Misfit (Death Dwellers MC #6) (24 page)

Stretch was having trouble following which ‘he’ Diesel was referring to in his story, but he knew who he meant by
both
of them. Stretch and Fee. At the beginning of her entering the relationship, Stretch
had
stopped talking to Cash.

“Did Cash cheat on you?”

“Whatever you think you know isn’t the way it is. There’s no type of relationship between Cash and I. Drop the subject and don’t ever bring it up again.”

Diesel’s entire body drooped. “I’m sorry. I was just trying to make conversation.”

“Forget it. Just don’t bring this up again. To anyone,” he warned.

“Sorry,” Diesel mumbled again, scraping his nails along the material covering his thigh. “Does your leg hurt a lot?”

“Yes.”

“You should go to a pain management place. Or look into surgery to have it repaired.”

Every motherfucker was suddenly bringing up surgery. “What do you know about my injured leg?”

“I know how you got your injury. And why.”

Sucking in a breath, Stretch stiffened, the slurs his uncles and father hurled at him, their kicks and punches, crystallizing in his head. It hadn’t bothered him as much
before
his accident. But that’s how he defined his life—before and after.

Before the blow-up with his father, he’d had a family. Before Cowboy, he’d had hope.

“Uncle Chris has a lot to say about you and Cash.”

It figured. Outlaw was all man. As accepting as he tried to be, Stretch could only imagine what he said when they weren’t around. Something he’d never considered. “Is that so?”

Diesel glanced at the hand now in his lap. “My dad always said gays…people like…um…” His voice trailed off and he stopped, flushing. “He said you choose to be that way.”

That was the exact same thing his mother had said. The words hurt then and they hurt now.

“Ever since I started hearing the rumors about you, I’ve watched you a lot. Then I heard Aunt Meggie, Bailey and Bunny talking about a dude named Arrow.”

“Don’t talk about that motherfucker,” Stretch growled, blaming that asshole for Dinah’s death. He’d used that poor woman’s fragile mental state, playing upon her resentment of Outlaw.

“No shit, dude.
He
was the one who went around saying stuff about you.”

“Arrow?” The man had befriended Cash and always smiled in Stretch’s face. What kind of a motherfucker did that? Then again, he probably thought him and Sharper would be in fucking control of the club by now. “What did Arrow say?”

“The dude named Arrow told Slipper a lot of shit.” Diesel glanced in Slipper’s direction. “I didn’t mean to blurt out like I did earlier. That was stupid. I was just so happy to know what was going on. And, well, be careful. I don’t think…seeing you I mean…I don’t think you chose to like dudes any more than I chose to like chicks. It’s how we’re born.”

“What are some of the things Outlaw says?” He still wouldn’t confirm or deny Diesel’s assumptions, unable to trust he wasn’t using this opportunity to scout information for some of the younger brothers in the club he’d befriended. Or, even, Slipper.

“He always talks about what a genius you are. How you help him to keep tabs on CJ. He says you’re quiet but still somehow fit into his circle. He admires and respects you.”

“Then why all the drama with your statement?
He says a lot about me and Cash
. You made it sound like it was a lot of
shit
.”

“I got your attention, right?”

Stretch smiled. “You did.”

“What the fuck you doin’ here, Diesel?” Outlaw asked from behind them, making both Stretch and Diesel jump.

“Passing time, Uncle Chris.”

Outlaw glared at Diesel, who seemed like a
boy
as he squirmed.

“Okay. I’m here for Daphne,” he admitted.

“Get the fuck outta here,” Outlaw growled. “I woulda fuckin’ thought after Megan got through with you you’d stay the fuck away from Daphne.”

“Yeah, but CJ isn’t here and neither is Aunt Meggie. She’ll never know.”

“My ass’ll fuckin’ know. Megan actin’ like she fine, but inside I’m fuckin’ miserable cuz I know she ain’t thinkin’ right about shit.”

“Because of Daphne?” Stretch asked, guilt eating at him. He’d gone along with Cash’s plan to throw Daphne at Outlaw.
They
had chosen to fuck around with Fee. They needed to face the music, instead of hurting other people to save their own asses. “Daphne isn’t a threat to her.”

