Page 97 of Remiss
“Plans change, sugar. You, more than anyone, should know that.”
“I do,” Meggie whispered. “But that’s just the point. I’m afraid to tell Christopher I would like a final pregnancy and then have my tubes tied during delivery. Or the hysterectomy if that’s possible. I’d love one more girl, so Jo would have a sister close in age to her.”
“If he doesn’t want you to have the hysterectomy, what’s the problem?”
Tears streaked Meggie’s cheeks. “C-C-Christopher w-wants to give away Jo and Gunner. He says I’m a b-b-bad mother.”
“That motherfucker saidwhat?”
“It doesn’t matter—”
“It most certainly fucking does matter. What the fuck is wrong with that motherfucker?” Roxy began pacing. “I’m surprised the boys didn’t come with you under the circumstances. I know it was supposed to be a girls’ only escape, but their daddy was dead wrong.”
“I didn’t offer,” Meggie admitted. “I brought Axel because Ransom and Ryder are angry with him, and I didn’t want him to suffer at their hands.” She placed her elbow in the palm of her hand. “Diesel is always firmly aligned with Christopher. CJ has pulled away too. I didn’t want to put him in the middle, so I didn’t ask if he wanted to come.”
“I’m sure you also didn’t want to put yourself through that emotional turmoil either. That boy was once your shadow.”
“He was,” Meggie croaked. “He belongs to his daddy now.”
“Unfortunately, if he’d had a different transition into the club, he might’ve realized it doesn’t have to be either/or.”
“I agree, but that didn’t happen, and I’ve finally accepted it.”
“Are you still having the surgery?”
“Yes. I-I took a pregnancy test the night we arrived, but it was negative. I’m not sure what I would’ve done had it been positive.”
“You would’ve aborted it?”
“Christopher thinks I’m a bad mother, Roxy. He might’ve taken the baby from me if I stayed. I either would’ve had to go into hiding to keep it or get rid of it to stay with him.”
“Do you really think he was serious?”
“He has apologized to me, but he isn’t himself. I can’t get through to him. He’s secretive. He lies by omission. He’s dismissive. He’s everything I swore I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, live with.”
“He isn’t abusive—”
“Unless you consider picking me up, shaking me, and then dropping me on the bed abusive, no, he isn’t.”
Roxy snapped her brows together and narrowed her eyes. “Did you beat his ass?”
“I’d just gotten through showing Kaia around. The evening I was released from the hospital.”
“The boys know about that and they still side with him?”
“No. It was before they came in.”
“Areyou staying to see Rule or because Outlaw has lost his fucking mind?”
Meggie tipped her lips up in a small smile. “I want to see my son.”
“Okay, sugar. Let me make a suggestion.”
“I’m listening.”
“When we leave, you and Rebel should check into a hotel. As much of a sorry bitch Gypsy is, she’s right. Outlaw will get it out of someone and come here to pressure you. You need time to work through everything. Take care of yourself and your daughter. Shop. Sightsee. Heal. By the time you get back, Outlawwill be his old self. At the very least, he won’t ever do what the fuck he did.”
Meggie eyed Roxy suspiciously. “What are you going to do?” She still owned her knife and several guns. “You won’t cut him?”
