Meggie lifted her chin. "Yes," she hissed, "now. As soon as you let me by." She got to her feet and forced him back. He refused to give her too much ground, so her body still brushed against his. She scowled at him. "Who are you, anyway, that whether I leave or stay is any of your business?"

"I gotta admit this b.i.t.c.h got fire," Ellen said. A hint of grudging admiration laced the words.

"Yes, she does." A slow smile started across the mouth of the man who stood in front of her. "I'm Johnnie, by the way. Outlaw's cousin."

"Whatever." She squirmed past him, unable to fathom why she noticed anything about this man when she felt so hurt over Christopher's treatment of her. And his words...she hated to admit they appalled and enthralled her in equal measure, although she was certain his current condition caused him to speak about making love to her and getting her pregnant and all of the other crazy, outrageous things he'd said. Though she had no means to support a baby, the idea held appeal to her for her own selfish reasons. He wanted a child to carry on his genes. She just wanted someone to love her. "If you'll excuse me," she threw over her shoulder, determined to get to the elevator. She didn't owe any of these people an explanation. Let the lunatic in the hospital bed explain.

"C'mon, Meggie girl," Mortician called. "We had to force you to leave his side for one night to get proper Zs. After that, you left his side for all of four hours. You demanded a way be found to get you to stay in here with him. Ain't taking a brain surgeon to know Outlaw p.i.s.sed you off when he woke up. Whatever he told you, though, he ain't meaning it."

Once she told them Christopher told her to leave, they'd have to let her go. For them, his word was law. "He told me to leave." She didn't mean to allow her hurt to come through. Neither was she sure why she was so hurt. Maybe, she'd attached herself to Christopher because he served as a link to her father. Or, maybe, to her, he epitomized a man who'd never force her to do all the things Thomas intended but wouldn't hesitate to take what she offered. He'd allow it to be on her terms. Or, maybe, the inherent goodness she saw in him, and the protection he gave to her when he didn't have to, made his rejection so crushing. She hugged her arms around her waist. "He doesn't want me around him anymore."

She moved to leave again. Johnnie stepped in front of her.

"Move!" she snarled, trying to shove him away.

Amus.e.m.e.nt lit his eyes. Genuine amus.e.m.e.nt, not the sardonic kind Christopher normally had.

"No."

He tweaked her nose and Meggie had the urge to cuff him on the side of his head. "Uh, uh, uh," he admonished, wagging a long finger at her. "Violence gets you nowhere, Megs."

"If you don't move or shut up or both, I'm going to punch you," she vowed. The reprobate laughed harder at her.

"Christopher and Johnnie are the only two p.e.n.i.ses to be born into the family in the last thirty-three years," Zoann informed her. "Instead of making them gentlemen, it has turned them into complete d.i.c.kheads."

Val chuckled. Out of the corner of her eye, Meggie noticed Zoann flush a pretty pink.

"You two are pathetic," Mortician observed. "If I was you, Val, I'd keep my d.i.c.k outta Zoann."

"f.u.c.k you," Val snapped.

"No, thank you. 'Preciate the offer, though."

"May I leave now?" Meggie asked no one in particular, although Johnnie still blocked her.

"No."

The chorus startled her. "He doesn't want me here," she reminded them.

"Uh, yeah, he does," Digger said. "He been jonesin' for your p.u.s.s.y since you first arrived."

"It's not my p.u.s.s.y he has the problem with," Meggie mumbled.

"He wants the rest of you, too, girl," Digger called in exasperation.

Heat rushed to Meggie's cheeks that they'd overheard her comment.

"You just a young b.i.t.c.h," Digger went on, shifting in his seat and stretching his long legs out. "Feel me? Reckless, too. You have the makins of a real s.e.xy b.i.t.c.h. A dude hit your p.u.s.s.y two, three times, you'll find your s.e.xy and you gonna be one bad b.i.t.c.h."

Having been around these men for the past few days inured her to their unique phrases. She should've been insulted or embarra.s.sed or both. She wasn't either.

Digger rested his hands behind his head and leaned back. "Outlaw got sisters so he try to do right by b.i.t.c.hes. I think he know if he f.u.c.k you, he gonna say ba-bye to any other p.u.s.s.y. A man gotta come to terms with just seein' one p.u.s.s.y the rest of his life. Know what I'm sayin'?"

