Page 180 of Relentles
“Give it back!”
“No.” Mortician walked behind the bar and sat the bottle on the counter, then returned to his spot. “On top of everything else, Red thinking about stopping her meds to handle your motherfucking ass.”
Johnnie’s eyes widened. The idea of an unmedicated Kendall seemed to penetrate into his brain. He leaned in closer, although he’d spoken at the top of his lungs, so he had the women’s attention.
“She…fuck,” he whispered. “I almost lost her. Does she know…fuck!”
Clasping his head between his hands, he rested his elbows on the bar top.
Christopher threw Johnnie a sour look, unable to forgive him. “If she fuck herself up, it’ll save me the fuckin’ trouble of fuckin’youup,” he said coldly. “You’ll die of grief.”
Christopher waited, watching Johnnie stiffen, slowly lower his hands, and raise his head.
“Whatthe fuck did you just say?”
“Did I fuckin’ stutter? The best birthday present from me to me would be fuckin’ you up. I wanna kill you so fuckin’ bad, I can taste your motherfuckin’ blood, but I ain’t repayin’ Kendall’s help with your death. She savin’ you, Johnnie.”
“Er, what’s going on?” Derby asked with uncertainty. “Johnnie has always been—”
“Tell ‘em, Johnnie,” Christopher mocked.
The shame suddenly in Johnnie’s eyes reaffirmed his guilt. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh, yeah, the fuck you do.”
“Can a motherfucker letusknow?” Digger complained.
Johnnie flinched.
Sloane cleared his throat. “Does whatever else is going on also has to do with why Meggie looks so crushed?”
Johnnie glanced in the direction of where the women sat. Megan and Kendall were staring at them. All the other girls were looking at Megan, waiting for her to jump up and run to him. It’s what she usually did.
But there was nothing. No indication of her thoughts. She was hurt and angry right now. When it cleared away and the dust settled, he didn’t know if she’d hate him if he killed Johnnie. Or if she’d applaud him.
Reason and sanity weren’t his strong suits right now.
“Meggie not coming to save you, motherfucker,” Val said hoarsely.
Digger squirmed. “Fuck man.”
“I wanna fuckin’ know what the fuck you thought would fuckin’ happen once Megan heard your fuckin’ recordin?”
Johnnie’s nostrils flared.
“You fuckin’ thought she wouldn’t have a fuckin’ reaction that I wouldn’t notice?”
His shoulders straightening, Johnnie’s expression closed.
“You fuckin’ did, huh? You fuckin’ thought I’d be so fuckin’ lost in other shit that I wouldn’t fuckin’ notice my wife shuttin’ the fuck down cuz I was a stupid motherfucker and trusted you.”
“It isn’t what you think, Christopher.”
“It’s exactly what the fuck I think, Johnnie. You recorded my fuckin’ conversation. You let herhearme talkin’ about her havin’ a normal fuckin’ pregnancy.”
He ignored the collective gasps from bitches and motherfuckers alike, not caring that his voice probably shook the fucking clubhouse.
“I can explain.”
