Chapter Twenty-Nine

Deafening silence ensued in the wake of CJ’s announcement. The cold chill settling into Johnnie’s gut had nothing to do with fear for himself. It was the realization that Bash had been leagues ahead of him for months. He’d planted the Bart brothers, Molly, and two resource officers. Johnnie was almost certain Lumbly had been installed at Ridge Moore by Bash, too.

Target CJ and smoke out Megan. She’d go to war with the Devil himself over her kids. Everyone knew her rules. If Christopher cheated or hit her, she’d leave. If Christopher was hurt or in danger, she’d move heaven and hell to protect him or save him. When he’d gone to jail, she’d ordered Johnnie to do whatever needed doing. If Brooks Redding hadn’t cooperated, she’d wanted him dead. Once he had, she’d backtracked, but if he hadn’t gotten off his ass and saw to Christopher’s release with the utmost haste, he was a dead man, at her request.

She’d physically fought Cee Cee, Thomas, and Spoon. She’d picked up a gun and fired it to save her husband’s life. And she’d rushed in front of Mattie to save her from Johnnie’s slap.

Time and time again, Megan faced tough choices, life-threatening circumstances, untenable decisions at times. Still, she prevailed, rose above it all to stand by Christopher’s side and raise children who adored her but had a love of life and of self.

She’d put Christopher back together after he’d killed Big Joe—her father. The man who’d ruled all he’d come into contact with. The man who’d turned Christopher into a king. Fuck, she’d glued the entire club back together, fractured and broken after her father’s death. She held down the women and had learned to keep ‘bitch shit’ away from the brothers, by keeping a firm grip on the club girls.

She meted out justice, granted pardons, and made it look so fucking easy everyone took her for granted and overlooked her worth.

The queen.

Yes, she was. And Bash knew it. Bash had been watching far longer than anyone knew. Take out the queen, the king wouldn’t be far behind, and the club would fall apart, leaving it vulnerable for absorption or disbanding by the Scorpions.

“Hominy?” Mortician asked, the first to collect his thoughts and have the ability to speak, a stricken look on his face. “How Meggie fit? That sound more like Roxanne.”

“Bailey?” Digger asked, his eyes widening.

Possibly, since Bailey and Meggie were cousins, but Johnnie suspected otherwise. He cleared his throat and struggled to his feet, drawing everyone’s attention. “K-P,” he said quietly. “K-P stole a lot of documents.”

“Bailey still got those boxes, Mort?” Christopher asked.

“Fuck, Prez. Yeah. In the attic.”

As Johnnie dropped back into his seat, Christopher unclipped his phone from his belt and fired off a text before squeezing the bridge of his nose. He looked exhausted. These past weeks left him weakened. These past years left him unprepared.

When Mystic kidnapped Megan, Christopher had all but checked out. He could do nothing but search for his wife. He hadn’t showered and barely ate, but the club had still been deep into the life they’d always known. Now, they’d only lived on the fringes, straddling two worlds and it was coming home to roost.

“Suppose K-P put documents in the house he bought Roxanne?” Johnnie pressed. “Could it be a warning that they are aware of that?”

Blowing out a breath, Christopher ran his fingers through his hair. He rubbed his eyes and glanced toward the door. “Coffee, Potter,” he ordered in a loud whisper.

“Coffee need brewing, Outlaw,” Val said. “I drank the last of it.”

Christopher scowled. “Why the fuck don’t we have a fuckin’ coffee station where we store the shit out here?”

Just as a knock came on the door, Megan stuck her head out. She’d twisted her hair into a bun, still so young looking and gorgeous. Judging by how much shorter she was, she’d taken off her stilettos. “That’s Reb. I need help.”

Digger stomped to the door. “One bitch on premises is enough.”

He shoved the door open, and Megan’s doppelg?nger scooted in, drawing attention. The door slammed shut as Rebel sailed forward.

“Two bitches unprecedented,” Digger finished, only protected from death because of Mortician.

Christopher glowered at him, while hurt and shock bloomed in Rebel’s face.

“Three bitches when you look in the mirror,” Megan snapped, crooking her finger at Rebel.

“You calling me a bitch, Meggie?” Digger asked, genuinely surprised, glancing around at all the chuckles.

“Sure sounded like it to me,” Rebel retorted, throwing Digger a fulminating look and stalking past her mother.

“Sandwiches will be ready in a few minutes,” Megan said. “I have iced tea.” She glanced at Mort. “I’ve started on the Skittles vodka for this week’s dinner. You can have one.”

