Page 207 of Restless
Meggie tipped her head back to better see her niece. Mattie stood in the doorway, so pretty in her dress but mortified by her father’s reaction.
Kendall stood, too. “Johnnie—”
“Shut up, Kendall. She looks like a whore—”
Mattie’s face crumpled.
“Dad—” Rory started.
“Look, fuckhead,” Kendall snarled. “You’re embarrassingmydaughter. I picked the fucking dress out for her and if you have a problem with that, fuck you.” She waved Mattie over. “Come, darling. You’re so pretty. If your father is too much of a dickhead to remember that a girl needs her daddy approval, I apologize.”
“Enough, Kendall. You’re overstepping your bounds.”
“Fuck you, motherfucker. You’ve overstepped your fucking bounds with Mattie every fucking day for months. I adhere to your wishes. We all do, but what you aren’t fucking doing is humiliating her in front of fucking guests.”
“As if you aren’t,” Johnnie sneered.
“Fuck youandthem,” Kendall snapped. “Tell Mattie she’s pretty, John Donovan, or I’ll show you what the fuck humiliation is.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“You really want to test that fucking theory, asshole?”
“Nope,” Digger said, “’cause you win everyfuckintime, Kendall. You show us how crazy really look. Johnnie a novice next to you.”
“Asshole,” Johnnie barked. “That’s my fucking wife.”
“I’m on your side. And I know who the fuck she is, John Boy. Your ass forget the woman your wife and Mattie your daughter.”
“Believe me, that is always uppermost on my mind,” Johnnie gritted. “I want Matilda to be respectable. I don’t want her to draw unwarranted attention.”
Rebel whispered to Diesel again, and giggled.
“Like Rebel,” Johnnie said.
Rebel blinked.
“You’re not only dressed like a fucking harlot, but you’re rude—”
Before Christopher grabbed the steak knife, Meggie placed her hand over his.
“Share with us what you whispered to Diesel,” Johnnie continued, not knowing or not caring that his life was in danger.
“Rebel’s a child, Johnnie,” Kendall said with disapproval, lifting a brow at Meggie and Christopher’s hand tussle.
“In years only,” Johnnie replied. “We’re waiting, Rebel.”
“Then wait,UncleJohnnie.”
“Yeah, you’re our uncle, dude,” Ryder said. “You don’t get to tell us what to do.”
“Especially with Mom and Dad right there,” Ransom said.
Christopher growled, tightened his grip on her hand, and lifted it away. Grabbing the knife, he stood.
“Can I talk to you?” Meggie said, jumping to her feet.
“No, Megan—”
