Page 161 of Rebellious

Johnnie tipped his head down and shuddered. “Please?”

“Please what, motherfucker? Tell me. Cuz please ain’t cuttin’ it. So, what? Please, kill you? Please have your fuckin’ back? Please think you got a fuckin’ brain? What the fuck you’re pleadin’ for?”

“I don’t know,” Johnnie whispered. “I don’t—”

“No, you don’t, and that’s your whole fuckin’ problem. Since you ain’t had me, you latched onto Bash.”

“Christopher—”

“Fuck you.”

“Fine,” Johnnie said in a tired, broken voice. “Hate me if you will, but please don’t let me lose Kendall. Please, help me. I’ll get on my hands and knees and beg you.”

“Ain’t makin’ a motherfuckin’ difference cuz once you get your way, you’re gonna find something else to fuck me over with.”

“I love Kendall,” Johnnie said, not denying the charge. “And, I swear, I never thought about what it would mean if you were kicked out. I swear. I wasn’t thinking.”

“You never fuckin’ do.”

“I’m sorry. I…please don’t make me lose Kendall. Help me to convince her to stay. Please. She’ll listen to you.”

Scowling, Christopher relented. He’d already left a message for her to call when she sobered up. Hopefully, tomorrow, after a night away to clear her head, she’d comply. Fuck. She might realize he suspected what happened and ignore him out of shame. “Ima talk to her soon, but not cuz of you. It’s cuz of her. I don’t think she should be away from us. She fallin’ apart and isolation ain’t fuckin’ good.”

Johnnie nodded and swiped at a tear. “I can’t believe she’s leaving me.”

Mortician’s face remained blank. Not a motherfucking peep. Not one smile or flinch.

“You never fucking think where Kendall’s concerned,” Val said. “What you should think about, goes the fuck over your head. Stupid shit, though? Like Prez and Mort sleeping with her? Yeah, that shit stay on your mind.”

Christopher slid his gaze from Mortician to Johnnie.

“Don’t take away her role as club attorney, Christopher. My wife earned her position.”

“So you say now,” Christopher responded. “You gave her all kind of fuckin’ grief when it first happened.”

“I shouldn’t have allowed my jealousy to blind me,” he said. “I should’ve applauded her accomplishments.”

“You fuckin’ think?”

“What the fuck bringing this change now, Johnnie?” Val asked the question Christopher wanted an answer to. “After all the fucking shit you did. Destroyed us, our close-knit group. Almost ruined Outlaw’s marriage and sent Meggie away. And what you did to Kendall, Mattie, and Rory, another level of fuckeduppedness. You suddenly seen the fucking light?”

“The moment the peace agreement was signed, I regretted it,” Johnnie admitted.

A motherfucker at another table gasped. Another assfuck choked. Diesel bared his teeth and Val gaped at the stupid fuckhead. All valid reactions, reflecting the emotions rolling through Christopher.

“I’m so sorry,” Johnnie finished.

“Keep that shit, John Boy,” Val barked as fed up as the rest of them. “Kendall left once before because of the bullshit you handed her. What the fuck made you think she’d stay if you kept fucking with her?”

“Because I love her and she needs me. I need her and she loves me. I told her…I thought if I threatened our kids…Jesus Christ.” He buried his face in his hands. “What have I done?”

“Fucked up,” Val said.

Underfuckingstatement.

“Why…what tipped her over the edge?” Johnnie finally looked at Mortician. “Talk to her, Mort. Please? Tell her she has to stay.”

“That’s not my place, Johnnie,” Mort said, averting his gaze.