Page 254 of Remiss
“Tabitha is yourniece?” Kendall asked dumbly.
“His, too.” Bash held his cigarette between two fingers and pointed. “Christopher’s as well.”
“And you knew this, Johnnie?”
“I just found out, Kendall. I can explain.”
Kendall shook her head. “No. No, you can’t. That bitch was here to get close to Meggie, fuckhead.”
“You don’t know that.” He turned to Bash. “Unless you told her.”
“Nope. Didn’t have to say a fucking thing.”
Diesel would kill Tabitha. Of that, Kendall had no doubt. Suddenly, the Jana thing took on a new perspective. If she gotChristopher and Bash to the table and they ironed out a peace agreementanda business arrangement, it would be so fucking fragile. One fuckup could lead to bloodshed. She’d have to keep Tabitha’s secret.
That fucking bitch.
“What else, Bash?” Kendall said briskly. She’d have to tell Christopher and Meggie. They’d help her. “What other terms?”
Johnnie sidled a resentful glance her way. “Did you ask him about the letter from—”
“Dad!” Rory exclaimed, saving both Hopper and Kendall.
She was certain Johnnie intended to ask about Hopper’s letter. Out of spite and anger.
Johnnie roared to his feet, so Kendall stood, too. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Bash rise.
“This is adult business,” her husband snapped. “Get the fuck out.”
Rory threw an uneasy glance at Bash. Something passed between them. Fuck. Her son hadn’t come for Johnnie. He wanted to talk to Bash.
“You’re not feeling well, Dad,” Rory said. “You shouldn’t have left home.”
“Since your mother is playing Robin to your uncle’s Batman, I most certainly did need to leave. Now, get out.”
Rory glanced at Bash again.
“So now you’re enamored of him, too, son?” Johnnie demanded. “First, Bash tried to steal my woman and now my son.”
Kendall rolled her eyes.
Rory, on the other hand, looked as startled as Bash.
“Don’t ever get married, Rory,” Johnnie raged. “A woman you’ve spent your entire fucking life worshipping will find another cock to ride and turn her back on you.”
Clearing her throat, Kendall pasted a smile on her face. “This meeting is over,” she announced, gathering her pen and tablet, tired. Johnnie’s vitriol depleted her of energy and almost of sanity.
“How can you look in the fucking mirror every day and face yourself, Dad?” Rory asked bitterly. “You’re right. I’mneverfucking marrying or having children. You’re turning into Logan day-by-day. If that fate awaits me, those genes die with me.”
“Logan?” He pounded his chest with his bandaged hand. “I’d never turn into Logan. I loved him, but—”
“Why?” Rory shook his head. “Never fucking mind. It doesn’t matter. Don’t ever talk about Mom like that again, especially in front of me. She’s better off without you, then to live with your fucking abuse.”
“I don’t abuse your mother and is that a threat?”
“You’re so fucking smart, figure it out.”
“See how my son is talking to me, Kendall? And you’re just standing there, silent as a fucking mouse. I wasn’t good enough for Megan and I’m not good enough for you. What’s wrong with me?”
