Page 49 of Rebellious

Dropping to his knees, Kaia laid his head in her lap, wrapped his arms around her waist, and howled, “PLEASE! Please don’t send me away.”

Squeaking, Meggie shoved him away and jumped to her feet. She didn’t have time for his nonsense.

“Come upstairs with me,” she ordered over her shoulder. “We can eat with Rebel.”

Sunday, April 14th

Withdrawing from Kendall and rolling off her, Johnnie tried to take her into his arms, but she pulled away and presented her back to him, curling into a ball. A sob escaped her.

“You came,” he said irritably. “Why are you so fucking upset?”

She didn’t answer, only sobbed again.

Huffing, he stared at the ceiling. He applauded Kendall’s theatrics. She’d always been a drama queen who knew how to tug at his conscience. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he asked as his phone vibrated. Renewed irritation surged into him. He didn’t want to be disturbed. “Why are you crying?”

“If you have to ask, I don’t need to answer, because you won’t give a fuck.” She sounded so miserable. “It doesn’t matter,” she decided as she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her red hair cascading down her back. “I’m leaving for an overnight trip with Charlotte. Can I depend on you to take Mattie to see Rebel or should I ask Meggie if Mattie can stay with them until I get home tomorrow evening?”

Johnnie froze, his annoyance turning to burning anger and jealous fury. “Charlotte?” he asked, barely recognizing his own voice. “You’re going on an overnight trip with Charlotte?”

Glancing over her shoulder, she nodded. Johnnie ignored how gorgeous and sexy she looked. “I am,” she sneered. “Unless you’re holding me hostage in addition to sexually assaulting me every day?”

Horror washed through him. “Sexually assaulting you?” he gasped, so outdone his fury evaporated. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”

She stood and faced him, unashamed in her nudity, a warrior queen he’d long loved. She swiped away her tears; she was still crying. “Have you lost yours, bastard? Sex with you isn’t my goddamn choice. You’re forcing me.”

He gaped at her. Yes, the first time they had sex after so many weeks hadn’t been his best moment, but since then she’d submitted to him. Once or twice, she’d even returned his kisses and responded.

“Is that why you’re going away with…? It must be Mortician. Christopher won’t leave Megan right now and Bash is Bash. You wouldn’t really give him pussy.”

“I’m going away with Charlotte!”

Tired of her fucking games, Johnnie bared his teeth. “Redding?”

She lifted her chin, forever defiant. “Do I know another Charlotte?”

“You must, since that cunt is deader than dead.”

At Kendall’s squeak, Johnnie realized he’d blurted news of Charlotte’s death when he’d kept it to himself for almost a week. No, he’d kept it between him, Christopher, Diesel, Bash, Val, Easton, and Brooks since last Monday.

They’d put Brooks on a plane so he could get his emotions together, mainly because Johnnie hadn’t wanted Kendall upset over that bitch’s demise.

Another noise escaped Kendall. A gasp. A sob. Sounds of pain, grief, and heartache.

Johnnie’s phone vibrated again, but he ignored it, jumped out of bed and rushed to his wife, drawing her into his arms and hugging her tightly. For the briefest moment, she clung to him, accepting his comfort, accepting him and his love for her.

“I’m sorry, gorgeous. I’m so sorry. I know how much she meant to you.”

“She was like a mother to me at one time,” Kendall cried pitifully, tightening her arms around his neck. “My God! I can’t imagine how Brooks is suffering.”

“Fuck Brooks!” Johnnie barked. “He’s probably doing a fucking happy dance.”

“I tried to warn her. I told her to leave Meggie alone. I even threatened to tell Outlaw myself. She just wouldn’t listen. I understand why you killed her.”

“I didn’t kill that cunt.” Johnnie’s irritation returned. “Diesel did. Motherfucker. She should’ve been mine.”

“She wanted to sacrifice Meggie.” Her face crumpled. She didn’t understand, or need to know, the depths of Charlotte’s depravity. “I guess you did want her dead for that.”

“Is that why you think I wanted to kill her?” Outrage pounded in him. “Because of Megan?” He began laughing like the lunatic Kendall turned him into. “That’s fucking rich, Kendall. I don’t wish it was me who shot her because of Megan,” he spat. The idea offended him. That cunt wanted to hire Bash to not only kill Megan and Rebel but Johnnie and Kendall’s children. “Not that my reason’s important. Your lying is. You’re running off with Mortician for a quick fuck because my cock is no longer enough for you.”