Page 192 of Remiss

“First, Bailey?” Mort held onto his patience and his sanity by a thread. “Roxanne the head of this family. We’re head of our house, but your mama mean everything to me. She stepped up and stepped in. That mean Knox at her side.”

“Since when?” Bailey said, scowling. “You don’t listen to a thing he says.”

“He means figuratively, sweetheart,” Knox told her, sitting a little taller at Mortician’s inclusion.

Bailey didn’t respond. Harley grabbed both Bunny and Roxanne’s hands. Roxanne gave Harley an encouraging smile and Bunny put an arm around her shoulders.

“Second?” Mort continued, capturing Bailey’s liquid green-brown gaze and holding it, losing hope that he’d ever get through to her. “Prez the head of our extended family.”

“Of course. Can’t leave Meggie out.”

“Get the fuck off your pity train, Bailey,” Chester snapped, over Bailey’s bullshit. “I don’t know what the fuck has gotten into you and blinded you to reality. Get some fucking help. You’re pathetic. Meggie hasn’t done you a fucking thing. Get off her ass. When she comes home and you hand her bullshit that upsets her, I fuckingswearyou will leave. How you leave will be up to you.”

Bailey gasped.

“Please shut the fuck up,” Chester continued. “Please? In case you haven’t realized it, your mother is the head of our extended family,notMeggie. Why the fuck does Roxy sit at the end opposite Christopher?”

“Because he wants Meggie close,” Bailey answered. “That’s obvious.”

Roxanne drew in a deep breath. “Bailey, baby, you matter to all of us, but your husband and children most of all. This boy loves you. If only you knew how much. You have his heart, his loyalty, his everything—”

“Everything except another baby.” Rubbing her temples, she glared at Harley. “Because of you,” she spat, then directed her angry eyes at Mortician. “Everything except the reassurance that you’ll come back to me. That Outlaw won’t summon me and tell me you’re dead.”

“Bailey, none of us know when we meeting our maker, baby,” Mort said quietly. “But I’m herenow. Don’t dwell on what might be. Dwell on what is. How much I love you.”

She smiled thinly. “Just not enough.”

“Instead of pressing me for another baby, why not love the ones we got,” Mort growled. “You want another daughter? You barely deserve the one we got. I been staying away from Harley in consideration of you, but she need us. And you know what? You a grown woman. Her mama. If you can’t get your goddamnass off your fucking shoulders and be there for her, then fuck you. I’m not turning my back on her for a woman whose lost her fucking mind.”

“Get out, motherfucker,” Bailey spat. “You’re a fucking liar. The kids are almost grown. If you’re killed, they’ll leave sooner rather than—”

“Unless you got a hit out on this motherfucker, what makes you think he’ll be killed anytime soon?” Roxanne shouted. “When did you become such a morbid bitch?”

“You lied to me, Lucas. You won’t give me another baby. Now I’m wondering if it’s only because it’ll upset sweet Harley.”

Harley bowed her head at her mother’s sneer.

“You didn’t tell me the entire truth about Bash or Cleaner—stupid fucking name—orMeggie.”

“And you know the fucking truth?” Mortician said, so fucking fed up, he was ready to call Kendall and take her up on her offer to start divorce proceedings.

“Yes, motherfucker!” She jumped to her feet and jabbed him in the chest. “Yes! I know Bash wants to kill Meggie. You’re always around her, so what does that mean for you?” She swiped at her tears. “I know Cleaner—Roddie—is Sharper’s son and wants his share.”

Mortician widened his eyes.

“That’s right. I know, Lucas! I know! I know! I know! I know Patricia Donovan was a psychopath and I know you and Outlaw are cousins. Your fathers were cousins.” She jabbed him again. “And I knowMeggieand me are cousins.Ourfathers were brothers.”

Blood roared in Mortician’s ears. Each word Bailey spoke pelted him with the force of a rock. Her sobs broke the unnerving silence. He glanced at Roxanne, at the horror and betrayal in her eyes. Harley was teary-eyed, blinking at Bailey,as horrified as everyone else while Lou and Kaleb gaped at their mother’s meltdown.

“I know what Sharper Banks did to you, Mama,” she said tightly, not finished. “And I know about the names Logan Donovan called you. The way he tried to force you. The way he did force Lucas’s mother,Meggie’smother. I know about the fucking setup that broke up you and Daddy. I know every rotten, stinking detail that no one thought I should be made aware of.”

“Who told you all of this, Mommie?” Harley whispered in a broken voice. If what Bailey said was true, that meant she was CJ’s second cousin on Bailey’s side and his third cousin on Mort’s side. “How’d you find out?”

“Johnnie,” Mortician said without being told, the only motherfucker with the balls or the incentive to so thoroughly fuck with him.

“This morning,” Bailey confirmed. Her nostrils flared and she studied Mortician. “Harley isn’t welcomed back here unless she truly apologizes to me and you aren’t welcomed back unless you agree to leave the club. Now, get out.”

Mortician had never hated a motherfucker as much as he despised Johnnie. He wanted to snatch that fuckhead and drag him to the meatshack, then rip out his goddamn spine since he’d long ago lost his fucking heart. However, any time the members didn’t support Prez using the might of the club to protect Meggie, Mort knew if he fucked up Johnnie because of Bailey, he’d be marked for death.