“We can all help,” Zoann put in, following behind Megan.
Once they reached the kitchen, Meggie headed to the oven and turned it on. She loved to serve fresh-baked rolls and favored frozen ones that had to sit out for hours and rise. Setting the oven to four hundred degrees, she could almost taste the buttery goodness in her mouth.
Fee pulled the bowl of salad out of the refrigerator and handed it to Zoann, who put it on the counter. They repeated the process with a bowl of fresh fruit.
“I’m going to start warming everything in the microwave,” Roxy said.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Bunny responded, carrying Meggie’s favorite set of dishes from the pantry.
“Stop!” CJ cried in a teary voice. “You hurtin’ me, Aunt Kenda.”
“Ouch!” Kendall yelled. “You little motherfucker, I’m beating your ass again for kicking me.”
“Mommie!” CJ yelled, alarming and angering Meggie, propelling her in the direction of the sounds. “’Law! Aunt Kenda got me.”
“Fuck!” Roxy said, running behind Meggie. “What the fuck is wrong with that girl?”
It took only a few moments for them to reach the main hallway, but Christopher, Knox, and the other men already stood there.
Johnnie grabbed Kendall’s arm and whispered to her, pointing to CJ.
“Come here, boy.” Christopher threw a death glare in Kendall’s direction. Wincing, he stooped down when CJ reached him and took their son into his arms.
Meggie wondered at her husband’s fleeting look of pain, but let it go as she watched CJ hugged Christopher.
“What happened, boy?” he asked gruffly.
What happened? Kendall happened, as always. The woman terrorized everybody but Meggie would be damned if she allowed her to frighten CJ.
“Then what the fuck happen, son?” Christopher asked, and Meggie regretted missing CJ’s first response.
“Does it really matter?” she asked, a dull ache in her chest.
“Aunt Kenda mean,” CJ sniffled, answering Christopher despite Meggie’s question. “She don’t treat me like at the ball, when MegAnn was there. And you. A whole lotta peoples.”
“What the fuck happen now, CJ?” Christopher asked.
“Her grabbed my arm and shook me, then her hit my booty and legs so hard, ‘Law. Real hard. Her say she was going to beat me again cuz I won’t say Aunt Kend-All. I call her Aunt Kenda.”
Kendall squinted at CJ. “He’s lying,” she said without flinching.
Meggie bristled. Kendall looked perfect and put-together, not a hair out of place, her make-up flawless. Her surface beauty hid so much ugliness. Too much.
Too much for Meggie to keep ignoring. Someone had to stop her.
“You and Johnnie got a bad fucking habit of wanting to hit other people’s kids, Red,” Mortician told her.
“I don’t want to hit him. I didn’t hit him,” Kendall insisted. “I told you he’s lying.”
“Nuh-uh, Aunt Kenda!” CJ cried, tears wetting his reddened little face.
“My boy ain’t a liar.”
Folding her arms, Kendall lifted her chin. “Even if it was true, which it isn’t, there’s not a lot you could do to me.”
A buzzing started in Meggie’s head at Kendall’s boast. The past few days had been so difficult for Meggie. She was worried about Christopher, heartsore over their arguments, and upset with herself for denying Christopher’s want of another baby. She’d pushed all that aside to make Kendall feel as welcome as possible, so she wouldn’t feel so alone. Being isolated from everyone had never helped Kendall in the least.
But Meggie was on the verge of exploding, leaping on Kendall and pummeling her into the ground.
She’d defended Kendall to Christopher time after time. Had even talked Christopher into giving Kendall the house that was meant for their protection should the need ever arise. After overlooking the rumors of Kendall almost punching CJ, she came into Meggie’s house and actually hit her son?
“You would never hit me,” Kendall boasted.
No, Christopher couldn’t hit her. “Leave, Kendall.”
“And,” Kendall went on, ignoring Meggie, “because of Johnnie, you wouldn’t kill me, either.”
“I could shake the fuck out of you,” Christopher snapped. “Dangle your motherfuckin’ ass from a fifty-story building and accidently let you go.”
“As if,” Kendall bit out. “CJ is a stupid little nothing, Outlaw. Just like you.” She turned angry eyes to Meggie. “Your son’s a goddamn liar.”
“Kendall!” Roxy shouted in anger, while everyone else seemed shocked into speechlessness, even Zoann. “Get the fuck out of here, girl.”