Mort nodded and smiled at her.

Sniffing, she glared at Digger. “I’ve restocked the peanut butter cups for you,” she chirped. “How many do you want?”

“Four,” he mumbled, throwing Christopher a hesitant look before addressing Megan again. “You got anything you need to talk to me about?”

Her eyes flared at surprise and Mortician scowled.

“Like what?” she asked slowly.

Digger shrugged. “I don’t know, man,” he said irritably. “Shit you talk about with Mort. I know how to give advice, too.”

“You do?” she blurted, then winced at everyone’s laughter and Digger’s crestfallen look.

“Motherfucker, we got more important shit on the fuckin’ table than if you a go-to motherfucker for guidance,” Christopher barked, though some of his irritation slipped away.

“Well, er—”

“The meetin’ still goin’ on, baby,” Christopher interrupted.

She nodded. “Let me say one thing to Digger, Christopher. Please?”

“Fuck, fine. One,” Christopher growled.

“Thank you.” She smiled at Christopher as a squeal emanated from the kitchen and the words, “Momma, Kaia texted me!”

Megan glanced over her shoulder, though Johnnie found it very interesting that Christopher, CJ, or Diesel had no reaction. As a matter of fact, CJ set his own phone down and Christopher sent him the thumbs up sign.

“Digger,” Megan said, completely missing the schemes of her husband and sons.

Secret plans that Johnnie envied. Nostalgia sat heavy in his gut, beacons of bygone times when life was so much easier. He’d had a clear definition of himself and how he wanted his life to go. His loyalty had lain with Christopher first. Above any and everyone else.

It had been so much easier for Johnnie to hide the darkness lurking within himself behind easy laughter and easier women. He had the business acumen, the educated brain, that Christopher relied on to run the lab.

Johnnie hadn’t cared who was smarter or who fucked a woman first. Christopher had protected him, counseled him, and helped him grow up.

There’d been only freedom and brotherhood.

No children. No wives.

No Megan. And no Kendall.

There especially hadn’t been hostility and competition. Or death wishes.

Their lives should never have come to this. With Johnnie little more than an outsider because he’d been so ruthless in his singular desire to thwart Bash.

The club was as fractured as it had been when Megan arrived the year after her father’s death. She’d put it back together.

Now she was tearing it apart.

The queen. She held the fate of the club in her hands. Not because she might own the club and its holdings. Because she held the fate of Christopher in her palms.

Even the brothers who’d believed Christopher had fucked Torie, the ones who laughed behind Megan’s back, were a little awestruck when she paid them attention.

All the things he’d wanted for him, Kendall, and their children seemed so elusive in the wake of the past months. He’d ruined his kids, almost destroyed Kendall, left his marriage hanging on by a thread, and his life in jeopardy.

Megan shifted, drawing Johnnie’s attention again. “I don’t talk to you directly, but I talk to Bunny all the time.”

Digger snorted. “As if I don’t fucking know.”

“Exactly,” she replied, pretending it wasn’t sarcasm when it was so clear in his tone. “And the advice and scenarios you give to Bunny filters to me. You don’t give me direct advice like Mortician, but I still benefit from your knowledge and wisdom.”

“You do?” Digger asked skeptically.

“Yes.”

Digger exchanged a glance with Val.

She started to back away.

“Meggie?”

“What, Digger?” she asked in a tone that indicated she was losing her patience.

“What knowledge and wisdom?”

“Efuckinnuff!” Christopher roared. “You got to have some every now and fuckin’ then. Pick one of those times, shut the fuck up, and sit your motherfuckin’ ass down. Mostly, back the fuck off my wife.”

“I’m not even near Meggie, Outlaw!” Digger complained.

Mortician rolled his eyes. “He meant figuratively, son.”

Johnnie laughed, along with the other men. The camaraderie felt good. Natural. He was part of the club with no hostility or cloud of suspicion around him.

Even Christopher had listened to what he had to say without fury clouding his judgment.

“Um, yeah.” Megan pasted a smile on her face. “Umkay.” She retreated back into the kitchen.

“Prez—”

“Shut the fuck up, Digger. We gotta move the fuck on. This shit out of hand.”

No! Johnnie didn’t want to return to his lonely room. Kendall wouldn’t talk to him because he hadn’t spoken to Mattie yet. He didn’t know what to say to her. He couldn’t ask Megan or Christopher for advice. Not only weren’t they his friends anymore, they barely considered him family.

“I have one other off-topic subject, Prez,” Mortician said, unknowingly coming to Johnnie’s rescue.

