Page 161 of Restless
“Bunny and the rest of the chicks cooking a cold ass dinner,” Digger said, then shrugged. “Probably not Charlotte. She don’t cook.”
Probably not Bailey either. Mort shoved the thought aside.
“Charlotte creates excellent menus,” Brooks said.
Hearing the attorney’s voice reminded Mort he still hadn’t talked to him like Prez ordered.
“When lil’ dude called—” Digger nodded to CJ— “and told Bunny his momma was coming home, she asked me if we should welcome you back with food and a celebration.”
CJ nodded to Digger, alerting Mort to behind-the-scenes shit. It was more like CJ had called Digger and told him they needed to have a get-together.
“Did either of you motherfuckers really have to ask that shit?” Outlaw snapped. “It should’ve been a fucking obvious answer.”
Meggie kissed Outlaw’s jaw. “It’s fine. I’ll say ‘hi’ to everyone, then go upstairs.”
Mort walked around the table to the empty chair next to Digger. No matter where they were his brother always saved his seat.
“CJ called you, huh?” he whispered.
“Yeah, Mort. He thought you wanted to look after Harley. That’s why he didn’t involve you.”
He did. Harley didn’t wanthim.
“It’s cool. You don’t have to explain. I don’t have a monopoly on the boy.”
“It just felt strange. I’ve been riding hard against Meggie. Now, CJ calling me for help.”
“Must make you feel like a lowdown asshole,” Mort retorted, ignoring the laughter and comments rising around them. He picked out Diesel toasting Meggie, followed by Knox, and Boy.
It almost felt normal. If Bailey had been with him, itwouldhave. Feeling so sorry for himself helped nothing, however.
“Now what, Mort?” Digger asked.
Mort gazed at Meggie, adoring Outlaw as she had almost from the moment they’d met. They often spoke about what would happen to Prez if Meggie…left. But had anyone ever considered if the opposite happened, especially if she lost him to a violent death.
Mort knew it crossed her mind.
What about now? When fatigue darkened her eyes and pain tightened her smile. She was enduring the evening for Prez, showing him she was fine and urging him back into the light.
Whether CJ called her or not and told her the plan, Meggie instinctively knew the role she had to play. She’d schooled her children, especially CJ and Rebel, how to pick up on the cues.
“Ever think what would’ve happened if we would’ve killed her, Mort?”
“I try not to, Digger.”
“You think we’d still have a club?”
“I don’t know. But I’m sure Prez wouldn’t be here. He didn’t expect to live to see the second anniversary of Big Joe’s death.”
“Does that mean he a weak motherfucker? He can’t function without her.”
“He not weak, son. He lucky.”
Mort exchanged a glance with his brother.
“I’ve been thinking about Molly and her mama.”
Meggie whispered to Prez, and he smiled, a real one that Mort hadn’t seen in days. “About what?”
