Page 141 of Remiss
“Right behind you, Mort,” Val said, brushing past Grant and Knox. “Fuck, it smells good in here!” he boomed.
Grant flicked his cigarette away, glared at his father, then went inside without another word.
Christopher started forward, but Knox blocked him.
“Can I talk to you a minute, Outlaw?”
“If it’s about Grant, ain’t up to me to fuckin’ tell you to stop bein’ a motherfucker and support him no matter what the fuck he decide.”
Knox frowned. “You just did.”
“Move, fuckhead.”
“It isn’t about Grant.” Knox glanced behind him and closed the door before stepping closer. “It’s about Kendall,” he whispered, probably so Roxanne wouldn’t hear.
But unless he blinded her, if she wasn’t distracted by Mort and Val’s arrival, she’d ask fucking questions.
“I’m listenin’, Knox.”
Realistically, whatever Knox had to say to Christopher could be about anything, so those words were innocuous. It would be up to Knox to use his fucking brain and come up with a diversion. Enlightened on the dangers of such methods, Christopher would advise against such low motherfucker moves against Roxanne, but Knox always thought he knew best. Their relationship worked so well nowadays because Christopher tuned him the fuck out most of the goddamn time.
“She knows what I did all those years ago.”
“Ain’t she been…”Knowin’died on his fucking lips. Roxanne was a smart bitch. She’d figure this wasn’t run-of-the-mill motherfucker talk. “Ain’t she been wantin’ that?”
“Uh—”
Fuck, he forgot he was dealing with a mini-Johnnie in the commonsense arena. He lifted a brow,hopingthe motherfucker got a clue.
“Diesel pickin’ up Megan blue diamond for me today.”
Knox frowned. Assfuck was so fucking lucky his back was to the camera. Christopher lifted a brow and Knox’s eyes widened, then he nodded and leaned in even closer.
“What if she tells Roxanne? What if she tells Johnnie? I’m either dead or divorced. Frankly, I’d prefer death than life without my wife. What should I do?”
Christopher pasted on a smile. “Motherfucker, how you expect me to answer that right here in front of that fuckin’ camera?” he said, the words barely audible or understandable because of his clenched teeth.
Knox’s shoulders slumped and bleakness settled into his eyes. Growling, Christopher grabbed Knox’s collar and dragged him down the steps, not stopping until they reached the halfway point between the houses.
“Listen up, assfuck. I ain’t too sure why the fuck this botherin’ younow, but Kendall ain’t fuckin’ stupid. She know what the fuck you did. So does motherfuckin’ Johnnie. Unlikeher, he a dumb fuckhead. Kendall love Roxanne too fuckin’ much to tell her your role in her near suicide, so stop stressin’ the fuck out.” He shoved Knox away. “If Johnnie confront you, remind that motherfucker he had free goddamn will buthechose to go with Emily cuz of Megan.”
Christopher started back to the house, but Knox’s tortured question halted him.
“Suppose he threatens to tell Roxanne?”
“Knox, it’s like this. Confess to her, live in fuckin’ fear, or let it the fuck go. I ain’t too sure in what context you and Kendall talked about this shit, but I’m fuckin’ tellin’ you she ain’t gonna hurt Roxanne. She can’t standyourmotherfuckin’ ass, but she love your woman.”
“What would you do?”
“This old shit, Knox. It ain’t about another bitch. It ain’t about you fuckin’ over Roxanne in some other way. This was almost eleven years ago. If you tell her now, you’ll hurt the fuck outta her and she’ll wonder what the fuck else you been hidin’. You shoulda fuckin’ told her then, but I understand why you ain’t. We do shit in the heat of the fuckin’ moment that seem right but end up bein’ wrong like a motherfucker.Howfuckinever, we ain’t able to undo it without causin’ a lotta pain.”
“My guilt is eating me alive.”
Christopher considered the situation, thought back to that time when all he wanted was Kendall dead. Megan knew the entire story. He’d told Roxanne bits and pieces. When he put it all together, though, he’d fucking bet she was aware of what Knox did. Megan probably told her a version that left out Knox’s need for revenge against Kendall and explained to Roxanne that Christopher left him no choice. Because that’s what Megan did. Cleaned up the aftermath of his fuckery to keep their family together.
“Roxanne know, Knox,” Christopher said as certain of that as he was the moon hanging in the sky.
“No!”
