Page 264 of Restless
“Move, Megan,” Christopher ordered.
Her hope that he allowed her to fight this battle with Johnnie died. Of course, Johnnie couldn’t continue to poke the bear and not strip away the agreement she had with her husband. Before things reached the point of no return, Meggie acted, shoving Johnnie with all her might. Caught off-guard, he teetered backwards and fell on his butt, unable to regain his balance. It was rare that he was in punching distanceandthat Christopher was there to protect her. Normally, she was fighting for her life and Johnnie didn’t feel her licks.
This afternoon, the stars aligned, and she balled her fist, punching Johnnie’s stupid jaw and the side of his head. One was for his insult to her Christopher and the other was for his torture of her. She would’ve punched him again if he hadn’t jumped to his feet at the same time Christopher wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her away and punched Johnnie in the mouth simultaneously.
Meggie struggled in Christopher’s hold. “Put me down, Christopher.”
“Nope.”
“Yes! I will beat up Johnnie. You can’t kill him. You can’t kill Ryan or our sons. They are children. You can’t kill Derby. You can’t kill Dez.”
“I can kill any fuckin’ body I want, especially if they fuckin’ with you. I just got back to the fuckin’ club when I got that message. Do you fuckin’ know what the fuck it did to me when I ain’t had a fuckin’ chance to dismount and I see a clubful of motherfuckers rushin’ to their rides.”
“Well, jackass, if you hadn’t left early this morning, maybe that wouldn’t have happened. You can’t kill our family because you’re angry for protecting our children—”
“Ryan not my child—”
“Yes, they are all our children, and our children are theirs. You will not kill them.”
“They put you at risk. I put you—”
“Shut up! You didn’t put me at risk. Your stupid brother did. You can’t be everywhere at once.”
“I should’ve been with you.”
“If you were out hunting Johnnie, I agree, Christopher.” Meggie ignored Johnnie’s widening eyes. “But you have a club to run. Youmustrun your club. I am fine. I am your ride-or-die. I promise you I will hold down our house and our family. Run the club.” Glaring at Johnnie, she sniffed. “I’m not going anywhere. As for Derby, if he hadn’t come I don’t know what Bash would’ve done. Even if I had walked away, I would have left believing you’d cheated. Derby told me the truth.”
“I told you the truth, Megan.”
How could she tell Christopher everything Johnnie had said to play on her fears? She hadn’t slept well last night, though she pretended she had. Christopherneverlied to her, yet everything in her brain felt so muddled and jumbled together.
She nodded. “I know. But I…I have a lot on my mind. I’m sorry for doubting you.”
“The club goin’ on lockdown,” Christopher said.
“We need to take a vote,” Johnnie said, removing the handkerchief pressed against his mouth to impart those words.
“Ain’t listenin’—”
“I agree with Johnnie, Outlaw,” Cash said quietly, flushing when Meggie threw him the evil eye.
Johnnie nodded. “The dispute with Bash sounds more like a personal problem rather than a club issue, Christopher.”
“Why don’t we go to the fucking club and discuss this?” Digger said. “We out in the fucking open.”
“And I’m going to have to get Mutt additional money for ignoring any calls that might have gone to the station after the shots were fired,” Stretch said, glowering at Cash.
Christopher put two fingers in his mouth and whistled, drawing everyone’s attention. “Meet me at the fuckin’ club in thirty minutes.” He made the forward motion with his hand, signaling his brothers to ride out.
When the roar of the motorcycles faded, only Meggie, Christopher, Johnnie, his officers and close friends, and Gypsy and Derby remained.
“Talk to Ryan, Val,” Christopher said. “If he fuckin’ with the Scorps, he betrayin’ the fuckin’ club.”
“I know, Outlaw.” Val’s voice shook.
A muscle ticked in Christopher’s jaw, and he glanced away. “Ain’t no different than what Big Joe would’ve done. He would’ve killed any of us if we fucked with the enemy.”
“I don’t think so,” Johnnie said. “You got away with a lot, Christopher.”
