Page 217 of Rebellious

“It still chafes my fuckin’ nuts.”

Megan giggled.

“But, I gotta admit, when Bash sober, he not an altogether bad motherfucker. I still could fuckin’ chop and box him for what he do to chicks.”

“Bash seems to want to do right, but Cleaner and Tio are loose cannons. They have a lot of influence over him. That worries me. Money talks, though. Get ahead of the situation. Invite Bash to Hortensia. Give him a cut and explain what’s going on. Tell him before Johnnie and his Merry Band of Imbeciles find out.”

“When we get back to Hortensia, I’ll set the meetin’ up,” he promised, a load lifted off him. “Talk to Kendall—”

“If she’s back. I hope she returns to the club, but she’s devastated by what happened. She thinks she betrayed Johnnie.”

“Cuz she a good bitch. Johnnie too fuckin’ clueless to realize how fuckin’ lucky he is.”

“She’s dealing with so much right now. Why don’t you fill her in without any pressure? Maybe have Diesel iron out the deal.”

“Diesel and Bash like oil and fuckin’ water.”

“He learned from Kendall. He has unruly clients. He should be able to put aside his dislike to do this. He’ll do it for you.”

She sounded so certain, Christopher didn’t want to burst her bubble. Under normal circumstances, Diesel could do it for Christopher. Bash wasn’t a normal motherfucker, though, and neither was Diesel.

“However you handle it, I trust you,” Megan continued. “As long as there are lingering questions, my life is in danger.”

“Megan—”

“As for your new town, McKay…I’m not sure. We bought an entire school. We have a lot of police officers, firefighters, and city council members, in our pocket. We have an entire wing at the hospital. We have our own little enclave on club grounds. Will our family move with us? Will you get pushback from the club members? There’s a lot to consider.”

“We outgrowin’ Hortensia.”

“Not really, love. You just have to appreciate the growth and have a little self-control in public.”

“It ain’t only me. What about Diesel? If Nivins hadn’t gotten there in time, hadn’t called me, what then? Our boy…”

“Would’ve been arrested or killed by Bash. I’m aware, Christopher. That happened in Portland, not Hortensia. Unless you bar the kids…the family compound,” she guessed. “That’s one of the reasons you want them to live at home.”

“Yeah, baby. The other reason is cuz of you.”

“Christopher, we’re about to spend a fantastic amount of money enlarging an already huge home. Why waste that money if you want to move us somewhere else?”

“I just want everything safe for you. I can build a hospital and bring Rule home.”

“Does Rule even want to come back? He’s been through enough. Do not force him back into the fold until he’s ready.”

“Val was a lil’ fuckin’ outraged over my proposal, too,” Christopher admitted sourly. “He said it’ll devastate Bitsy.”

“It would. And the kids. And you. You love our home.”

He did, and so did she. “Ima just monitor shit.”

“I trust you to do what’s best.”

She’d stand by him as always, just as she’d promised him earlier.

She slid into the crook of his arm. “Now, I have to talk to you.”

Her plaintive note alerted Christopher that she wanted to discuss a subject even less likeable than this one. “Lemme fuckin’ guess. Diesel. And Rebel,” he added with distaste.

“Maybe,” she said with a little sniff.