Misfit (Death Dwellers MC #6) (59 page)

Cash stared at the ceiling as he lay on the uncomfortable bed, bored out of his fucking mind. Pissed that he’d spent two fucking days in this hellhole, thrown into solitary confinement as a risk to the general population. Because…he didn’t fucking know. He’d missed that memo. It should’ve been the other way around. GP was a risk to him, given his affiliation.

He’d had two separate visits from Landry and Greenlee, each working on his faith in Outlaw. But he hadn’t seen a fucking lawyer, despite requesting one.

He could always call his father or his mother. Parnell’s help would come with conditions and Jocelyn would be overcome with worry.

Where the fuck was Brooks and had Outlaw sold him out?

“McCall?”

Cash continued to stare at the ceiling. “I’m not interested in seeing those fucking cops again.”

Keys jingled and the sound of lock disengaging made him look toward the opened door. The guard leaned against the door, holding it open. “Get up. You made bail.”

Thank fuck. Finally.

It took less than an hour for Cash to process out. He didn’t care if it had taken five hours, as long as he was leaving. Walking outside, he found the sun already setting and the evening breeze blowing around him.

He squinted, searching for Johnnie’s Navigator or Outlaw’s pickup. His cell phone battery was dead, so he couldn’t call the club or a cab.

A Mercedes rolled to the curb and a horn honked. Unable to see through the tinted windows, he remained where the fuck he stood.

The driver’s side door opened and a man got out. “It’s me, Cash,” Brooks called. “I’m here to drive you back to the club.”

Well, fuck. Cash nodded, tired, hungry, and wondering why he’d languished in jail. According to the detectives…no, he wasn’t doing this. Outlaw had a reason for everything and not one had to do with Cash taking the fall.

Inside the car, he settled back. “Will Outlaw mind if we made a stop first?” Although he might mind who the stop involved. But Cash had to see Fee.

“Why would he?” Brooks asked.

“Doesn’t he want to see me?” For debriefing.

Brooks cleared his throat, his hand tightening on the steering wheel.

“He’s still behind bars.”

“Excuse me?”

“There’s been a few technicalities,” Brooks said in a voice that Cash called bullshit on. “It may be another week or so.”

“Just the time needed to plan your fucking funeral.”

Brooks choked, but they rode the rest of the ride in silence.

Awakening to the sound of a gentle hum, Fee lifted her eyelids, lured by the soothing noise, a child’s nursery rhyme, one her mother used to sing to her.

The lullaby abruptly ended.

“You’re awake.” Kendall stood and offered Fee a soft smile, smoothing her hand over her hair.

“Y-y-yes,” Fee struggled out, vaguely recalling being ushered into an ambulance before arriving at another hospital, where a swarm of her brother’s men greeted her, along with Zoann and a team of doctors and nurses.

“I’m so glad to see your eyes open,” Kendall murmured. “You had everyone worried.”

“S-sorry.”

“It isn’t your fault.”

She started humming again and Fee closed her eyes.

“That’s right,” Kendall murmured. “Sleep.”

Her gentle tone made it easy to relax. Yet, Fee felt as if she should be angry with Kendall. Her eyes drifted shut. As soon as she slept, she’d remember.

“How is she?”

She might’ve slept for one minute or one hour, before the strong scent of a woman’s perfume nauseated her and the question penetrated her brain.

Fee lifted her lids.

“Better,” Kendall answered, moving from the side of the bed. “Thank you for agreeing to stop here after our lunch. I’ve been so worried about her, Charlotte. She and Meggie are my only real friends. I-I’ve been so horrible. I should do as the doctor ordered. As I promised Johnnie I would.”

“Enough of that nonsense, Kendall. If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. These motorcycle people are so far beneath you, they should kiss the ground you walk on. Especially that Meggie girl.”

“I-I like her. Most of the time,” Kendall added. “But that isn’t important right now. Fee might not be asleep.”

A moment of silence followed, and Fee lowered her lids. Kendall shouldn’t continue to associate with Charlotte at all.

“You’ve seen Ophelia. Let’s continue this discussion somewhere else.”

“I’ve only been here for fifteen minutes, Charlotte. Not long at all. Besides, what is there to discuss?”

“Scott, for one thing.”

“Oh, Charlotte! I’m so scared Johnnie will realize Counts is Noah. I sent him to talk to Fee because we need the details for ourselves. Even if she can’t talk, she can write. But his visit has led to more problems,” Kendall sniffled.

“Oh, my dear, my plan has stressed you out even more.” Charlotte sighed. “I’d like us to continue, but if you want me to pay off Scott and put a stop to this, we will. You can allow your husband to dominate you, and no one will ever be the wiser that you gave up all your rights in this marriage.”