“What, motherfucker?” Christopher growled.

“If you and CJ behind this Kaia motherfucker asking Reb out, tell me now so I can start preparing what to wear to your fucking funerals.”

“That’s cold, Uncle Mort,” CJ said. “And Diesel’s involved, too.”

“How the fuck that make it better?” Val demanded. “That’s two motherfuckers for Reb to kill and one for Meggie.”

“She want to go on a fuckin’ date, Mort. We controllin’ the narrative,” Christopher said defensively. “Grant fucked up—”

“Grant ducked out,” Mortician corrected. “He was scared to tell you, but he didn’t want to face the wrath of Roxanne if she got wind of the plan.”

Megan opened the door and leaned against it, so Rebel could bounce out, carrying a tray with one plate of sandwiches, and the aforementioned iced tea, Skittles vodka, and peanut butter cups.

“Daddy, I met this guy,” Rebel said, beaming as she handed him the plate of sandwiches. “His name’s Kaia and-and…” She rushed through setting the pitcher of tea on the bar counter, handing Mortician the vodka and Digger the candy to run back to her father.

She was so fiercely flushed that Johnnie realized this was what Mattie should’ve progressed to. First crushes that brought about such blushes. Even amid club business, amid hunger and worry about his infant daughter, Christopher’s oldest girl was having a normal teenage experience. He was still being a biker and a family man.

He didn’t even seem to realize it. Or was it Megan who was slowly reintegrating her husband’s two lives so he walked amongst both seamlessly?

“Don’t have a hissy,” Rebel said, her eyes bright.

Megan was studying her husband, daughter, and two sons.

Johnnie wondered what was going through her head as she was watching the scene unfold. Amusement at Rebel’s excitement and Christopher’s…?

What?

“Kaia’s slightly older, Daddy He just turned nineteen.” Rebel turned to CJ. “And, uh, he’s a former classmate of yours.”

Chewing contentedly, Christopher nodded as Rebel spoke. A thoughtful expression crossed Megan’s face.

“He’s so gorgeous, Daddy. And sweet. And funny. He…he wants to take me out…” Her blush deepening, Rebel cleared her throat. “Can I go?”

“Ain’t seein’ no problem,” Christopher said smoothly, grinning at his daughter.

She squealed, bounced, and clapped her hands.

Folding her arms, Megan lifted a brow. Christopher flushed, quickly averting his gaze and grabbed another sandwich. His plate of eight finger sandwiches was almost empty.

He swallowed another piece, glanced hesitantly at Megan, then grabbed a napkin and wiped it over his mouth. “I-I gotta meet him first, Reb.”

“Of course, Daddy!” Rebel kissed his cheek before turning to Megan. “We have to go shopping, Momma.”

Megan threw Christopher the evil eye. “Ummmm.”

“Okay,” Rebel said, fanning her flaming red face. “I’m going on a real date!”

“Why don’t we just invite Kaia on our family vacation?” Megan said sweetly.

Rebel was too excited to detect her mother’s mockery.

“Go start placing the sandwiches that I’ve already prepared on the tray, Reb,” Megan instructed.

Squealing again, Rebel ran back into the kitchen.

Megan stalked to where her sons sat and glared at CJ. “Why didn’t you just tell Rebel you had someone you wanted to set her up with for a blind date?”

“Oh, fuck, Mom.” Struggling for words, CJ glanced at Diesel.

“We didn’t think of that, Aunt Meggie.”

She glowered at Christopher’s back. “I wonder why.”

“Kaia controllable, Megan,” Christopher snapped, doubling down on his decision. “I ain’t ready for my baby girl to go on a real fuckin’ date.”

At his explanation, her look softened, but she shook her head. “You’re not going to be on her date, Christopher. I would’ve preferred you to let her go out with Bishop. He’s a club member. You know the control you three want so bad over her life? Built in with a Dweller brother, which Kaia isn’t, and Kaia loves blondes. He flirted with me.”

“He did what?” CJ cried. “You’re my mom! That motherfucker!”

“Quiet, CJ,” she ordered. “That isn’t the real issue. That would be the fact that he has absolutely nothing in common with Rebel. Nothing. She will either figure out your schemes herself or end up so frustrated that she does find another guy to focus on.”

“But you’re not supposed to have anyone flirt with you, Mom,” CJ persisted. “You’re my mom.”

Megan rolled her eyes. “So, let’s see, buddy.” She raised a hand and started ticking off items on each of her fingers. “I’m above jealousy. I have blind trust. I can’t feel anger or disappointment. And now I should be ignored and not flirted with. That about it?”

