Page 83 of Ruptured

“Figure it out,” she’d growled. “Because of you fucking assholes every goddamn thing is fucked. You’re their uncle, but I’ll bet you didn’t even read all of my fucking messages. You sure the fuck didn’t answer my call, fuckhead.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Fuck you.” She’d turned and started toward the elevator.

“Aren’t you forgetting Rory and Mattie, Kendall?” Digger asked as Johnnie demanded, “Don’t you want to know what I’ve been busy with? Or who?”

Snickers floated in the air. Digger rolled his eyes and Mortician shook his head. Even Outlaw looked at Johnnie as if he’d lost his mind.

Kendall turned. “Are you implying you’re fucking another woman?”

“Are you concerned you’ll lose me?”

Johnnie always misunderstood Kendall and never truly considered her needs. It had always been one of his main problems He’d passed off control as patience. Now, the shakiness of his marriage escaped him.

Kendall’s vicious smile had matched her cold brown eyes.

“Red,” Mort called, before she annihilated Johnnie, though he’d interceded on her behalf not that motherfucker’s. Sometimes shit spiraled out of control and before anyone found a remedy, lives laid in tatters. “I need to talk—”

“Motherfucker, please find a bitch to take you off my goddamn hands,” she’d snarled, her tongue getting ahead of her common sense.

Mort had consoled her enough over the week to know how much she wantedherJohnnie back. But the survival instinct in Kendall had never changed. “Take that bitch and go live in that same pig pen Zoann sent Val to.”

“You wouldn’t know what to do without me,” Johnnie snarled. “I’m the best thing that ever happened to you.”

“In your motherfucking dreams. Lately, you’ve been my worst fucking nightmare. Fuck another bitch, Johnnie. Just don’t say anything when I take my own fucking lover. Fuck you, you miserable motherfucker.”

No matter how fucked-up Mort and Bailey’s marriage, if she threatened to take another lover, he might’ve had the same reaction as Johnnie. Maybe, not as extreme. Motherfucker wentstraightto demonic possession.

“If you…if I ever find out another motherfucker has even looked at you, Kendall, I will kill him.” He’d grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Do you fucking hear me? I will emasculate him and make you watch.” He shoved her away.

“I’m warning you once, Johnnie. If you ever put your hands on me again, we’ll be fighting in this motherfucker.”

“I’ve heard that before,” he scoffed.

Glaring at him, she’d remembered to grab her handbag and fur coat.

“I’m not cheating, Kendall,” Johnnie called, backing down from his fuckery. “I don’t want another woman.”

Digger snickered. Mortician thumped his stupid head.

“I just want to matter to you,” Johnnie whispered.

Kendall lifted her chin. “Same, Johnnie. I want to matter toyou,fuckhead.” She started off again.

“Your kids, Kendall,” Digger called.

“They want to sleep here.” She sailed away.

“This not a fucking motel,” Digger yelled.

“Fuck you, asshole.” Her voice traveled down the hallway. A moment later, the elevator dinged.

Outlaw walked away too and headed to the nursery. Mort would’ve followed him if he hadn’t gotten Meggie’s text, reminding him she needed his help.

More fuckery all around.

Meggie girl didn’t buy the story Johnnie and Easton were handing to her and neither did Mort. Easton, he discovered, had gone to the room where Diesel, Bishop, and the other kids were.