A Very Christopher Christmas (A Death Dwellers MC Novella) (30 page)

“What type of problems?”
 

“Big fuckin’ ones,” he told her. “But Val fine now. He gonna be released from the hospital in a couple days.”
 

“What do you mean?” she cried.
 

“Just what I said. It’s a real long fuckin’ story. I promise I’ma tell you every fucking thing once Ryder looked at.”
 

He thought she might argue. Instead, her medical training kicked in and she dug into the kit. “I don’t have much for childbirth emergencies.”
 

“Considerin’ the baby factory ‘round this motherfucker, you should.”
 

She nodded and sighed, adjusting Ryder so that he lay on his side. “The gravity will naturally clear the fluids. Johnnie called for an ambulance.”
 

“We have to get them back to the house.”
 

“I’ll carry Ryder while you see to Meggie.”
 

Quickly, she closed her medical kit while Christopher lifted Ryder into his arms and stared at his newest son. He was bald-headed, so he didn’t know what color his hair might be. The dim candlelight made it hard to tell the color of his eyes. He was tiny, though, but perfectly formed.
 

When Zoann stood, she reached for Ryder. Christopher hurried to Megan and lifted her into his arms.
 

“He’s okay?” she asked.
 

As far as Christopher saw. “Yeah, baby.”
 

Offering him a weak smile, she laid her head against his chest. “I love you.”
 

“I love you, too, Megan,” he responded, knowing their bond had helped him to endure these past few days.
 

 

Kendall lay in her hospital bed, sobbing softly. The weekend had come and gone and there’d been no sign of Johnnie. Not even a phone call. She’d left so many messages for him, only to be ignored, leaving her to wonder if he’d just deserted her and Matilda.
 

Tomorrow she was being released from the hospital. The doctor advised she wait an additional three days before scheduling a flight back home on behalf of her little girl. She hadn’t made any travel arrangements yet because she kept hoping Johnnie would come.
 

After giving her history, her attending physician had prescribed the same old antidepressants she’d been on before. Kendall declined to take them. She wanted to see
her
doctor, so her prescription would be changed and she’d feel more like herself on the medication.
 

The door opened and Kendall sniffled, not lifting her head, already knowing she’d find Digger. He’d remained behind to look after Val, but he also kept watch over her, never failing to come in and sit with her for at least an hour.
 

“Crying again?” he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets and glancing at her from head-to-toe. When he’d returned to the club, his dreads had been shoulder length, but he was allowing them to grow out. He was a little more serious than Mortician, though just as loyal. “You should be cried out, girl.”
 

Her lips trembled. “Johnnie hates me.”
 

“He don’t,” he insisted. “He pissed like a motherfucker with you, but his ass worship the ground you walk on.”
 

“He does not! If he worshiped me, he’d be here.”
 

Digger shrugged. “You know the shit you caused? Any other motherfucker probably would’ve walked the fuck away from you. John Boy love you, Kendall.”
 

“Then where is he? He has a fine way of showing it.”
 

“The motherfucker right where he been for the past three goddamn days. In the waiting room. He take breaks here and there to go to the nursery to feed Matilda her bottle.”
 

“He’s here?” she gasped.
 

“He must’ve left home as soon as he found out you had your baby.”
 

“He’s here?” she echoed, torn between hurt, betrayal, and anger. She swiped at her cheeks. “How dare he come and not see about me.”
 

“He just short of choking the fuck out of you, so I’d back the fuck off. The dude not in a good place right now.”
 

“You just claimed he loved me,” she sneered, her tears drying up as anger set in. “He won’t hurt me in any way if that’s the case. You tell him if he doesn’t see me right away, he doesn't ever have to see me again. I’ll take Matilda and Rory and leave.”
 

Digger gave her a disapproving frown. “You sure you want me to tell him that? Cuz I will, but think about that shit first. The way I see it, your son on club grounds. You might
have a hard time getting him. As for your daughter, John Boy might say take her because she’s a girl and girls belong with their mommas. You walked away once. You do it again and your marriage over.”
 

His calm explanation sent fear into Kendall. He wasn’t threatening her as much as explaining the facts. It might do her well to listen, since… “Not even Meggie has called to check on me.”
 

“Meggie girl went into labor. Her son was born the same night as Matilda. They just hours apart.”
 

“It figures,” she said resentfully. “She won’t even allow my daughter and me that much attention. I give birth so she has to give birth. I suppose Outlaw ran to the hospital straight from the airport when he couldn’t even come here to tell me goodbye.”
 

“You not getting one fucking thing I’m saying, huh?” Digger growled in frustration. “You think Meggie went into labor on purpose? Put her fucking son at risk being born early just to take the spotlight away from you?” Shaking his head, he laughed without humor. “That’s some fucked up ass shit. For real. What make you think like that?”
 

She glared at him, hating that the question made her feel
unwell
. “Am I wrong?”
 

“As a matter of fact, you are.”
 