Sorta. Kinda. Still..."That isn't true. Christopher already has a girlfriend, anyway."

Zoann frowned. "He does?"

Mortician folded his arms and threw her a mocking look. "Says who?"

Digger laughed so loud Meggie glanced around, waiting for security to arrive and escort them out. "Where the b.i.t.c.h at?"

Meggie pulled her attention away from Rack's silent scrutiny of the entire scene. She still didn't trust him, although she needed to take more care in her accusations, especially now when she wouldn't have Christopher around to prevent Rack from harming her.

"Well, Megs, who is she?"

She nodded her head in the direction of Ellen and Kiera. "Kiera," she answered.

Ellen bristled. "You think?" she called sharply.

Meggie glared at the annoying woman.

Johnnie grabbed Meggie around the waist. "Slow down, h.e.l.lcat. And, Ellen, keep the f.u.c.k quiet."

"Meggie, that's the stupidest f.u.c.kin' idea I done ever heard cross your lips," Digger snorted. "Them b.i.t.c.hes don't belong to him. Kiera might give him p.u.s.s.y but she get d.i.c.k from whoever else is willin' to put it on her." He winked. "Most recently, me."

Ellen laughed while Kiera made a sound of distress as jealousy burned through Meggie.

Digger wasn't finished. "He ain't bringin' no loose p.u.s.s.y home to Miz Patricia, his momma," he clarified at Meggie's silent question. "You, on the other hand, yeah. He'll bring you home and show you off. Mark my words. Ain't gonna happen, though, if you skulk off like a frightened b.i.t.c.h."

Resting her fingers on Johnnie's forearm and leaning back against his chest, Meggie pondered Digger's words, unsure if she had the nerve to stay after Christopher's conversation. On the other hand, where else did she have to go? And, even after identifying Christopher as a certifiable madman, she wanted him. She wanted to feel as special as she had when he'd given her her birthday gifts and brought her the cupcakes. Though she hadn't wanted the boots since Kiera had the same pair, she had them on because she had no other shoes to wear. He'd at least thought about that. She wanted to snuggle into his side like she did whenever he decided to sleep next to her in his bed.

"She must feel good in your f.u.c.kin' arms, John Boy," Mortician said, scratching his jaw. His dreads tied back made the diamond studs he wore in his ears more noticeable. "Your arm been pressin' against her t.i.t for fifteen minutes now."

Without a word, Johnnie released her. His dancing gaze drew the evil eye from her. He winked. She blushed.

Sitting down, she drew her knees to her chest, resting her head on them. She hoped she wasn't making a mistake by listening to Digger instead of heeding the words Christopher had spoken.

Meggie sighed. Only time would tell.

Chapter 14.

Christopher opened his eyes, a steady beep resounding in his head. Pain careened along his nerve endings and an antiseptic smell gathered in his nostrils.

He wondered at the time. Kiera's head lulled as she sat in a chair next to his bed, her dark hair curtaining her features. The harsh taste of the various medicines filled his dry mouth and he groaned.

Kiera jolted up and blinked, glancing around as if she needed to get her bearings.

Finally, she turned to him and a huge smile curved her mouth. "Hey, baby."

As much as he liked Kiera, he didn't want her with him right now. "Yo'."

She jumped to her feet and hugged him. "I been so worried about you." Her hands skimmed over his body, bypa.s.sing his wounded shoulder and traveling down his stomach. "I thought I'd never hear your voice again. Taste your d.i.c.k again."

What the f.u.c.k? He'd gotten shot up and this b.i.t.c.h was worrying about tasting his d.i.c.k?

He gazed around the room, searching for Megan and knowing he wouldn't find her since he'd sent her away. It disappointed him she'd listened to him now.

f.u.c.k it. He'd sent Megan away for her own good. In the big picture, Kiera was a sweet girl, just the type of girl he deserved and wanted. Sweet but not innocent. Tough but not vicious.

He tried to imagine Kiera pregnant for him, but the thought didn't jive, refused to form completely.

She covered his mouth with hers, spearing her tongue against his. Christopher turned his head away, not really feeling Kiera at the moment.

"Whatcha doin' here?"

She reached over and thumbed his lips. "I been here all night. Everybody else left."

