Page 42 of Restless
Sitting in the stairwell of Hortensia General, Johnnie aimed his Glock at the dismal gray-green wall. It was after one in the morning, and he was still reeling from CJ’s news.
He didn’t know why he’d trusted Bash to take his money, then not stab him in the fucking back. After he’d walked away from his wife and kids, Johnnie disabled his tracker and drove around for hours, until he settled on a place to regroup and called Brooks.
Johnnie lowered the gun. “What did you tell him, Brooks?”
“Exactly what you told me to. We’re working with Bash on behalf of the Scorched Devils. You intend to control him as Cee Cee Caldwell managed Logan Donovan.”
The story sounded like the bullshit it was. His grip on the Glock tightened. “Did he question you?”
“Outlaw isn’t in the frame of mind for any of this. He’s gone this long without knowing. I don’t understand why you’d burden him with the details,falseones may I add, when he is so concerned about Meggie.”
Snapping his brows together, Johnnie glowered at the ugly wall. “Are you fucking questioning me?”
“N-no, o-of course not, Johnnie. I’m merely wondering aloud how this lie will save us from Outlaw’s wrath.”
“It won’t,” Johnnie admitted. “I’m buying time until I figure out what to do about Bash. He takes my fucking money every month, yet he overlooked our gentleman’s agreement and came to Hortensia.”
“He isn’t a gentleman.”
Johnnie’s nostrils flared and bleakness settled into him. “No. He admires Cee Cee so much, I thought he’d adhere to a scheme similar to Cee Cee’s.” Bowing his head, he closed his eyes and scratched his temple with the barrel of the gun. “I was wrong. Now, I’m out of time.”
“Cee Cee was in the opposite position, Johnnie,” Brooks reminded him. “I think Cee Cee had the moneyandthe power.”
If some of the documents were to be believed.
“I have the money, but Bash has the power,” Johnnie admitted dully.
“We have to find a way to get the power.”
“I know.”
Without Christopher, Johnnie had no anchor. When he allowed it, Brooks offered advice, support, and encouragement to him, although he was so invaluable to Kendall and their children that Mattie referred to the attorney as ‘Gramps’ and his wife as ‘Gram’.
“I will continue to try to make contact with him. So far, he hasn’t answered. Cleaner won’t confirm Bash’s location. I can still call Riley and ask him—”
“No! Absolutely not. Christopher is distracted right now. Until Megan recovers. When it clicks, I’m as dead as Bash. As dead as you,” he added drearily.
Brooks sucked in a breath. “We have tried to avert disaster. We haven’t betrayed him or the club.”
“Bash’s primary target is Megan, Brooks,” Johnnie reminded him. “He wants her eliminated.”
“You were involved because he threatened Kendall and Mattie. Surely, Outlaw will understand that.”
“He’s unreasonable if it involves Megan. Kyler was killed partly because he left Christopher in jail, but mostly because he disrespected Megan.”
“My poor son-in-law.” Brooks’s voice wobbled. “He was only doing as Charlotte instructed. As was I. We wanted her happy. She’s my wife and was his mother-in-law.”
“He still fucked over Megan.” Johnnie leaned against the wall. He’d snuck up the rarely-used back staircase, built during the last renovation especially for club members trying to escape danger or law enforcement. “I wanted some of Bash’s documents verified or disproved before I went to Christopher. Mainly, I wanted to extricate Kendall and Matilda from Bash’s crosshairs. If he managed to escape Christopher’s vengeance, he’d target them first to teach me a lesson.”
Trembling at the thought of losing Kendall and Mattie, Johnnie couldn’t fathom his next move.
“I’ve tried to find who sent the documents,” Brooks said on a sigh. “I come up empty at every turn. Is it possible they’re fabricated?”
“I’ve thought of that,” Johnnie admitted. “But Bash has no reason to fuck with the club so drastically over bogus claims. The Scorpions aren’t as strong as they once were, especially after Christopher killed several of our half-brothersandCee Cee. They aren’t struggling either. We’ve both combed their financial records. If it was strictly about money and territory, he’d go after the club. He wants Megan because he claims she’s the owner of the land and the buildings. Fuck, it would be easier if hewaschallenging the club.”
“Johnnie, I love Kendall like she was my own daughter. I would give my life for any of my children. I’ll do the same for Kendall.” He sniffled. “I’ll go to Outlaw and tell him I went behind his back to try to diffuse a situation involving Meggie. I’ll tell him everything Bash confided to us and hand over all the documents to Outlaw. He’ll kill Bash and eliminate the threat to Kendall, Mattie, and Meggie.”
“Christopher will kill you, too,” he said unnecessarily. Brooks said as much. “You’re a fine man, Brooks. Kendall is lucky to have you, but I can’t let you lay down your life in such a manner.”
