Page 22 of Remorseless

“Changed our entire perspective of that slut.”

“She’s not a slut—”

“According to Mortician, Val, and Digger, although he joined in our bet to see who can fuck her first. Now that they’ve seen her in her altogether, it’s even more of a race.”

“Listen to me—” Johnnie started.

“And,” Dementor went on. “It was Digger who amended the bet. He pointed out Outlaw already fucked over Meggie, so why waste our fucking money. Likeyousaid, she’s a fucking whore. If we press her enough, she’ll open her legs to one of us.” He snickered. “Or all of us.”

“I was angry with her, Dementor. I was furious with Kendall and Mattie. Megan is a good woman. She’s only ever known Christopher—”

“Digger said the same thing. We don’t believe you. You said she has a pussy bush. The picture shows she has a pussy bush. You said she had beautiful tits and red nipples. The photo proved you right again.”

Before Johnnie responded, his office door opened and Rory walked in. Pounder leaned over and turned.

“Dad—” Rory’s gaze fell on Pounder and his eyes widened, then flew to Johnnie’s.

“Meet me at the fucking club in two hours,” he ordered.

“Sure thing, Johnnie,” Dementor said.

Ignoring Rory’s narrowing gaze, Johnnie disconnected and set the receiver back on the base. He glared at Rory. “What are you doing here, son?”

Rory dragged his focus away and looked at Pounder. “Dude, whatever fuckery my dad is involving you in with Aunt Meggie,run. Uncle Christopher willkillyou and Dad, and leave Mom devastated.”

The words killed Pounder’s amusement. Fed up, Johnnie jumped to his feet.

“You know better than to barge in my goddamn office and interfere with a business meeting.”

“Dad,listen to me. You don’t have a man who looks like Aunt Meggie’s fucking celebrity crush in your motherfucking office on a motherfucking Sunday for shits and giggles.”

“Except coincidence!” Johnnie roared. “DeLuca, this is my conspiracy theorist son, Rory.”

Pounder got to his feet and extended his hand. Rory squinted, looked at Johnnie, then at Pounder, and shook his head.

“You want to die, Dad.”

“I don’t—”

“DeLuca?” he cried. “This is fuckingPounder. He’s a Scorpion. He was there the day you killed those twoDwellers.”

“You saw me?”

“You were one of the Scorps with the shotgun,” Rory cried in frustration. “I was looking at everyone to figure out how to save my dad.” He turned to Johnnie. “You didn’t recognize him?”

That day started off on the wrong foot and ended with Johnnie having no choice but to kill his brothers to extricate himself, Rory, and Ryan out of a tense situation. Everything was a blur except the pain of the recent gunshot wound and the fear of dying.

“Don’t tell anyone, Rory,” Johnnie ordered.

Anger burned in Rory’s gray eyes. “Despite how much you’re trying to die, I still want you to stay alive. If for no other reason than Mom.”

“What are you doing here?”

“We just picked up Kaia and Kayce and were heading to Portland for the music festival. I saw your Navigator and asked CJ to pull in.”

Johnnie forgot about the festival. Otherwise, he would’ve parked his SUV around the back. It was just his luck, Kaia Riggs didn’t live far from here. Had it only been Kayce, this route wouldn’t have been used.

“Pounder was a certified financial professional once upon a time,” Johnnie said. “I’m interviewing him on behalf of Megan.”