"How long I been here?" One of the questions he'd meant to ask Megan before he'd been a d.i.c.khead and sent her away. The nurse had come in, not long after Megan left, and told him he'd been there five and a half days. Since Christopher didn't know how long he'd been sleeping this time around, he wanted to find out.

"Six days."

What? "What the f.u.c.k you mean? A week?"

"Just what I said," she said with a frown. "Six days. Almost a week."

f.u.c.k. f.u.c.k. f.u.c.k. f.u.c.k. There wasn't no motherf.u.c.king way- f.u.c.k! He shoved the covers aside, intending to stand and find his clothes. Check himself the f.u.c.k out. Bulls.h.i.t like a week-long hospital stay was just the s.h.i.t Rack needed to a.s.sume control of the club.

"What are you doing?" Kiera cried, jumping back.

"Gettin' the f.u.c.k outta here. I can't believe this s.h.i.t."

"You were shot-"

"I was f.u.c.kin' wounded. A flesh f.u.c.kin' wound."

"You lost a lot of blood and slipped into unconsciousness on the way here."

"How the f.u.c.k did I end up unconscious for a G.o.dd.a.m.n week?"

She shrugged, the import of his absence escaping her. Of course it would. What the f.u.c.k did she know any-f.u.c.king-way?

Monitors were beeping, the cuff of the blood pressure machine inflating. Numbers were blinking in red. He felt dizzier than a motherf.u.c.k, but so-f.u.c.king-what?

The door crashed open and several nurses rushed in. "Mr. Caldwell! You have to return to bed."

"No," he gritted. "I gotta get to my f.u.c.kin' club."

"Christopher! Christopher, please settle down."

As two male nurses lunged at him to wrestle him back onto the bed, he glared at Kiera. "How the f.u.c.k I got in this f.u.c.kin' place any G.o.dd.a.m.n way?"

"That girl."

Megan, she meant. He slapped the hand of one of the grasping nurses away.

"Listen to me," she said urgently, turning a blind eye to Christopher's struggles. "Rack is your Judas. He's feeding information to Snake. I'm sure. Just like I know you been thinking."

"Don't f.u.c.kin' try to figure me out, Kiera," he snapped, elbowing the persistent f.u.c.ks.

"I saw him and that girl talking. I think she helped him."

That startled Christopher so much, he stilled, giving the two f.u.c.kers a chance to subdue him.

"No f.u.c.kin' way! Megan wouldn't do s.h.i.t like that."

"Think about it," Kiera went on. "Her appearance outta nowhere. And she's Boss's daughter. She just happened to show up right around the first anniversary of his death. She's innocent, huh? Then why don't she question nothing about our lifestyle? She just took to it like a duck to f.u.c.king water."

Every cell in Christopher's body rebelled at the idea of Megan working with Rack, and, possibly, Snake. But, f.u.c.k him, Kiera had a point. Megan hadn't been born into this s.h.i.t. Yet...yet, she'd just went with the flow.

"Calm down, baby," Kiera cooed.

Christopher would've responded but one of those nurse b.i.t.c.hes pumped something into his IV. He only hoped he didn't get a f.u.c.king concussion when he hit the f.u.c.king floor. His last conscious thought was Kiera's yelp of pain and the blurry vision of her flailing arms.

Well, f.u.c.k.

The next time Christopher awakened, the room was dark and quiet. The opened curtains revealed the night. He couldn't see anything else, though. His head pounded and his mouth tasted as if his tongue was made of cotton. He covered his face with both hands and cursed. He needed to get the f.u.c.k out of here.

Yeah, you f.u.c.king genius, we already established that.

Christopher scowled at the random thought. He wondered how long he'd been out this time. Another f.u.c.king week?

"Christopher?" a soft voice said, startling him.

Megan. What was it with this girl? Why the f.u.c.k couldn't she f.u.c.king leave? Why the f.u.c.k did he want her to stay? Megan was the wildcard. Boss's daughter, who'd arrived just a few days before Snake's attempted takedown. The s.h.i.t Kiera said made a lot of sense.

He glared at Megan. "Get the f.u.c.k outta here, you f.u.c.kin' b.i.t.c.h. You set me the f.u.c.k up."

Her gentle look vanished and her mouth fell open. "What?" she screeched, high color blooming in her cheeks. "Set you up? Like I worked with those men to have you killed?"

He nodded.