Kendall’s sharp intake of breath drowned out Fee’s. Jesus Christ! Charlotte was playing into Kendall’s fears.

“No,” Kendall said in a small, broken voice. “We’ve gone this far. I can’t give up now, especially with Fee so badly hurt. Oh my God! This is all my fault.”

“Stop this!” Charlotte demanded. “You’re a strong, beautiful, amazing woman. Brilliant! But you can’t foresee the future. We couldn’t have known the chain of events would lead to this.”

“Fee can’t die. Roxy still isn’t talking to me. Zoann would just as soon kill me. Bailey stays neutral. Bunny isn’t in my league. You, Fee, and Meggie are the only ones on my side.”

“I’ve told you before to spit on Meggie.
She
isn’t in your league either.
She’s
married to the man who shot my husband. You shouldn’t like Meggie
any
of the time,” Charlotte advised, apparently satisfied that Fee was asleep. “She’s disgusting, an insult to decent women.”

“I miss Meggie. She’s still angry with me about how I accused her of sleeping with Johnnie.”

“Don’t regret anything regarding her. You’ve been too kind to her.”

“Charlotte, she’s my friend!” Kendall cried. “You have to stop—”

“
I’m
your friend, dear,” Charlotte said with a little sniff. “I’ll give you a pass for this girl and Mr. Donovan. But none of the others. Do it my way and I’ll help you. I can lead you to the top of Portland society.”

“You’re being so unfair. I’m not in my best frame of mind. Don’t put this type of pressure on me. I want Johnnie and…and Roxy. And Meggie. And you,” she whispered.

“You can’t have all of us. Meggie’s husband shot mine! They both deserve whatever we can do to them.”

“But it was my fault! I’ve ruined everything. Johnnie is so angry with me. After the scene in the shop, on top of everything else…He’s not even sleeping in our bed. He’s barely talking to me. Not even my pregnancy is garnering his sympathy.” She sniffled. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“I want you happy.”

“I can’t lose Johnnie. I love him. He’s my everything. I’m so confused.”

“Leave it all to me. Understand? Just do what you’ve been doing. That Caldwell man is right where we want him. Maybe having a little difficulty with some of the other prisoners that Kyler has represented. Some of the guards Kyler knows,” she added. “He even tipped the detectives off. Not enough to have Outlaw be irrefutably guilty. Just enough to put doubt in law enforcement’s mind. Put him on the radar.”

Kendall gasped. “Don’t get Christopher killed or locked away. That’s the last thing I want.”

“Not killed. Just bruised and beaten. Weakened. Whether or not he’s kept in prison on other charges depends on how smart he really is.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Kyler and I know what we’re doing. He’s my son-in-law for a reason.”

“O-okay.”

“Don’t give in to his wife. You’re superior to her, in every way. I can’t stand what she does to you.”

“I-I know. You’re right. Meggie has done a lot. An incredible amount of damage to my career and my marriage.”

“Your life!” Charlotte amended. “Every time you pick yourself up, she kicks you down. I’ve always believed in you, even when you had self-esteem issues. Never forget you have people who love you dearly. She isn’t one of them.”

“You’re right,” Kendall repeated. “Everything you’ve said is right about her. I-I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“I’m advising you the same as I’ve advised my girls. Of course, they’re ahead of you. They’ve married men worthy of them.”

“So I shouldn’t restart my medicine? I’ve already lost my best friend being so awful. Now, I also have to renege on my promises to Johnnie.”

“His demands are ridiculous and borderline abusive. If you allow your husband to dictate to you about anything, you’re a failure.”

Kendall burst into tears.

“Oh, dear, I want you happy. I do! I’m just searching for suggestions to achieve that. The same suggestions I gave to my daughters and my mother gave to me.”

Though she kept her eyes closed, Fee felt Kendall lay her head on the edge of her bed.

“Don’t cry anymore. Let me get you home. I’ll find that husband of yours so he could give you some TLC.”

Fee’s heart went out to Kendall, so she lifted her hand and put it on the back of Kendall’s head.

“S’okay,” Fee croaked.

“Oh, Fee,” she said in a wobbly voice, lifting her head. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“S’okay,” she said again.

“Hello, Ophelia,” Charlotte greeted in her usual unfriendly manner.

“She still has trouble talking.”

“We were just leaving. Come, Kendall.”

Kendall hesitated, then kissed Fee’s forehead. “Bye, Fee,” she whispered.

Fee wished she had the strength to comfort Kendall and make her understand how wrong Charlotte was.

This proved that underneath her abrasiveness Kendall had a very fragile soul, one Fee was determined to protect as soon as she healed.