Page 23 of Remorseless
Rory’s hard stare enraged Johnnie and he balled his fists.
“Hit me, Dad. Knock me the fuck out. You’re still so fucking wrong.”
“You’remyson. If I hit you and you hit me back—”
“I’d never,” Rory said with biting sarcasm. “I’ll just tell Mom.”
A confrontation Johnnie preferred not to have.
“You’re not doing anything for Aunt Meggie. She’d go to Uncle Mort, Lolly, Mom, or Uncle Knox for financial advisor recommendations. It’s how she ended up with Brett.”
“Are you fucking calling me a liar?”
“I’mcallingyou a stupid fucking asshole. You’renotdoing this for Aunt Meggie,” Rory reiterated, ignoring Johnnie’s growl. “This has Bash written all over it.”
“What are you doing here?” Johnnie roared, embarrassed and uneasy. “If it’s just to be nosy, you’ve seen me. Now, get the fuck out, keep your fucking mouth shut, and enjoy the goddamn festival.”
“Dad,listen to me,” Rory said with the same urgency as before. “Bash is jerking your chains. He’s just trying to see what he can make you do. Don’t do whatever you’re about to do.Please. I’m begging you.Please. I love you. I want the man I grew up around. The one I admired and respected. I’ll beg you on my knees if I must.”
“Have you told Kendall the same thing? She’s all lovey-dovey with Christopher.”
Rory swallowed and his nostrils flared. “Uncle Christopher is like a brother—”
“She claims Mortician is like a brother—”
“Yeah, but she’s always wanted Uncle Christopher’s approval. Everyone in our family, except her, had it. Aren’t you happy that they’re finally close? Mom loves you. She deserves peace and acceptance. She doesn’t deserve you fucking away your fucking life because you’re fucking obsessed with being Outlaw. You’ve fucked over herandAunt Meggie for years.”
“I refuse to dignify that with a fucking answer.”
“Don’t, Dad. Just go on your merry fucking way, living in your fucking glass house. Bitter and mean and stupid.”
“Get the fuck out of here before Idolay you out. You’re jumping to fucking conclusions, not knowing the real fucking story—”
Rory laughed bitterly. “The real story? The real story? I’ll tell you the real story. A bloodbath in the fucking making. I’ve never been subjected to whatDiesel does, but the fucking stories are all over the club. He’s a motherfucking psycho andyou, motherfucker, told a bunch of fucking flaming lies to a bunch of jackasses stupider than you. I’m in Aunt Meggie’s Lexus with CJ, my cousin, best friend, andherson driving, between Ryan and Devon since Rule is in the front passenger seat and I hear Ryan gasp.Gasp, Dad. Ask me why?”
A sinking feeling settled in Johnnie’s gut. He couldn’t answer.
“You know why,” Rory accused. “You have motherfuckers shadowing Mom and Mattie. That alone speaks volumes. You know the photo that’s circulating of Aunt Meggie. You know because you ordered it.”
“I didn’t,” Johnnie pushed out. “I swear. I would never disrespect her—”
“She’snaked. I assume it’s from yesterday’s spa day. In a place she feels safe and you violated that space. How could you do that?”
“I didn’t—”
“She’s a fucking laughingstock. Motherfuckers are kee-keeing behind her back—”
“What the fuck is kee-keeing?”
“Laughing, Dad. It means laughing. Lou and Kaleb got it from their aunts—”
“You’re picking upblackslang?”
Rory threw Johnnie a putrid look.
“I don’t mean it the way you’re taking it!”
“Whatever, Dad. You’re taking advantage of Uncle Christopher,” Rory said with disappointment. “He’s still worried about his wife. What Bash intends to do. He’s worried about Jo. The members know he’s at the house more than he’s at the club—”
