Page 30 of Misrule
“How?” Knox pressed. “I’m not trying to embarrass you. I just want you to know that my money is your money, and you’re free to start using it, even before we’re married. You don’t have to take whatever you’ve saved up from your years of working to pay for something I can easily afford.”
“Excuse me?” Roxy huffed.
“Knox, you need to sit the fuck in a corner and keep a finger shoved in your fuckin’ piehole,” Outlaw snapped, getting to his feet.
Meggie hopped to hers and dusted off her backside, smiling with unease and grabbing Outlaw’s bicep.
Mortician stood, too.
“Lucas?” Bailey squeaked. “Knox didn’t mean anything.”
Yes, the motherfucker did, but if Roxy said that, Knox just might die. It was a tossup who’d take him out first. Outlaw or Mortician.
“Roxanne got her own fucking money,” Mortician stated flatly. “Know why, motherfucker? Because I got more money than I know what the fuck to do with.”
“Illegally obtained,” Knox cut in.
“I got,” Mortician continued as if Knox hadn’t spoken, “so Roxanne got. Don’t think you lifting a broke ass bitch out of the mire of a fucking biker club.”
“I didn’t mean that!” Knox declared, an angry flush suffusing his face. “You people look for reasons to fight.”
Oh, Lawd Jesus. Knox saidyou people, as if he thought himself better than them.
“Us fuckin’ people?” Outlaw echoed.
“Goddamn it! Why is everything I say the wrong thing around here?” Knox fumed. “I meant nothing by any of what I said. All I wanted to do was reassure Roxanne. That’s it.”
“Mort, it ain’t his fault he a stupid motherfucker that don’t know how the fuck to reassure nobody. Cuz, Knox, motherfucker, your reassurance full of fuckin’ shade and insult.”
“Shade?” Knox repeated in confusion.
“Sly comments,” Meggie supplied. “Giving an insult without coming right out and insulting someone.”
Knox gave Roxy an imploring look. “Roxanne, baby, I wasn’t trying to insult you. I swear.”
“Leave him be, Outlaw, Mortician,” Roxy said, glaring at Knox. “He’s going to learn how to reassure me about his money.”
“Don’t give a fuck,” Outlaw announced. “Imagive your ass the fuck away, soImafoot the bill and I ain’t givin’ a good fuck what bitch on the plannin’ committee. Deal with it, Knox. Choke on it.Dieover it. Your fuckin’ choice. Me and Johnnie payin’. Case fuckin’ closed.”
“Fine with me,” Mortician said. “My bank account like the sound of that.”
“Cuz you still a stingy motherfucker,” Outlaw said.
“Yep, and proud of my stingy motherfuckery,” Mortician quipped.
The boys all laughed, breaking the tension. Roxy smiled, her heart filled with joy, hope, and dreams of her future with Knox.
Chapter Ten
“I’m tired, sugar,” Roxanne announced around a yawn, giving Knox a friendly pat on the knee.
Somehow, he’d managed to insert himself next to her after settling into his usual pattern of acting as co-host for the dinner. He missed the cozy little place, just big enough for him and Roxanne to create a love nest. She’d allowed him to personalize the place to his tastes, too, so it wasn’t exclusively hers.
The pastel colors she’d had when he’d moved in had been changed to neutral tones. The feminine décor in her bedroom had been switched to a genderless theme.
They both had family photos out as well as pictures of their integrated families. Roxanne with Knox and his son. Knox with Roxanne and her daughters. Duke was a little asshole who refused to deal with his mother, so he wasn’t included in the display. There were photos of family gatherings and birthdays and special events.
Yet, Knox had never felt lonelier or more abandoned. He missed her so much, but the exile Mortician imposed on him didn’t seem to phase her one damn bit.
