Page 101 of Misrule
“What’s going on in here?”
Knox Harrington’s voice interrupted Kendall’s rage. Breathing deeply, she sat CJ on his feet. The little boy stared at her, shocked into silence, fear gleaming from his face.
“I asked you a question, Kendall,” Knox said with authority.
CJ ran off, so Kendall turned and faced Roxy’s fiancée.
“What are you doing here, fuckhead?” Kendall asked coolly. “After the way your mother treated Roxy,us, I would think she would’ve kicked you to the curb.”
“If I were you, I’d worry about myself and keep your goddamn nose out of my business. I’m as much family as you are.”
“Yeah, but you’re more of an asshole,” she retorted, then smirked at him. She refused to show how much his jab about worrying about herself bothered her. She’d get in a few of her own. Everyone thought she was crazy and stupid, but she saw things. She read people. That’s what made her such a good attorney. “It doesn’t matter who invited you,” she said. “I’ll bet Outlaw doesn’t know you don’t particularly like him and you’re just using him to stick around for Roxy...? Or is there a motive to your method? Do just enough to stay alive, if beaten to a pulp on a regular basis.”
His eyes narrowed and he stiffened. As if she gave a fuck. She smiled without humor.
“Oh, you hide your feelings, bastard,” she went on, then shrugged. “For Roxy. To save your own miserable fucking life! But you’re a fucking coward. At least, I’m honest about how I feel about him.”
“Including the fact that you want to fuck him so bad, your pussy gets wet every time you’re near him.”
She wouldn’t dignify that with a response, so she returned back to the original subject. “This is Roxy’s wedding, not Joan’s.”
“Stay out of our business,” Knox ordered.
“Roxyismy business,” Kendall said, undeterred. “She had a tough time in her past relationships. Everyone wanted her to change. Be someone she isn’t. To say it like she would, she’s therealestperson you’ll ever know. Your mother will make her miserable. Before she does, get Joan in line.”
“I don’t need advice from a woman who can’t hold onto her husband.”
“I don’t give a fuck whatyouneed, prick,” Kendall snarled. “This is for Roxy’s sake. Stop being a fuck dick-douche and tell Joan to butt out.”
“That’s my mother! You will not disparage her. Nor will you interfere. If I want my mother involved, that’s up to me. Roxanne can’t put up with my mother, yet I tolerate that classless fuckingpurpleNavigator thatOutlawbought her?”
What? Where was this coming from? The asshole’s complaint caught Kendall completely off-guard. She recovered fast. “That Navigator isher.It’s colorful, loud, and fun.”
“It’spurple,” he reiterated. “And another man gave it to her.Outlaw.”
“Oh shut up, cry baby. Is your lack of self-worth an indication of a lack of…prowess?” She ignored the dark look he threw at her. “Or maybe it’s an indication that you lack brain cells? Because, as I see it, you’d realize what a jewel Roxy is and not give a fuck about what she drives.”
“I just brought that up to make a point,” Knox snapped.
“Really? It must be on your mind—”
“It isn’t,” he gritted. “I haven’t…look, Kendall, let’s lay our cards on the line. I’ve already put my mother in her place, but I don’t like you.”
“Join the fucking club, asshole,” she said blithely. “As if I give a fuck who likes me.Roxylikes me and that’s all that matters.”
“If I were you, lady, I’d watch your fucking step. I don’t want you in our wedding. I don’t want you around. Let’s see who wins this round.Youhave the enemies.Idon’t.” He brushed past her, and left her standing alone in the hallway.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Drawing in a breath and fuming at the confrontation he’d had with Kendall, Knox followed the sound of the laughter and headed to the den. Through the crowd, he zeroed in on Roxanne, who stood and stretched, turning this way and that, torturing Knox without mercy.
She wore a pair of black jeans that made her ass so fucking fabulous, Knox almost went to her, dropped to his knees and kissed it. Her skin was as smooth and as sweet as liquid caramel. And her voice, her laughter…there was nothing Knox loved better than hearing those sounds. Seeing her joy. She was an innately happy, optimistic woman, and brought sunshine to whoever she befriended. She’d certainly put a spark in his life.
“Ladies,” Knox greeted, nodding to the women, as Roxanne turned and grinned, her light brown eyes lit with mischief, telling him, without words, that her little display was solely for his benefit.
Shaking his head and laughing, Knox winked at her, sharing in the glow of this morning’s secret sex fest.
Her face lit up and she waved at him, then blew him a kiss. She leaned over and whispered to her best friend, Dr. Jordan Baptiste, while Cam stood at the bar with the rest of the guys. It was a full house tonight. Bunny, Bailey, Ophelia, Zoann, and Roxanne sat around Megan Caldwell, as they held a conversation in low tones, ignoring the boisterousness of their men at the bar, blissfully unaware of Kendall’s presence. Hopefully, she’d decided to leave.
