to get the surgery until Christopher talked her out of it. However, she did mark her drugstore runs. “I’d just gotten a new prescription. I thought I put it with the pack that was almost used. That was just four or five days ago.”
Shifting in his seat, Christopher sipped water, then smiled. “Ain’t nothin’ but a thing, Megan. If a new baby your destiny, then nothin’ I say stoppin’ it.”
An uncomfortable silence fell in the room. Diesel shifted and CJ squinted.
Christopher grabbed Meggie’s hand and kissed the back of it. “I love you so fuckin’ much.”
“I love you, too. On top of everything else we discussed earlier, now I’m also worried about Rebel. I’m also always so sick during mypregnancies. And…I-I hate to bring this up, but both Jo and I almost died.”
“But you ain’t, baby,” Christopher said gruffly, kissing her hand again. “Yeah, Jo got health issues, but she still one of the lucky ones. You survived, too. You want your final pregnancy to be happy memories and you wanted a new baby before you turned forty. Timin’ might not be right, but I ain’t gonna be upset if you got another kid in you.” He smiled, his expression sweet and tender. “Eat, Megan. Or are you about to hurl?”