Instead of following Roxy’s order, Kendall stared at Johnnie, with accusation and anger. Even hate.
“My son isn’t stupid and he isn’t a liar.” Meggie marched to where Kendall and Johnnie stood. “I’m telling you once more. It’s time for you to go. I was going to talk to you about the incident from a few weeks ago. The supposed punch you almost gave to CJ. I defended you, but…” She huffed in a breath. “Oh, never mind. Just leave before I do something I regret.”
“Ha! Another shallow Caldwell with empty fucking threats.” Kendall let out a nasty laugh. “I fucking dare you to raise your hand to me. That’ll be the last fucking thing you do for a while.”
“Touch Megan and that’ll be the last motherfuckin’ time you ever fuckin’ breathe, cunt,” Christopher snarled.
“Back the fuck off my wife, Christopher,” Johnnie warned.
“Fuck him, my love,” Kendall called. “This is between Meggie and I. Unlike her, I fight my own fucking battles.”
Meggie swallowed. Balled her fist. Swallowed again. “I gave you the benefit of the doubt, but no one abuses my kids,” she said, very near to lashing out and really hurting Kendall. “No one hurts my children and then has the gall to believe I won’t retaliate on their behalf.”
“Fuck you,” Kendall yelled. “You’re a pissy, wimpy, drooling asslicker. CJ is a stupid, no-talking cum-shoot. He’s a—”
Meggie’s punch to Kendall’s face stopped her words cold. After that first hit, all restraint deserted Meggie. Years of pent-up hurt and anger sent her on the offensive. Mostly, she battered Kendall’s face for her abuse towards Meggie’s precious CJ. It enraged her that Kendall had gotten away with it so often, the fact that Meggie had believed her, defended her. Another punch made Kendall teeter on her heels.
Somehow, Kendall regained her balance, and shoved Meggie into the table, containing family photos. It crashed to its side, sending frames in all directions.
“Mommie!” CJ cried as Meggie went sprawling. “Don’t hurt my mommie, Aunt Kenda!”
“Get back, boy,” Christopher instructed. “Don’t interrupt your ma. Hit that bitch again, baby,” he called.
The shouts around Meggie began to blend together. She didn’t know, if, like Christopher, they were encouraging her, or doing the opposite and trying to talk both Meggie and Kendall down.
Tangling her legs around Kendall’s, Meggie wrestled her to the floor and sprung. When Meggie freed Kendall, she started to move. Just not quick enough.
“Megan, fuck, stop this!” Johnnie demanded, reaching for her, but, she sidestepped him, and shoved Kendall. Her crash into the wall stunned her and she sat, panting.
Turning her anger on Johnnie, Meggie looked at him in disgust. “Fuck you!” she spat, balling her hand. The bone her fist connected with crunched under the forceful hit. Blood sprayed everywhere and he reeled back.
“FUCK!” Johnnie roared, holding his nose, and rushing away.
Without warning, Kendall grabbed Meggie’s hair and yanked her around. “You punched my husband, you little cunt?” she snarled. “Of course you did. You think all the men belong to you, but especially Johnnie and Outlaw. Everyone talks about me wanting to sleep with Outlaw. What about you? You keep my husband twisted around your little finger, like a dick in a glass case, that says break in cas
e of an emergency. Well, fuck you! He’s mine.”
“Bitch!” Meggie yelled, throwing a good punch to Kendall’s eye. “I don’t want Johnnie. This isn’t about our husbands, anyway. It’s about my child. Do not fuck with my son. Christopher can’t hit you, but I can fuck you up.”
Roxy attempted to rush forward, but Mortician blocked her. “Meggie, Kendall, stop this!” she cried, unable to spring into action.
Meggie and Kendall circled each other like angry lionesses defending their territory.
Out of patience, Meggie threw a jab, connecting with Kendall’s jaw.
“That’s my fucking woman,” Christopher boasted with gleeful pride.
“Stop this, you two!” Zoann ordered.
“Meggie, please, she isn’t worth it,” Bunny called.
“We’re all family,” Fee cried. “Don’t do this. Neither of you can ever take this back.”
Meggie ignored the pleas, while Kendall shoved Meggie. She stumbled back. Growling, she sprung on Kendall, grabbing handfuls of red hair and yanking. Screaming, Kendall jerked away, leaving some of her hair in Meggie’s hand.