“Tell my girl that.” Outlaw went around the bar and got a bottle of tequila. “We talkin’ and laughin’ and jokin’, but she been guarded. So fuckin’ sad.”

“Just kick Daphne out,” Stretch suggested, surprised he hadn’t done it anyway, if Meggie was that upset.

Outlaw drank, then leaned forward. “Megan said I can keep the bitch here. We both know the brothers like Daphne. It’s fuckin’ easier on every-fuckin-body if we keep the fuckin’ girls we got, Stretch. Think about this. We let Daphne go. We get another bitch to replace her. Cash in charge of them bitches.”

So he’d have to train her, have his cock sucked to make sure she gave head right. Stretch would have to watch Cash have more pointless flings.

“I see what the fuck I’m gettin’ at dawned on you.”

“Yes, it did.” Cash was hard enough to pin down. Stretch didn’t need any more competition.

“This morning, Cash sent Daphne to me for money. The second time in a few weeks. He seem into this bitch. Now, I ain’t sayin’ Cash shouldn’t fuck whoever he want to and I’m tryin’ to be fuckin’ fair and open-minded.” Outlaw leaned closer and glanced over his shoulder at the dark monitors. “But you ain’t thinkin’ about much other than your fucked up leg and Cash’s fucked up behavior. When he around, you try your fuckin’ best to be close by. You ain’t doin’ gate duty no more too much. I offered to take you off, but you insisted on stayin’. You a good, loyal brother, Stretch. You just ain’t you no more.”

Something Stretch was well aware of and something everyone, including himself, pretended otherwise. But Outlaw didn’t pull any punches. He never had. That’s why Stretch respected him so much.

“Before I ask you to turn in your patch, I’m askin’ you to get your shit together.” He drank more tequila then cocked his head to the side. “Unless you wanna patch out?”

“This is home to me. There’s loyalty and freedom and brotherhood.”

“Nothing ever fuckin’ free, brother,” Outlaw countered. “Not even fuckin’ freedom. That come at the cost of something, too. Some brothers’ loyalties come with stipulations.” He gave him a meaningful look. “You know what the fuck I’m sayin’. You gotta pull your shit together.”

“I keep seeing his face, Outlaw. I keep thinking about
their
faces. I put you in a bad position. My stupidity led you to kill good brothers. I’m so sorry.”

“If they was fuckin’ good, I wouldna blown them the fuck away. Ain’t no reason to apologize. There especially ain’t no reason to feel fuckin’ guilty on
my
behalf. Other than the night I fucked them up, I ain’t thought about them. They needed to be fuckin’ dead and I obliged them. Case fuckin’ closed.” He fished in the pocket of his cut, pulling out a roll. Once he lit it, he handed it to Stretch. “I can count on one or two fuckin’ hands the deaths that fuck with me the most, with that motherfuckin’ Traveler being at the top of the list.”

Because of Meggie. After realizing Outlaw was sharing a lot with her, Stretch often wondered how Outlaw had broken the news to her that she’d killed Traveler.

“But, Stretch, brother, you live your life lost in the past, you might as well lay the fuck down and die cuz you sure the fuck ain’t got a fuckin’ future. Live life for
now
. In the present. We don’t know what the fuck happenin’ the next goddamn minute.” Outlaw grabbed the roll back from Stretch. “Think about this shit, then find my ass and tell me how the fuck you want me to help you.”

Stretch swallowed. Instead of feeling better, Outlaw’s encouragement made him feel worse. He was screwing the man’s sister, knowing how Outlaw felt about that. He wasn’t even sure why he was doing it.
Was
it his feelings for her? Or because Cash wanted it?

“Fuck me.” Outlaw released the smoke he’d been holding in, then straightened.

“Stretch,” Kendall greeted, squeezing next to him and smiling at Outlaw. “Hello.”

Outlaw’s glower matched Stretch’s. She offered Stretch a superior grin, then lifted a brow at Outlaw.

“You can’t ignore me forever.”

“Hey, you,” Meggie’s voice interrupted Kendall’s crusade to have Outlaw speak to her. She went behind the bar to kiss her husband. “I’m here to start dinner.” Catching sight of Diesel, she raised her brows. “You’re out of school early.”

