Page 13 of Misrule
“Of course not, fuckhead. Did you hear anything I just said? I’m keeping my eyes and ears open. Listen for any special assignments one of the probates might have that the rest of us don’t know about.”
Meaning he was listening for an order that Outlaw gave to have Kendall killed.
Guilt hit Knox. He should tell Johnnie the truth. Kendall’s lifewasin danger, but not from an outsider. By her own hand. After Outlaw saw her marriage destroyed and her sanity completely gone. He couldn’t say anything, however. Not only would he betray client confidentiality—Outlawno less—he’d lose his chance to finally rid himself and Roxanne of Kendall. The woman had been a thorn in his side from the time they met.
Knox emptied his glass, grabbed the bottle and filled his cup to the brim. Roxanne hadn’t called him. She hadn’t stopped him from leaving, either. She wanted her damn way. She wanted him to give in and to show him he couldn’t tell her what to do. If he didn’t stand his ground, she’d soon try to rule him like Callie had tried to.
Roxanne wouldn’t compromise on Kendall. She wouldn’t compromise on her involvement in the club. And she wouldn’t compromise on not having Bailey and Mortician renew their vows duringtheirwedding.
As her fiancé, he had a say in the ceremony and in her life. The sooner she realized that, the better.
He glanced around the club. Potter, now a full member, stood behind the bar, big and intimidating and tattooed. Knox kind of liked him, though. He had sense.
“I want to help Kendall, protect her, keep her alive,” Johnnie continued. “I just don’t know if I want to continue to be married to her.”
“Does she know that?”
“Not yet. Whatever happens to our relationship, I’ve decided I’m not holding anything back any longer. Kendall has to acceptme.”
“You need to accept her,” Knox reminded him, almost unable to believe he sounded as if he was defending that witch. Still… “You want her to be Megan.”
“That isn’t true,” Johnnie protested, weakly, to Knox’s ears.
“It’s always interesting to watch you interact with Megan. There’s a rapport there between you two. Outlaw sees it, too, but he accepts it because he knows her eyes aren’t big enough to see him. She adores the man. Kendall can’t accept it, because you’re always throwing Megan in her face.”
Johnnie didn’t respond, so Knox pressed on.
“After all these years, Megan should be a non-issue. Yet, you’re still dealing with it. Did you ever truly love Kendall? Were you in love with her, ever? How many times have you been asked that? By how many people? Open your eyes, man. You say you’ve been patient with Kendall. I say you’ve been reticent. You can’t put the energy in because you really don’t give a fuck. Oh, you’ve put on a good show, but you’ve never gotten over Megan Caldwell. You either have graveyard love for her, a sick fascination, or a deathly obsession with her. As long as Megan is in your way, in your life, not only won’t you have a future with Kendall, but no one else, either.”
It took effort, but Johnnie restrained himself from pulling out his blade and shoving it into Knox’s throat. He held off for Kendall. She was looking forward to Roxanne’s wedding and being a part of their group again. For a ceremony, a brideandgroom were needed.
If he slit Knox’s throat, one part of that equation would be morbidly absent.
Knox had overstepped his boundaries, though. How dare the motherfucker tell him he’d never loved Kendall! That he hadn’t given a fuck about her, so he’d allowed her to barrel through his life—everyone’s—unchecked.
Johnnie loved Kendall. He missed her like crazy. His children missed her. No, Kendall wasn’t perfect. She had problems and issues, but she was beautiful, classy, and sexy. She gave Johnnie’s life meaning.
Yet, he was so fucking tired of her drama. She stayed busy. And by busy he meant into shit she shouldn’t have stuck her nose into. She stayed on Christopher’s bad side. She couldn’t decide if she loved or hated Megan.
Butno one, Knox included, had the right to dismiss Kendall as if she were expendable.
“Fucker,” Johnnie snarled, so angry his voice was a growl, “if you ever tell me I’ve never loved Kendall, I will fucking gut you.”
Knox’s eyes widened.
“Furthermore, don’t try and give me fucking advice when your own relationship is so fucked up. When I go to my room here in the clubhouse at night, I know Kendall is my wife. Roxanne is in no way, shape or form legally bound to you.”
“Hold on, Johnnie. I haven’t heard a word you said past you having a room at the clubhouse. That means you sleephere? What about your house? Your kids?”
“My kids sleep at Megan’s house. And Christopher’s,” he added quickly, when Knox lifted a brow. “Megan and Christopher offered me a guest room, so I could be with my children, but I can’t see their happy family and know that mine is close to collapsing.”
Besides, Kendall had decorated their house. Everywhere Johnnie looked reminded him of her.
“You specifically brought your children to Megan,” Knox said with disapproval, either brushing off Johnnie’s death warning or just plain ignoring it. “Oh, and Outlaw,” he added with infuriating sarcasm.
“Knox—”
“Knock it off. Can’t you see how fucked up that is? You could’ve brought them to Bailey or Zoann or Fee or Bunny. Even Roxanne. Those kids think she’s their grandmother. They would’ve loved being with her.”