“Stop this, this fucking minute!” Johnnie’s high-pitched command deterred neither of them. “Kendall, enough! Megan, back the fuck up!”
“Uh, bro,” Digger called. “No motherfucker taking your ass serious when you around here sounding like a castrated hog.”
“Fuck off,” Johnnie squealed as Kendall connected with Meggie’s eye, the conversation distracting her.
“Concentrate, Megan,” Christopher said in exasperation.
“Prez, we letting Meggie girl and Red fuck each other up?” Mortician asked.
“No, we aren’t!” Johnnie answered, stepping toward Meggie and Kendall.
“Make one motherfuckin’ step and Ima shoot the fuck outta you,” Christopher warned, pulling his 9mm and aiming at Johnnie’s head. “Your bitch need to be brought down a peg or two. I ain’t able to do shit about her shenanigans, but my Megan can.”
“Outlaw, baby, this isn’t the answer,” Roxy said, frantic. “Stop this.”
“You crazy little cunt,” Kendall spat, barreling forward.
“I’ll show you a crazy little cunt.” Meggie stood her ground and landed a fist in Kendall’s mouth, then shoved her with all her might.
Kendall careened into Johnnie and toppled both of them.
Breathing hard, Meggie held her stomach, where she’d taken a lot of blows, and limped forward. Before she made it out of Kendall’s reach, she grabbed Meggie’s leg and pulled her down.
Another surge of adrenalin, and the instinct to survive, protect, win, made Meggie hop to her feet.
Kendall started to stand.
Taking ass kicking for real, Meggie kicked Kendall right in hers. If her ass had been bare, Meggie’s toes probably would’ve gotten caught in Kendall’s butt crack. That’s how accurate it was.
Still, it didn’t deter Kendall. She crawled to her feet. Remembering the pro fights she’d watched with Christopher, Meggie got into a fighter’s position, so sick of Kendall’s meanness she just wanted to erase it.
“Mommie, please stop!”
At CJ’s sob, Christopher walked into the middle of the fight, pushing Kendall aside and grabbing Meggie.
“Motherfucker!” Kendall screamed because Christopher pushed her harder than necessary and she sprawled onto the floor again.
Meggie struggled against Christopher’s hold. “Let me go, Christopher!” she demanded. “I’m going to kill her.”
“Come on, cunt,” Kendall taunted from the floor. She positioned herself to lunge “Try it! I fucking dare you.”
Meggie broke free of Christopher’s grasp, and punched Kendall on the side of the head. Suddenly, Digger grabbed Kendall as Christopher grabbed Meggie again.
“If you ever set foot on club grounds again, I’m going to beat your miserable ass with a bat,” Meggie snarled, burning with rage and disappointment and a deep hurt. “How dare you think you can treat CJ any kind of way? Call him horrible names. What do you do to your own kids? You’re such a poor excuse for a human being. My God, you’re lower than low.”
“You can’t bar me from the club, bitch,” Kendall retorted. “Only a member can.”
“The hell I can’t, cow,” Meggie shot back. “If Christopher wants in there ever again, he’ll see to it you’re never on the grounds again.”
“Now wait a fuckin’ minute, Megan,” Christopher growled. “Shit gettin’ the fuck out of hand. This bitch pissin’ you off so much, she messin’ with the business of my cock.”
Meggie elbowed Christopher in the gut. “You’ve already messed with the business of your cock,” she fumed, thinking of how he’d been treating her most of last night and all day today.
“You’re such a manipulative little bitch,” Kendall shouted, drawing Meggie’s attention again. “I’ve known all along you hated me.”
“I didn’t before, whiner. Now, I do. Don’t fuck with my man and don’t fuck with my children.” Meggie didn’t know where those words were coming from. She didn’t use bad language. But, maybe, they were dredged from the same place as her need to pummel Kendall into the ground. “Tonight, you fucked with both, bitch.”
“Megan, stop with the cussin’,” Christopher ordered. “That ain’t you and I don’t like it.”
“Yes, little cock servant, do what your master tells you,” Kendall taunted before Meggie could respond to Christopher.
At Kendall’s words, Meggie struggled to free herself. Digger lost his hold on Kendall and she rushed to Meggie. Before Christopher had a chance to tighten his hold or protect her, Meggie escaped him, met Kendall in the middle of their ring, and punched her so hard, she knocked her out.
