Page 263 of Restless
She nodded.
“The SOS ain’t had nothin’ to do with Derby, huh?”
“No.”
“Johnnie?”
“He was in Portland, Christopher.”
“Dez?”
“Wh-what does he have to do with this?”
“Answer me!” Christopher roared.
“No,” she said glumly.
His arms encircled her and he kissed her forehead, his big body tautening. “Bash?” he asked with so much hatred and venom, Meggie shook. “Tell me what the fuck you saw on the fuckin’ cameras, Cash,” Christopher ordered at Meggie’s silence.
“Outlaw—”
“I made the same fuckin’ mistake with Bash that I did with your step fuckhead, Megan. I’m beatin’ Rule and killin’ Ryan.”
“WHAT?”Meggie screeched, bursting into tears. “What? You can’t…what? Christopher—”
“Shut up, Megan. Rule stabbed motherfuckin’ Bash to save Ryan.”
“Outlaw—” Val started, his voice shaking as much as Meggie’s entire body.
“Ain’t listenin’.”
“Christopher, please, think of Zoann.”
“I let those two motherfuckers live to get the word out that Ryan, Rule, Ryder, Ransom, and Axel were off fuckin’ limits. I was the stupid motherfucker. Ryan fuckin’ with Bash a betrayal to the fuckin’ club. Ain’t killin’ Rule yet—”
“Christopher—”
“They put you in fuckin’ danger. I put you in danger. If I could fuck myfuckinself up, I would, but then I would be away from you.”
“I don’t know what Ryan’s up to, Outlaw,” Val said in a rough, raw voice, ignoring Meggie’s sobs. “He don’t like me much anymore, but that don’t mean I don’t love him. Take me to the meatshack, brother.”
“Wait a minute,” Johnnie started, “you met with a rival club without conferring with the brothers?”
“Johnnie, shut up!” Meggie snarled tearfully. “Christopher isn’t the bad guy!”
“And you aren’t a member,” he barked.
“There was a time when you would’ve stood at his side,” she said. “No matter how the membership voted. You and Digger and Mortician and Val and Cash and Stretch backed him up, and he got things done. He protected the club, sometimes without their knowledge.” She swiped at her tears, wishing she could tear Johnnie apart with her bare hands. “Everything was fine, so he got the glory. You’re forgetting you and Cash block him every time he wants to strike, so he gets the blame! So…fuck off,jerk, and leave my husband alone. You aren’t making him out to be the scapegoat for your stupidity. And, please, for the love of God, leave me alone. I don’t want you dead. I just want you stopped.”
“What are you talking about, Megan?” Johnnie demanded, the picture of innocence.
“You’re still gaslighting me!” she snarled around her tears. “And for what, jackass?”
Johnnie smirked at her.
Sniffling, Meggie stared at him through watery eyes. Dizziness was swirling through her head and the base of her skull pounded. She should never have left. Now, she couldn’t help but wonder if it wasn’t Derby who’d sent her the text because Gypsy utilized her open invitation to visit Meggie on a regular basis.
“You can’t answer me,” Johnnie said, gloating. “Not only are you interfering in club business, you’re making excuses for Christopher—”