“Yeah, Aunt Meggie,” Diesel answered as Kendall sent a text. “In-service.”

Meggie nodded, then focused on Kendall. “What’s up?”

“Not much.” Stuffing her phone in her handbag, she nodded to the briefcase she’d laid on the bar. “Interviewing with a few firms.”

“That’s so awesome,” Meggie gushed. “You’ll be hired in no time.” Coming from around the bar, she hugged Kendall. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m sure you are,” Kendall said with a smile, just as the kitchen door opened and Daphne appeared, wearing only a thong and heels, holding a card in her hand.

“Oh my god, Outlaw,” she squealed, running behind the bar and throwing her arms around him, shocking the fuck out of not only him, but
everyone
. “You gave me a thousand dollars for my birthday. How can I ever repay you?” She giggled. “I can think of a few ways that I know you’ll enjoy.”

“Get the fuck away from me.” Outlaw shoved Daphne so hard she crashed into the bottles, rattling them but not knocking any of them over. He looked at the disbelief on Megan’s face. “Megan, baby, I ain’t gave this bitch nothing for her fuckin’ birthday.”

“You did.” Daphne turned to Meggie. “He did. Ask him.”

Meggie stared at her before looking at Outlaw. “Did you give her money today?”

“She came to me this mornin’. You fuckin’ know I give club girls money when they need it. Read the fuckin’ card before her blood all splattered with it, cuz, baby I’m fuckin’ her up. This shit stoppin’ now.”

“Show us the card,” Kendall demanded as if she had a right, holding her hand out.

Scampering around the bar, not bothered that she was almost naked, Daphne handed Kendall the card.

“Oh my god, asshole, this
is
your handwriting,” she cried, bringing it to Meggie and fanning it in her face. “Isn’t it?”

Meggie snatched the card from Kendall’s hands and froze.

“Isn’t it his handwriting?” Kendall demanded.

Sucking in a breath, Meggie nodded. “It could be. But is it?”

“No the fuck it ain’t!” Outlaw grabbed the card from her. “Fuck me. Megan, baby, I don’t even give you fuckin’ cards but once a year on romantic motherfucker day, for our anniversary. What the fuck going on around this motherfucker?”

“Why is it in your handwriting?” Meggie asked in a thick voice, making it hard for Stretch to witness this travesty, all Kendall’s doing. “Why does it talk about the other morning and say you’re looking forward to more days like that? I know, I
know
you wouldn’t cheat on me. But then there’s all this evidence that makes it hard
not
to believe.”

She sucked in a noisy sob that seemed to break Outlaw. The commotion awakened Slipper and drew the brothers who’d been out in the yard, inside.

“Megan, baby, I ain’t too sure why the fuck this bitch playin’ these fuckin’ games. I ain’t usually takin’ bitches into the meatshack, but I’ma change that rule this one fuckin’ time.”

Daphne paled, then looked at Kendall, seeking guidance. Kendall gave the barest shakes of her head, almost unnoticeable. Then, a gleam entered her eyes, and she smiled.

“Meggie, if the evidence is there, then you can’t ignore it. He’s fucking Daphne.”

Growling in fury, Outlaw rushed toward Kendall, who wrapped her hands around her head. Stretch didn’t realize he still had it in him to move so fast, but he didn’t want his president doing something he’d regret.

“I’m fuckin’ killin’ you, Kendall,” he yelled, almost purple with rage.

“It isn’t my fault you can’t keep your dick in your pants.”

Stretch lost hold of Outlaw. In a flash, he reached Kendall and went for her throat.

“Stop!” Meggie grabbed her husband’s arm. “Leave her alone, Christopher. Okay? Leave Daphne alone. Leave her to me. She will
not
flirt with you right in front of my face. I don’t care what you two did when I wasn’t around.”

He kicked a chair over. “I ain’t doin’ fuck-all. I fuckin’ swear on our son grave I ain’t give this bitch nothin’.”

Meggie hesitated. Despite all the evidence, she wanted to believe her husband. Outlaw never lied to her. Everyone knew it, especially Meggie.

“You little fool! The evidence is right there. Of course, you didn’t want to side with me where the law firm was concerned. Why
would
you believe he’d fuck over you?”