“Kendall!” Johnnie yelled, rushing forward so she wouldn’t hit her head on the floor. He kneeled down and cradled her head. Bloody pieces of Kleenex hung from each of his nostrils. Gently, he laid her head on the floor, stood, and glared at Meggie. “Megan, I should shake the fuck out of you.”
“Johnnie, I already shot the fuck outta you once,” Christopher reminded him. “You shake my woman, I might accidentally throw your cunt on concrete and break every fuckin’ bone in her body.”
Stomping to Johnnie, Meggie shoved him. She was done. Past done. “Kendall is never allowed near my children again. She’s not allowed on the grounds. She’s not allowed to blink at CJ. She’s a horrible, evil bitch.”
“Because of CJ?” Johnnie gasped, his swelling nose squeaking. “She’s an adult and your child disrespects her all the fucking time.”
“Oh, shut up, asshole,” Megan commanded. “Kendall can walk all over you for the rest of your miserable life, but she better not ever, never, ever mess with my children or my husband ever again. Am I clear?”
A few heartbeats went by, then his eyes widened. He turned sheet-white, shell-shocked by Meggie’s vehemence.
His anger deflated. “You’re clear, sweetheart.”
Drawing in a deep breath, Meggie knelt in front of CJ and hugged him tightly. “I’m sooo sorry, potato,” she whispered. “And I’m sorry I upset you tonight, but Aunt Kendall needed to be dealt with for what she did to you.”
“Okay,” CJ said in a tired, watery voice.
“What’s wrong with you people?” Johnnie demanded. “Not one of you stopped this fight.”
“Shut the fuck up, Johnnie,” Zoann ordered. “It’s past time Meggie gave you and Kendall a beat down.”
Johnnie touched his nose and winced. “I think she broke my fucking nose.”
Getting to her feet, Meggie picked CJ up and limped out of the crowd. “I should break your head. Kendall is this bad because you allowed it, Johnnie.”
“I resent that.” Johnnie tried to scowl. “Kendall’s a grown woman. I’m not responsible for her behavior.”
All at once, the fight left Meggie, replaced by a deep weariness. Nothing was going as it should. This should have been an enjoyable family gathering, focused on Roxy and Bailey’
s ceremonies. Once CJ had cried out, Meggie hadn’t even considered the wedding. Kendall had made her so livid, she’d forgotten everything.
Their family. The children. Their friends. Thank God most of them were upstairs!
Meggie had forgotten Kendall’s illness and her own dignity.
Her eyes watered.
“Ahh, baby, now come on,” Christopher started. “You gonna ruin all my happiness if you start to cry.”
CJ lifted his head from her shoulder and frowned at the tears glistening in her eyes. “It’s okay, Mommie,” he whispered, his chubby little fingers sweeping across her cheeks.
Christopher wrapped her in his arms, trapping CJ between them. “Motherfuckers gettin’ out of hand and that shit just not gonna fuckin’ fly, especially if it got my sweet Megan cussin’ and beatin’ a bitch to the ground.”
Johnnie helped Kendall into a sitting position as she regained consciousness.
“You’re nothing but Outlaw’s cocksucking whore,” Kendall slurred, barely able to speak through a bleeding split lip.
“The child isn’t even looking at you, Kendall, so shut up,” Roxy ordered.
“Shut up?” she cried. “How could you? You didn’t try to defend me.”
“You have something against poor little CJ. I didn’t want you girls to get into a fucking fist-fight, but you needed your ass beat,” Roxy told her. “I should have punched the fuck out of you when you balled your fists up.”
Roxy’s words made Meggie cry harder.
“It’s okay, baby,” Christopher whispered.
“No, it isn’t.” Meggie stepped out of his embrace and set CJ on his feet. She looked at her son’s precious face. He resembled Christopher so much. No matter how much he tried to emulate his father, CJ was just a little boy. And Kendall tried to hurt him. Had, in fact, hit him tonight.
Meggie wouldn’t forget Kendall’s actions any time soon.
“Stay here while I collect our children from upstairs in the playroom, sweetheart,” Johnnie said to Kendall.
“No! Meggie’s going to face me like a woman so we can finish what we started.” She stood, swaying on her feet.
Misrule Page 27