Page 83 of Remiss

“Are two dudes married a lot?” he demanded.

“Uh–”

“I don’t think they are. I only know of Uncle Cash and Uncle Stretch. I’ve thought a lot about it.Theyhave rings on their fingers like Mom and Dad and they live together. And that’s ‘causemy dadlet them be married. What does that motherfucker do? Go withyourman and stand againstmydad. He has to die. Case fucking closed.”

Axel understood more than Kendall gave him credit for.

“You shouldn’t look at them differently because they’re married,” she said.

Axel snorted. “I don’t care about that,” he said with indignation. “Remember about the freedom? That’s part of it. Besides,Daddoesn’t care. But if a man is disloyal and disrespectful then he’s a bad weed and has to be seeded out because he threatens everyone’s freedom. No motherfucker is going to trust another motherfucker if Dad’s officers and family members are betraying him. Sooner or later, everybody’s going to be afraid to say stuffs because they might be traitors to Dad or to Uncle Johnnie and Uncle Cash. If you can’t say what’s on your mind, then how can you have loyalty, respect, or freedom?CJ doesn’t understand that because he keeps stuffs in. Uncle Johnnie doesn’t understand it because he thinks he has more.”

“More what?”

“I don’t know and it doesn’t matter.” He studied her then began pacing. “You love Uncle Johnnie?”

“Unfortunately,” Kendall blurted.

His eyes twinkling, Axel smiled. “I’d be embarrassed, too, but I can forgive you. Let the record show that I think you deserve better than him. Just like Aunt Fee. My men and me found a nice brother for her. We can find one for you too.”

Kendall laughed. “Thank you, sweetheart, but no.”

“Are you staying with Uncle Johnnie?”

The direct question startled Kendall and killed her humor.

“I called Diesel again. He’s worried Mom might not come home. MightdivorceDad.”

“That won’t–”

“I hope not. Mom loves Dad a lot. She puts up with a lot from him and us and the club. As bad as Dad is, he is waaaayyyyy better than Uncle Johnnie, so you must put up with a lot of stuffs, too.”

Kendall’s shoulders slumped, though she didn’t respond.

“If you have to leave him, don’t go too far because we all love you and we would miss you a lot.”

Her nostrils flared and her eyes stung.

Axel gave her a thoughtful look. “I’mkindahoping you do leave,” he confessed, eyeing her. “Then, Dad can go ahead and kill Uncle Johnnie ‘cause you won’t be there to save that motherfucker’s life.”

She didn’t want Johnnie to die and she didn’t want a divorce. She wanted him to straighten the fuck up.

“Your nose is all red,” Axel announced. “Probably from all the wine you drank.”

“Probably,” Kendall agreed, getting to her feet. “I’m going to freshen up. Meggie, Rebel, and Winnie should be back from the airport at any minute.”

“I hope they hurry up,” Axel grumbled. “A man’s hungry.”

“It won’t be much longer,” she promised and hurried away, barely making it to her room before she burst into tears.

Mid-sob, her phone rang. When she saw the ‘801’ area code, she sucked back her tears and answered.

“Thank you for returning my call, Bash,” she said, voice husky with misery. “I hope you aren’t angry I asked to reschedule.”

He was silent for a moment before he cleared his throat and said, “who do I have to kill?”

“I…what?”

“You’re crying. Someone has upset you. Tell me now and I’ll shoot them. Would you like a souvenir? Nothing too gruesome. Maybe, just an eye?”