Page 34 of Remiss

Johnnie bared his teeth. “You don’t have a wife, McCall. You have a husband, so Fee leaving you isn’t the same as Kendall leaving me.”

“You’re a fuckhead,” Cash said, low. “We have legal protections in place for Fee, which you know, so fuck you. And Meggie didn’t have to threaten us. All she needed to do wastalk. You’re familiar with that MO, aren’t you? It’s how you got me and half those motherfuckers to turn against Outlaw.”

Though Johnnie flinched, he refused to back down. “I merely gave them the choice between a life of peace or one of death.”

Cash glowered at him.

“You want the club to be safer for your son.”

“Not at the expense of Ophelia. I don’t want her to leave me.”

“Oh, well, you need to value your children a little more, especially Winnie.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb, asshole. I might be persona non grata, but CJ told Rory about what the Terrible Triplets did. You were a fuckhead to Axel and you were a fuckhead to Fee and Winnie in front of Axel. Crime number one. But the Caldwell boys are furious with you for repeatedly voting against Christopher.”

Losing his steam, Cash heaved in a breath. “Which is why I’m done with your games, Johnnie. You have to tell Outlaw about Bash.Everything. I’ll confess that I knew you went to Salt Lake City for the first time a couple of years ago.”

“So, what? Now, you’re willing to risk Tarmac because Ophelia is gone?” Johnnie sneered, pretending he wasn’t about to piss himself.

Christopher already knew a lot–everything–but if Cash backed up the parts that were mere speculation, then Johnnie was dead.

“And what about Stretch? He knew too. Instead of going to Christopher, he listened to you and looked the other way, Cash.”

A pained expression crossed Cash’s face and a moment of guilt hit Johnnie.

“Everyone has misunderstood me. I can’t…my father didn’t give a fuck about me. He still doesn’t. He adored Josh and indulged Georgie. If my little sister hadn’t met Sloane, she’d be dead because her and Josh’s mother, unlike mine, was a selfish cunt. Ophelia loves Winnie. By the time my daughter really needs me, club business will be settled and we’ll be at peace again.”

“Cash, your daughter needs you every waking moment,” Johnnie said quietly. “Don’t repeat my mistakes.”

“Winnie’s already afraid of me,” Cash admitted bleakly. “She adores Stretch and now she can’t stop talking about Axel. Fuck, that little motherfucker is fearless.”

“I’ve had my own run-in with him,” Johnnie said grimly.

“He pissed me the fuck off so fucking much, but fuck.” A reluctant smile curved Cash’s mouth. “He’s fierce. Unafraid and unapologetic.”

“He is.”

“My marriage is falling apart. My relationship with Ophelia. That’s why it’s easy to believe she left us and took Winnie with her, Johnnie.” Cash hung his head. “I don’t know what I’ll do without her.”

Not knowing how to respond, Johnnie clenched his jaw.

“No matter how much Fee stays away from the club, she hears about what’s going on. She isn’t happy with the way I’ve been voting. She and Stretch have been sleeping in a bedroom together and not allowing me in with them.” Cash began pacing. “Now this. I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking. I…Outlaw has always kept us safe, Johnnie. We all know that. If we did it his way, he’d take care of the problem and we’d return to our halcyon days sooner rather than later.”

“I just need a little more time, Cash.”

“For what, motherfucker?” Cash roared. “Until we have nothing left? Until we’re a bunch of weakened pussies? None of those motherfuckers who voted with us have a fucking plan.Youdon’t have a goddamn plan to take down Bash. You just have motherfucking hopes and dreams. Our lives are fucking falling apart around us.”

“If you go to Christopher now, he will kill us,” Johnnie said in desperation. “There’s no Megan to save us. Even if,when, she returns. She doesn’t give a fuck.”

“Do you really think our behavior is helping hers? In case you’ve forgotten, Meggie has always been ruthless where her husband is concerned. Remember when Outlaw was in jail? Now, her son, her CJ, is floundering. Because ofus. Because of Outlaw. Did no one hear that kid say Digger should’ve let him die? He’s suffering, and his mother is furious.”

“Andshe’llhave us fucking killed if we confess,” Johnnie argued. “My alignment with Bash led to CJ’s near death.”

Cash didn’t look convinced.

“Give me two months, Cash. Please. If I haven’t figured something out by then, I’ll leave.”