Page 90 of Remiss

Ophelia gasped.

“Your husband betrayed Christopher, Val, Mortician, Digger, and Stretch. If he lays a finger on my son, I’ll help Axel blow him up. Am I clear?”

“Meggie—”

“Don’t,” she gritted. “If you weren’t afraid of Cash, you could’ve reasoned with him, but you co-sign anything he does because you don’t want to upset him.”

“I love Cash and Stretch,” Ophelia said, her voice trembling.

“I’m not taking that away from you,” Meggie conceded, having zero pity for her sister-in-law. “But we love our husbands, too.”

“What about Johnnie?” Ophelia asked. “Kendall, what about Johnnie? Talk to Meggie. I know she’s hurt—”

“What about Johnnie, Fee?” Kendall demanded. “He’s right there with Cash, acting like a fuckhead. Johnnie’s crimes are worse than Cash’s. The difference is I’ve tried to talk to him. Do I want him dead? No. I love Johnnie, but he’s turned into a brainless blond—” She giggled, then cleared her throat and went on. “He’s risking the fucking club. Just as Cash is.”

“No, he’s trying to protect it.”

“Would you stop being a stupid bitch?” Zoann snapped. “I’mdisappointed in that motherfucker and he’s only my almost-brother-in-law. Christopher is our brother. He’s spent his fucking life keeping his club together, protecting stinking fuckheads like Johnnie and Cash, so—”

“Bunny, Roxy, you don’t feel this way, do you?” Ophelia cried, searching for an ally when she’d find none.

Rebel’s silence surprised Meggie, but it was just one more indicator of how sad her daughter was.

“I’m livid with Mark,” Bunny said softly.

“What’d he do?” Gypsy asked, taking more salad when the rest of them hadn’t even started on theirs. “Does it have anything to do with the bigger house?”

Her face falling, Bunny glanced away.

“It’s okay, Bun-Bun,” Axel swore, adopting another one of CJ’s nicknames that he’d used as a small boy. “Do you need a hug?”

“Sure, buddy,” Bunny said, pushing back as Axel got from his seat and ran to her, hugging her tightly. “These little arms feel so good.”

Axel kissed her cheek. “I’m here if you need advice on anything. Okay?”

Smiling, Bunny nodded. “Okay, bud. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“About Cash,” Ophelia started as Axel scampered away.

“What about that motherfucker?” Zoann cried. “Just hearing his fucking name gives me a headache.”

Gypsy shoved a forkful of salad into her mouth. “I still don’t know what Digger did,” she said, barely understandable around the abundance of lettuce and red onions. She’d never liked avocado, cucumber, or tomatoes. “How long have we been friends? Longer than you and Meggie or Meggie and me.”

“I’m going to tell you,” Bunny said irritably. “I’m just not ready to talk about it, Gyp.”

“Would you care to offer some wisdom, Roxy?” Kendall asked, gulping her wine. Her eyes gleamed. “You never did answer Ophelia.”

“I’m just taking it all in, sugar,” Roxy reassured her.

“But we want to know how you feel,” Zoann said.

Ophelia nodded. “Aren’t I right to support Cash and Stretch?”

“Not if they’re wrong,” Roxy retorted. “You seem to forgetmyhusband is part of the club. My son wants to join. My son-in-law is an enforcer. Cash and Johnnie betrayed all those boys. And for what? If it was left up to me, I’d take a fucking broom and bat the piss out of both those motherfuckers.”

“What’s wrong with peace?” Ophelia cried.

“Oh, shut up,” Meggie snapped before Roxy responded. “You can’t expect peace from men who use violence to get their way. Talk to Cash. Don’t talk to him. It doesn’t matter. If he’s responsible for harm coming to any of Christopher’s supporters,I won’t say a thing to dissuade his punishment. No matter how severe. But if Christopher is killed or severely injured because Cash is a jackass, he’s dead, Ophelia. If Diesel isn’t available, I’ll pay whatever to see that he disappears.”