Johnnie’s voice captured Kendall’s attention and she snapped her head in the direction of the door. He sauntered to the other side of her hospital bed, his expression unreadable. Usually, he played the part that she preferred—CEO—and dressed in a suit and tie. Today, he was all biker with jeans, a T-shirt, and motorcycle boots, though he didn’t wear his cut like Digger.
 

“Megan delivered her baby in the cave.”
 

“Are you fucking kidding me?” she screeched, incredulous. “And the image of her saintly façade is complete. Pity she didn’t give birth on Christmas Eve.”
 

“Enough, Kendall,” Johnnie warned coldly.
 

“Why? Does she ever think about anyone but herself? What the hell was she doing in a fucking cave knowing she was pregnant?”
 

“That’s my cue to leave you to your wife,” Digger said, backing away. “You really need to check yourself, girl.”
 

“No! You check yourself. Why am I taking up for Outlaw anyway? The asshole left me to die!” She turned a tearful gaze to Johnnie. “Did you know that?”
 

“Prez wouldn’t do that,” Digger scoffed.
 

“The fuck he wouldn’t,” she yelled and explained the conversation she’d overheard word-for-word, the one where he’d said he would pay for someone to fuck her up.
 

“He was taking the heat away from you,” he told her while Johnnie stayed ominously silent. “Don’t you see that? He
don’t
like you, but he’d never let other motherfuckers hurt you. You have to give him more credit than you do.”
 

“No, never! He’s a horrible asshole. That man who took me told him not to move or he’d kill me. What did he do? He fucking shot him!”
 

“What the fuck did you say?” Johnnie snarled, no longer standing so emotionless. White hot rage twisted on his face.
 

“You heard me. Instead of not moving—”
 

“Not that,” he interrupted. “What man took you and when?”
 

“Kendall, Kendall, Kendall,” Digger sighed. “You just don’t know when to shut the fuck up.” He looked to Johnnie. “Despite me telling your woman to keep her ass put, she left the fucking room and got taken. Prez saved her. Val told me all about it.”
 

Drawing in a deep breath, Johnnie closed his eyes. “Digger, leave,” he ordered in a hard voice.
 

Digger nodded to her and did as Johnnie demanded, leaving Kendall alone with her husband.
 

“Riddle me this, Kendall. You said you were defending Christopher when you were going on about Megan giving birth. How?”
 

“Do I really have to tell you?”
 

“Apparently. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
 

“He’s lost weight. He’s tired. He’s probably in pain. Yet, he had to deal with
her
.”
 

“She’s his wife.”
 

“I’m yours,” she challenged. “You couldn’t even let me know you were here.”
 

Rubbing the back of his neck, Johnnie narrowed his eyes. “
I
was with Megan when she went into labor.
I
was with her in the cave, helping her deliver Ryder.”
 

Her mouth dropped open at his hard announcement. If she thought she felt betrayal before, it didn’t compare to her anguished humiliation now.
 

“How often have you jerked off thinking about the sight of her pussy?” she bit out.
 

“This stops now,” he told her. “There was nothing sexual about what went on in that cave, Kendall, and you know it. Unless you’re comparing how
you
felt having Christopher see
your
pussy.”
 

“You bastard.”
 

Pacing around the bed, Johnnie thrust his fingers through his hair. “Shut the fuck up. This competition you have with Megan stops
now
. It almost got you, Christopher, and Val killed.”
 

“That’s not true! I wanted him to like me for you. Not for any other reason. But what did the asshole do? Left me to get killed. Tried to get me killed. Ignored me in my hour of need.”
 

“Stop with the goddamn theatrics. He didn’t do any of that and we both know it. You know what the fuck we also both know? You’ve never quite forgiven him for knocking you on your ass the night you came to seduce him. It’s over and done with.
Everyone
has moved on, except you and I. No one gives a fuck, especially Christopher. He’s living his life and he’s doing what he’s always done. Protecting me. Even when he’s suspended me from the club.”
 

“You would say that. That asshole protects no one but his spoiled wife.”
 

“He protects her first,” Johnnie agreed tiredly, “but he protects us all. Family is important to him. To
me
.” A muscle ticked in his jaw and he scowled at her. “I can’t discuss this any further with you right now. I might say something I regret.”
 

Since she’d left him, Johnnie hadn’t been so harsh with her, and he’d definitely hadn’t walked away from her because he was too angry to continue. He was so angry in fact, he hadn’t once called her gorgeous to soften his words.
 

Panicked that she might’ve pushed him too far, she shoved her covers aside and hurried after him, catching up to him just outside the door.
 

“Wait, please,” she cried, tears once again streaking her cheeks.
 

He stopped but didn’t turn. “What?”
 

Anger and resentment welled inside of her and she stiffened. If he’d truly meant to leave her, he wouldn’t have stopped, so she’d not give in and offer any apologies, until he did. “Nothing. Never mind.”
 

Not answering, he stalked away. Glaring at the nurses who followed Johnnie’s departure, Kendall stomped back in the room. He was angry, but he’d get over it. He always did.