Page 27 of Remiss

Alarm crossed Val’s face.

Christopher raised his hand and he sighed. “I knew she wasn’t completely back.”

“Who? Meggie?” Val asked.

“Yeah. She almost back. But, last night, she kept fuckin’ askin’ me if I had something to say to her. Suspicious like Hell Goddess, not accepting like my Sweet Angel.”

Mort lit a cigarette, took a drag, and then eyed Christopher. “Meggie was asking me about Rule before you got to the house yesterday. I told her she needed to talk to you.”

“She did,” Christopher confirmed.

“Fuck, finally. I’m glad you told her.”

“I ain’t told her. I’m just startin’ to get my woman back, Mort. I ain’t even knew how to fix my fuckin’ mouth–” Scowling, Christopher shook his head. “Never mind.” He looked at Val, ashen with worry. “You know Bitsy with Megan. They fine. Megan almost back,” he reiterated. “She was the woman who spoke yesterday, lovin’ us and talkin’ sense into us.” He glared at Digger. “Protectin’ motherfuckers that don’t need protectin’.”

“Meggie got her own resources, Outlaw,” Mortician said. “She must’ve found out. That’s why she was asking us.”

“Resources to tell her about Rule?” Christopher asked, then brushed aside his brief panic. “If she knew, the old Megan woulda confronted me. Asked me if I’d lost my fuckin’ mind. This just prove she need a little more work before she break.”

“Outlaw,haveyou lost your fucking mind?” Val sputtered. “Keep it up and Meggie will fucking leave you.”

Just the memory of her telling him if she didn’t love him so much, she’d divorce him sent chills through Christopher.But shedidlove him, he reminded himself, shaking off his uneasiness. No, it went beyond mere love. She adored him as much as he adored her.

“Megan never leavin’ me,” he said flatly. “If she try, Ima fuckin’ kidnap her until she change her fuckin’ mind.”

Laughter rose around the clubhouse. He didn’t give a fuck because he was fucking serious.

“Haven’t you always claimed you’d step aside if Megan wanted out?” Johnnie asked.

“I fuckin’ changed my fuckin’ mind,” Christopher roared over the fucking noise that suddenly ceased. “What the fuck is wrong with her? Givin’ me her best fuckin’ years, then thinkin’ she can walk away? It don’t work that way.”

“Uncle Christopher?” Rory called hesitantly from his seat at CJ’s table. “I-I don’t think Aunt Meggie would ever leave you. She loves you, but she does get mad, so maybe, uh, maybe–”

“Maybe, she found out about Rule–” Ryan scratched his temple. “And, uh, maybe Aunt Meggie got her feelings hurt.”

“No, boy,” Val said, turning a look of disapproval on Christopher, “Meggie probably madder than a motherfucker.”

“We don’t know if that happened,” Stretch put in. “Besides, where would they go? We’d get alerts. Once Cash gave me Fee’s message, I checked their location. They met at Kendall’s office and then headed to that new spa club in a ride share service. I tracked Meggie’s phone, Outlaw. She’s still there.”

Christopher smirked. “Knew I ain’t had nothin’ to worry about.”

“Dad,” Ransom said, “Mom picked up Axel before noon. She’s been gone hours–”

“Ain’t nothin’ but a thing, boy. You lil’ motherfuckers gotta learn how to fight a woman’s fire without breaking a fuckin’ sweat.”

Game on, baby.

“Apple pie for dessert?” Fia’s question drew Christopher away from his smugness. She was off Diesel’s lap, standing next to him again. “I bought several store made ones when Outlaw sent me grocery shopping for dinner.”

Wrapping his arms around Fia, Narci settled his chin on her shoulder. “I have an even better idea for dessert,” he murmured.

“Fuck her after she get through feeding us,” Digger replied, sucking on his teeth. “I requested cherry cobbler, baby. You got that or only the apple pie?”

“Uh, I-I just said I only had apple pie,” Fia said with hesitation.

Tennysee crept next to Narci and Fia, slumped her shoulders, then met Christopher’s gaze. She shifted. “I-I made an apple-cherry parfait.”

Straightening, Narci glowered at Tennysee. “I wonder where you got that fucking idea,” he sneered.