Page 33 of Remiss

Something wasn’t right. Mort wasn’t sure what, but one thing he did know was Bailey wouldn’t walk around the fucking corner with Meggie, Roxy, or any of the other women. She didn’t even want to be in the same room with their daughter.

“There’s more to this story, Potter.”

“Can’t see what that might be. They’re all gone. We have to start looking for them and I’m wasting time explaining shit to you.”

Mortician scrubbed a hand over his face and glanced at Digger. “He needs medical attention.”

“Outlaw wants us searching.”

“I will,” Mort promised. “Just go and I’ll catch up.”

“Fine. Just make sure that you do. If Outlaw doesn’t find Meggie, I don’t want to be in his fucking crosshairs.”

There had to be another explanation for Kendall’s disappearance other than her leaving him. She’d gotten held up at the office. Or, maybe, Megan was pranking Christopher with Kendall’s help since she was entirely too blonde to think of something on her own.

While Christopher sent the club into a frenzy and ordered the brothers to tear the town apart, Johnnie rushed to his house at breakneck speed, moving faster than he had in days. At the gate to the private forest pathway, he barely remembered the code. His hands shook, and nothing else mattered except seeing Kendall and hearing her voice.

“I got it, Dad,” Rory croaked, as close to tears as Johnnie.

Rory punched in the code and, the moment the lock clicked, Johnnie yanked open the gate and ran. He’d never been so happy to be in such magnificent shape.

When he finally reached his house, his breath sawed in and out of his lungs and he could only stagger inside.

“Mom!” Rory yelled, still on Johnnie’s heels, breathing heavily, but not gasping like Johnnie. “Mattie!” Nothing. “Come on, Dad.” He guided Johnnie to a bench along the hallway and helped him to sit, then immediately went back to shouting.“Ella! Blade! They are probably upstairs,” he said when no one answered. “Be right back, Dad.”

Rory rushed away, leaving Johnnie alone with memories of the first time Kendall had left him. Ironically, she’d been pregnant with Rory, and her desertion crushed Johnnie’s soul. It humiliated and angered him, and made him wonder what was the matter with him.

He hadn’t been in love with Iona, but he’d cared about her. She was stunning. At the time, her dislike of Christopher annoyed him. In retrospect, it was probably one of the things that drew him the most. He remembered his secret smugness that a woman unconnected to the club wanted him.

The moment he went nomad for her, his interest in her waned and he regretted moving in with her. But he’d been determined to make it work. After all, he was a catch, even with his sordid background.

When Iona left him, he hadn’t cared.

Then, Megan happened. She chose Christopher.

Then, Kendall came along. Instead of behaving, she walked away.

Then, she almost killed herself. Instead of thanking him for standing by her, she’d made him grovel.

Frantic pounding on the door startled Johnnie. He thought about ignoring it because he wasn’t interested in answering questions, especially about why he wasn’t joining in the search for Megan, but the knocking threatened to splinter the wood.

Sighing, he got to his feet and walked to the door. The moment he opened it, Cash barreled in.

“What do you want, McCall?” Johnnie demanded, slamming the door and facing Cash.

“I’m done, Johnnie. You’re on your own. Because ofyourbullshit, my Fee is gone.”

“That isn’t true!” Johnnie flared, brushing past Cash and returning to his bench. “That would mean Kendall is gone and–”

“They areallfucking gone,” Cash roared, storming to Johnnie.

“It’s because of Megan,” he spat.

Cash gritted his teeth and thrust his fingers through his hair. “Shut the fuck up. Meggie didn’t make them leave, asshole.”

“Are you sure about that? Maybe she threatened to have us killed and forced their hand. Kendall wouldn’t leave me otherwise and Fee wouldn’t leave you, Stretch, and her children. Or, maybe, they aren’t gone. Rory’s upstairs. He’s probably searching Kendall’s closet to see what, if any, of her things are gone.”

“Meggie wouldn’t order us killed to get our wives to desert us.”