Page 46 of Misrule
“Fuck yeah, but not here.”
“Knox, son, you too close,” Mortician called. “I didn’t skip church to watch you pushing all up on Roxanne.”
“Lucas, they can’t do anything in front of us,” Bailey said with exasperation. “They’re just snuggling.”
“How about I pull this motherfucker over andwesnuggle, too?”
“How about I knock you the fuck out and leave you on the side of the fucking road, Mortician?” Roxy growled.
Mortician met Roxy’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “I didn’t have to consent to this date, man.”
“Yes, you did,” Bailey said on a sniff. “You’re taking this way too serious, Lucas. I appreciate how much you want to protect Momma, but this is really getting out of hand.”
“It’s not,” Mortician insisted. “Just trust me, pretty girl.”
“I get that you don’t like Knox,” Bailey went on, not as irritated as before, “but Momma loves him. They’re going to marry. This is just ridiculous. You weren’t even going toallowthem to go on a date, for crying out loud.”
“Don’t remind me, Bailey,” Mortician snapped. “Motherfucker had no business calling you.”
“You think not?” Knox finally put in. “If I would’ve left it up to you, you would’ve given me all kinds of bullshit. I took a page from the playbook all of you use when you want something from Outlaw and call Megan first.”
“I resent that shit,” Mortician said. “That should work on Outlaw not me.”
Roxy cocked her head to the side, biting her lip to keep from dissolving into laughter at how deftly her man had outsmarted Mortician. “You called Bailey, Knox?”
Grinning, Knox winked at her, then nodded.
“Woohoo,” she chortled, leaning forward and tapping Mortician on the shoulder.
“What?” he growled.
“Burn, motherfucker,burn.”
“Shut up.”
Roxy thumped the back of his head. “Don’t tell me to shut up, boy. You lost your fucking mind talking to me like that? I’ll fuck you up.”
“Fuck, Roxanne. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disrespect you, but my pride stinging.”
“Oh Lucas,” Bailey clucked. “Knox just wants to enjoy time with his lady.”
“I don’t give a fuck. Roxanne our family. She important to us. As head of the family, I have to protect her from stupid motherfuckers.”
“I resent that,” Knox spat.
“Hold on, Knox,” Bailey said, twisting around to offer a brief smile. “Lucas, is there something…there’s a reason you’re acting like this, isn’t there? What has Knox done?”
“You’re supposed to be on my side, Bailey,” Knox fumed. “Suddenly you’re switching loyalties and turning against me? How can you be so traitorous?”
“Wait a goddamn minute, Knox—” Roxy started.
“Knox, motherfucker, you talk to my woman like you got some goddamn sense or I’m cutting your fucking tongue out of your fucking mouth,” Mortician interrupted. The chill in his voice dropped the temperature in the SUV by degrees. “Bailey didn’t do this for you. She did it for her momma and don’t fucking forget that.”
“Fuck off, Mortician,” Knox retorted. “I’m sick to death of all you barbarians. Outlaw threatens me. Johnnie. Now you. And it usually has to do with Megan, Kendall, or Bailey. Your women are capable of defending themselves.”
“They more than capable,” Mortician agreed, “but why do they have to do it, when they gotusto do it for them?”
“All right, everybody,” Bailey inserted, “this isn’t the way to start our date. Let’s just drop it.”
