Page 219 of Relentles
Her smile deepened and her heart eased further. She held out her hand. “Now, let me call Meggie.”
“No.”
“But—”
“I don’t want you involved with the documents or confronting Bash, but I need you to help me to keep Megan off-kilter. She’s still so vulnerable.” He started pacing, ignoring Kendall’s shocked expression. “Christopher won’t trust me again to open up to me so I can record him and let Megan hear the conversation.”
She couldn’t see herself, but if shelookedas alarmed as she felt, it was written all over her face.
He didn’t see her horror. “That’s where you come in. I need you to throw little digs at her. Make her feel as if she’s failing Christopher by not having more babies. In private, I’ll do the same. In public, I’ll make it seem as if she’s selfish for wanting more babies—”
Kendall had heard enough. She had workedhardto be a friend and sister-in-law to Meggie, and even harder to earn Meggie’s trust again. Now, Johnnie expected her to undo her accomplishments for his outlandish and misguided plan?
“Absolutely not.”
He halted. “We’re a team, Kendall. I need your help with this.”
Had Johnnie baited her earlier, expressly to rile her up? After all the bullshitshe’dcaused over the years,hewanted to be a motherfucker and court trouble.
“Meggie is my friend,” she cried.
“Who cares? She’ll forgive you. She always does.”
Kendall gasped, and saw fucking red. When she barreled to Johnnie, she didn’t intend to ball her fist and punch him in the fucking jaw, but she didn’t regret it after it happened.
He shoved her once more.
“Motherfucker!” She punched his chin and balled her fist to punch him again.
He grabbed her hands and shook her. “Don’t put your fucking hands on me another fucking time!”
She screamed at the top of her lungs. Not out of fear, in pure fucking fury. He released her in reflex.
“Shut the fuck up!” Johnnie roared. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“You!” She used her finger to thump his forehead. “You and your callousness. You have no fucking problem pushing and pulling Meggie and I. One moment you expect us to be best friends and the next goddamn minute, you want us to be enemies. Fuck you.”
“No, fuck you, Kendall. You never had a problem sticking your fucking nose in club business when I didn’t want you anywhere near it. Now, I’maskingfor your help and you refuse. Thanks for your vote of confidence.”
He turned away, heading toward the door, but she ran in front of him, blinded by anger and fear.
She blocked the door and grabbed handfuls of his shirt. “Johnnie, please,” she sobbed. “God, please. I’m begging you, please, please, please. Don’t make me do this. I love you. I swear, but don’t pit me against Meggie. Please.”
Despite Kendall’s past nastiness, Megan had forgiven her and became her best friend. This ploy could unravel all of that, and revert their relationship to frenemy status, filled with tension and jabs.
The harshness disappeared from his face, and he drew her into his arms. “Shhhhh, it’s okay, Kendall, my love. Calm down.”
She buried her face in the crook of his shoulder, inhaling his scent.
He yanked away her band and threaded his fingers through her hair when it fell around her shoulders.
“I’m asking you to help me for three months. Three months, sweetheart. You don’t have to be vicious. Just a jab here or there. You must trust me.”
How badly she wanted to. But past mistakes had taught her two things. One, never mess with Meggie, and two, never hide things from Outlaw. Her husband was doing both.
“What happens after three months?”
“If nothing is resolved, I’ll tell Christopher everything.”