“You’re not a fucking statue, Mom,” CJ protested. “I don’t mean it the way you’re taking it.”

“I know.” Shaking her head, she turned to Christopher. “You’re such a psycho.”

His shoulders sagged in relief and he laughed. “Yeah, baby, but I’m your psycho.”

“Always,” she swore with a soft smile. “I’ll step out of the way this time. So far, Rebel really seems to like Kaia. Let’s see how the date goes. Do not interfere with it. We will give her a curfew and that’s that. If she ends up liking Kaia, don’t interfere.”

“I ain’t agreed to Reb likin’ a motherfucker, Megan,” he grouched. “Likin’ lead to fuckin’.”

Laughter bubbled from her. “Not necessarily. Let’s just monitor the situation. You know the one? The one that you and our sons arranged? That one.”

“That’s my baby girl.”

“I know, Christopher,” Megan soothed. “But going on a date with a boy is important to her, so it’s important to me. I never, ever went on a date, even though my friends did. I don’t want that for Rebel.”

“Fine, Megan,” Christopher agreed. “Just make sure she goes to J’s. Preferably on a Tuesday evening.”

Laughing, she poked his side. “No more manipulations,” she ordered.

“Nope, baby,” he said, raising his hands in surrender. “None.”

She smiled. “Thank you. I love you,” she said, hugging him.

He bent and kissed her. “I love you, too, baby.”

As she returned to the kitchen, he slapped her ass, and she squealed, giggling as she disappeared.

“Prez, I got a question,” Narci called.

“I’m fuckin’ listenin’.”

“When that Wally motherfucker rode up, Meggie took control. We didn’t know if that was right or not.”

Considering Pike and Zephyr had been club members for almost two decades, they should’ve known the protocol. Bishop, Narci, Huck, Shadow, and Torrin were between twenty and thirty. Out of the five, Torrin had been a member for seven years, the longest of the group.

“I was hoping she ran to the car to wait it out,” Shadow admitted. “Bishop hopped on his cell to call you, Prez.”

“We have a protocol in place for when we out somewhere with our girls and enemies roll up on us,” Christopher admitted and nodded to Johnnie. “John Boy insisted. I’m going to choose a regular detail for my woman, instead of a rotating one. But don’t ever let her leave, especially in a fuckin’ car. She could be surrounded and ran off the road.”

“Not if we’re escorting her,” Bishop protested.

“If you get into a gunfight, a bullet could hit her. Or you motherfuckers and still leave her vulnerable. We have to come up with a better plan.”

“A pity Meggie not still knocked up,” Digger said. “She’d stay close to home.”

Christopher straightened, although Johnnie saw the agreement in his eyes.

She’d have her detail, but dealing with Bash would be so much easier if she was out of commission. Why didn’t Johnnie just speak up and say that?

Christopher’s voice disintegrated that possibility. “If you put the fuckin’ idea of a new baby in my woman’s head, motherfucker—”

“I’m not, Prez. Fuck. Especially now that you might really fuck me up ‘cause Meggie turned into the girl version of you.”

“You callin’ my fuckin’ wife a psycho?”

“If she turned into you, then, yeah,” Val reasoned.

Digger held up his hands. “Now, Prez. Meggie got to have a little psycho in her. She related to Dinah, Big Joe, and Snake. All fucking dead, but all fucking insane in their day. Kind of like you and Johnnie with Cee Cee and Logan.”

“How the fuck Uncle Johnnie and Outlaw catching a fucking stray from the shade you’re throwing at Mom, assfuck?” CJ said, shaking his head.

“Aww, c’mon, little bro. Assfuck? That mean you serious. I prefer ashfuck.”

“Serious bullshit call for serious labels, Uncle Digger,” CJ replied.

“You a cold little motherfucker.”

Christopher puffed out his chest. “That’s my boy.”

Megan held open the door again and Rebel walked out carrying a huge tray of sandwiches, filled with energy and excitement.

“Meetin’ adjourned,” Christopher said, banging the gavel. “Potter, start servin’ the fuckin’ beers.”

Compared to recent meetings and run-ins with Christopher, Johnnie breathed a sigh of life. It had almost felt like old times. Unfortunately, Bash was still circling and three Dweller brothers were still dead, so Johnnie knew this wouldn’t last.

It couldn’t.

Johnnie would see to that. Kendall was involved somehow and that he couldn’t sanction. If Bash had infiltrated the school, then it was only a matter of time before he breached other aspects of their lives.