Page 112 of Misrule
Drawing in a deep breath, Meggie knelt in front of CJ and hugged him tightly. “I’msooosorry, potato,” she whispered. “And I’m sorry I upset you tonight, but Aunt Kendall needed to be dealt with for what she did to you.”
“Okay,” CJ said in a tired, watery voice.
“What’s wrong with you people?” Johnnie demanded. “Not one of you stopped this fight.”
“Shut the fuck up, Johnnie,” Zoann ordered. “It’s past time Meggie gave youandKendall a beat down.”
Johnnie touched his nose and winced. “I think she broke my fucking nose.”
Getting to her feet, Meggie picked CJ up and limped out of the crowd. “I should break your head. Kendall is this bad because you allowed it, Johnnie.”
“I resent that.” Johnnie tried to scowl. “Kendall’s a grown woman. I’m not responsible for her behavior.”
All at once, the fight left Meggie, replaced by a deep weariness. Nothing was going as it should. This should have been an enjoyable family gathering, focused on Roxy and Bailey’s ceremonies. Once CJ had cried out, Meggie hadn’t even considered the wedding. Kendall had made her so livid, she’d forgotten everything.
Their family. The children. Their friends. Thank God most of them were upstairs!
Meggie had forgotten Kendall’s illness and her own dignity.
Her eyes watered.
“Ahh, baby, now come on,” Christopher started. “You gonna ruin all my happiness if you start to cry.”
CJ lifted his head from her shoulder and frowned at the tears glistening in her eyes. “It’s okay, Mommie,” he whispered, his chubby little fingers sweeping across her cheeks.
Christopher wrapped her in his arms, trapping CJ between them. “Motherfuckers gettin’ out of hand and that shit just not gonna fuckin’ fly, especially if it got my sweet Megan cussin’ and beatin’ a bitch to the ground.”
Johnnie helped Kendall into a sitting position as she regained consciousness.
“You’re nothing but Outlaw’s cocksucking whore,” Kendall slurred, barely able to speak through a bleeding split lip.
“The child isn’t even looking at you, Kendall, so shut up,” Roxy ordered.
“Shut up?” she cried. “How could you? You didn’t try to defend me.”
“You have something against poor little CJ. I didn’t want you girls to get into a fucking fist-fight, but you needed your ass beat,” Roxy told her. “I should have punched the fuck out of you when you balled your fists up.”
Roxy’s words made Meggie cry harder.
“It’s okay, baby,” Christopher whispered.
“No, it isn’t.” Meggie stepped out of his embrace and set CJ on his feet. She looked at her son’s precious face. He resembled Christopher so much. No matter how much he tried to emulate his father, CJ was just a little boy. And Kendall tried to hurt him.Had,in fact, hit him tonight.
Meggie wouldn’t forget Kendall’s actions any time soon.
“Stay here while I collect our children from upstairs in the playroom, sweetheart,” Johnnie said to Kendall.
“No! Meggie’s going to face me like a woman so we can finish what we started.” She stood, swaying on her feet.
“Kendall, I don’t want to hear your voice anymore,” Megan said in dismissal. “Get out of my house.”
“I should sue you for assault and battery,” Kendall said.
“And I should kill your fuckin’ ass for bitchery and misery,” Christopher shot back.
“Fuck you, asshole,” Kendall retorted, then focused on Meggie again. “You can’t bar me from club grounds.”
“She can’t,” Christopher said. “But my ass can.” He walked around Meggie and CJ, went to Kendall and glared at her. “From this fuckin’ moment to fuckin’ infinity, don’t fuckin’ ever set foot on club grounds a-fuckin-gain. That mean all your permissions gonna be revoked. You can’t get passed the mechanical fuckin’ gate. You can’t attend club functions. You can’t socialize with club members.”
