Page 92 of Remorseless

A muscle ticked in Johnnie’s jaw. “I love you, Kendall.”

“Love isn’t always enough,” she said quietly. “Respect, consideration, and kindness helps. Not feeling like a second choice.”

“You aren’t my second choice, gorgeous. I love you.”

“Yeah, like Logan loved you and Zoann,” Val growled. “You keep fucking over Kendall because you turning into that motherfucker.”

Johnnie stiffened. “I will never be Logan Donovan.”

“You killed the man,” Val retorted, “but not his memory. Not his influence. Kendall’s a good bitch. She turned into an awesome mama and aunt. A solid friend. I’d written her the fuck off, but she worked so fucking hard. It was for her, but it was foryou, too, motherfucker. Now, work for your woman and act like you got fucking sense.”

Christopher wished Megan and Kendall hadn’t resumed whispering amongst themselves. Kendall needed to hear how much theyallrespected her now, not only him.

Johnnie snapped his brows together. “You feel the way Christopher does, Val?”

Val shook his head and sighed.

“You really love Red?” Mort asked.

“I resent that fucking question.”

“I don’t give a good fuck what you resent, pardner,” Mort replied. “It’s a fucking solid question. You been trying to get your bitch ass killed. You disrespect her every fucking chance you get. Prez see your woman like a sister and you throwing a fucking tantrum when she had to watch you pant behind Meggie girl for fuckingyears, motherfucker.”

Digger shoved M&Ms into his mouth and chewed. “You still pant behind Meggie,” he said around a mouthful of food.

“Let’s talk aboutyou, Mortician. You wanted to fuck Kendall,” Johnnie said.

“I wanted Kendall,” Mortician acknowledged, “butyouwanted her too, and motherfucker, I thought we was good enough friends where you saw I stepped the fuck out of the way, so you could have her.”

“Sometimes, I wonder what the fuck you see when you’re smiling in her face,” Johnnie snarled.

“A gorgeous chick and a good fucking friend,” Mort replied. “A woman I always admired and did my fucking best to protect.”

“What doyousee when you look at her, Johnnie?” Stretch asked.

Johnnie narrowed his eyes. “Not you, too. You don’t even like Kendall, so shut the fuck up, fuckhead.”

Cash sipped his beer and eyed Johnnie. “Rein in your fucking temper. Don’t want bloodshed because not only are you stupid but you’re fucking blind. Talk to Stretch like you have fucking sense.”

Johnnie made a face at Cash.

“Kendall and I made peace some time ago, Johnnie,” Stretch said coolly.

Cash set his empty bottle down and addressed Johnnie again. “How long did you want everyone to accept Kendall? Or was that only a justification to bitch and complain? She’s accepted. We all love and admire her as part of our family. What the fuck more do you want?”

Gunner ran to Christopher and raised his arms. “Tired, ‘Law.”

He climbed onto Christopher’s lap and laid his head against him.

Kendall and Megan embraced before she scampered to Cash.

“Let me move the empty bottle out of your way,” she said.

“Thanks, Sweetness,” Cash said, a little confused.

Like Christopher was. Megan never served them in the mancave or cleaned until afterwards.

Bottle in hand, Megan eyed Kendall.