Page 129 of Remiss

“I talked to her earlier,” Christopher said quietly, then revealed the conversation to Mort. “You think she’d betray me?” he whispered, the idea as painful as the thought she wouldn’t return.

“You know your woman better than that, Prez. You the only man who ever knew her and she not changing that.”

Christopher nodded. “Enough about me.” It wasn’t bringing Megan back. “How the fuck you doin’, motherfucker?”

“Missing Bailey. So fucking sorry about Digger. Embarrassed he did that—”

“You ain’t made that motherfucker do that, so it ain’t your fuckin’ place to apologize.”

“I know.” Mort sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Still feeling a way about Symphony.”

“You ain’t fucked her and youain’tgonna fuck her. I know what the fuck you goin’ through. Stay strong. Remember your woman and ignore whatever the fuck Symphony try to get you to do. If Symphony ain’t respectin’ your boundaries, then talk to Tee. Tell him to fire her or else.”

“She need her fucking job. I hate to do that to her.”

“You need your fuckin’ marriage. You ain’t doin’ fuck-all to her that she ain’t doin’ to her motherfuckin’ self. Donotfuckin’ make my fuckin’ mistakes. This a lonely fuckin’ place.”

“I know.”

Val and Knox approached the table. Val’s mouth was turned down as if he’d never fucking smile again. But Knox? He was unshaven and dark circles ringed his eyes.

“Outlaw, when Meggie get back, don’t say nothing to her that’ll make Zoann stick with her and leave me.” Val jerked out a chair, sat down, and cradled his head. “I miss Puff so fucking much. Since we been married, she never left me for the shitIdid.”

“I miss Kendall, too,” Johnnie said, sitting the fuck down uninvited.

Christopher glowered at that motherfucker, despising him.

“Hey, Uncle Christopher,” Rory said, his voice snapping Christopher back to the present and out of his murderous rage.

JJ stood next to his brother. Both boys looked so fucking sad that Christopher gritted his teeth, remembering Johnniemight’ve been an assfuck, but he was also a father with sons who loved him. Mattie might celebrate his beheading—possibly—but the boys wouldn’t.

“Hey, Dad,” CJ greeted, all the anger from earlier gone. He smiled at Rory and JJ, then said hello to everyone except Johnnie. “Diesel and Jana aren’t far behind.”

“Dad, what’s for dinner?” Ransom asked, his way of greeting. “We’re hungry.”

Fia, Tennysee, and Tauriel had disappeared into the kitchen when Christopher first arrived and he hadn’t thought about food since. He shrugged. “Ain’t too sure.”

“Diesel!” Narci called, and every motherfucker turned their attention to the door where Diesel was guiding Jana in, tucked into his side. “Who the fuck is that?”

Rory paled. Johnnie’s eyes widened.

One—Rory—knew exactly who the fuck Jana was. The other—Johnnie—was shocked as a motherfucker.

Val turned to Johnnie. “Motherfucker, you got a dead cat on the line?”

“What does that even mean?” Johnnie pushed out, staring at the girl with golden hair and silvery eyes. Her face had a feminine structure, but stillJohnniewas written in every inch. “A dead cat on the line?”

“An illegitimate child,” Mort said.

Johnnie jumped up as Diesel approached with Jana clinging to him, her frightened eyes darting in all directions.

What the fuck was going on?

“Is this your idea of a motherfucking joke, Diesel?” Johnnie demanded, in Diesel’s face.

“Step the fuck back, Johnnie. I’m telling you thatonce,” Diesel said coldly, “then not only will you be missing your motherfucking fingers, but your goddamn liver and kidneys.”

“Dad, please,” Rory said into the silence of the clubhouse. He grabbed Johnnie’s arm and tugged him back.