Misfit (Death Dwellers MC #6) (41 page)

“Sorry, Louis, we miscalculated the number of people that were coming for your daddy’s service,” Lena told him later that morning, in the vestibule of the church. “We don’t have room for you on our side. You have to sit with the visitors.”

“I beg your pardon?” Fee asked in outrage. “You can’t be serious, Mrs. King.”

“Fee—” Stretch began, tightening his hold on her hand.

“I’m most serious,” Lena said tightly.

“We need to leave,” Fee spat, shooting daggers at his mom. “He doesn’t have to stay and put up with your crap.”

“No, Fee, wait.” Stretch had come this far, so he wouldn’t turn away now. “I flew in, expecting things to be different between us, Mom.”

She lifted her chin. “I expected the same, then you bring your boyfriend. It was like a slap in my face. Harry, Dillon,
everyone
warned me that you were still practicing your filthy ways. I thought our refusal to see you when you were beat up would straighten you up. It seems as if I was wrong.”

“Ophelia and I are lovers,” he said, not lying. He just neglected to tell his mother that Cash was also part of the equation. “I’ve accepted that there are parts of me you’ll never understand.”

“What is there to understand?” she flung back bitterly, tears watering her eyes. “Your choices are shameful.”

“Why are we staying?” Fee demanded as he guided her to a pew near the back of the church. He wouldn’t even view his father’s body. That meant walking down the aisle and drawing attention. “I know she’s your mom, but she’s being so mean to you. You deserve better than that.”

“It wasn’t as if I chose her to be my mother. She wanted me here.”

“Obviously, that’s no longer the case.”

Stretch had always believed his father had a lot to do with his mother’s treatment of him. Now that he was gone, he’d hoped he and his mom would become close again. Later, today, he’d give it one last shot.

At the gravesite, Stretch managed to finagle him and Fee a spot on the front row.

“Brother King can rest in peace,” the minister said, his gaze narrowing on Stretch. “In my estimation, his son has seen the light.” He smiled gently at Lena. “You may yet become a grandma before being called to glory.”

Dillon snickered. “Not unless you can drop a seed in a fag’s ass.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Fee snarled, jumping to her feet, dodging Stretch’s attempt to catch her.

“The jig is up, honey,” Dillon went on, ignoring the fact that Fee was storming down the row of chairs toward him. “We all know you not really his woman. Once a wall facer, always a wall facer.”

Fee reached Dillon just as he finished his vicious words. “Once an asshole, always an asshole.” Balling her fist, she planted it against his left eye, catching him off guard and knocking him off the chair.

Stunned, Stretch hurried to her and grabbed her waist. “Fee!” Her Zoann-like justice was completely out of character.

She struggled against Stretch’s hold, but he managed to keep his grip.

“Aunt Lena,” another of Stretch’s cousins called, “you know we been here for you all these years. None of us gonna desert you. It’s not right to be in the same room with your son. Or daughter. Whatever he is.”

“Now, now,” the preacher said, attempting to bring calm as Dillon picked his ass up. “Let’s finish this burial, folks. Then we can retire to Lena’s house for the repast. It’s not like Louise, er Louis, has a contagious disease. Nobody can catch whatever he thinks he is.”

Fee stilled at the minister’s pretended error. “Who are you people?”

“We were his family,” Dillon sneered, holding his eye.

“Son,” Lena began tearfully. “You know I love you, but it’s best if you leave.”

“Right, Mom,” Stretch said, his mother’s words cutting through him. “Thanks for your loyalty.”

“Louis, I’m amongst family. They’re all I have.”

From this moment on, his mother was as dead to him as his father.

“She knows where her bread and butter is,” Dillon called out, smirking at him. “It’s not with her ladyboy.”

“You’re a stupid jerk, Dillon,” Fee yelled. “Stop saying those things about him. Whether you or anyone else believes it, I
am
Stretch’s girlfriend.”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Dillon said sarcastically. “You’re a girl and you’re his friend. Put that together and you get girlfriend.”

Fee growled and lunged, unbalancing Stretch and knocking Dillon off his feet, pounding against his face. “You fucking bigot.
Die
!”

Grunting, Stretch pulled himself up, using his cane to stabilize himself. Uncle Harry pried Fee from Dillon. As livid as she was, she elbowed the man hard enough to make him stumble back. Right into the casket. It slid to the edge of the carriage. One more push would tip it over.

“Get this crazy woman out of here!” Harry demanded, then rounded on Stretch. “Leave it to you to bring an ignorant floozy to such a solemn ceremony. I should’ve shoved that pole up your ass instead of beating you with it.”

“Told you, Dad,” Dillon puffed out, wiping his bloody nose. “Get this low-class, amoral whore away from all our women. Filthy dogs.”

Instead of walking away with a little remaining dignity, Fee attacked again. “I’ll show you a filthy dog, asshole.”

She wasn’t aware of how precarious the casket was on the carriage. If she had been, he doubted she would’ve punched Dillon again, so hard he reeled back. The coffin stood no chance, flying to the ground and landing on its side.

“Lena!” Harry said, moving quick, catching Stretch’s mom before she fell to the ground in a dead faint.

“Time to go, Fee,” Stretch rushed out, before things got even worse. They could grab him and beat him as they had so many years ago. Dillon was knocked out cold at the moment, but when he came to, he’d be meaner than a rattle snake.

“Fuck them!” she screeched, still struggling as he managed to drag her toward the rental. “They’re stupid idiots. They don’t deserve your loyalty. Your anything!”

Somehow, he got Fee into the car and headed back to the hotel. Although his mother had greatly disappointed him, Fee had just proven her loyalty to him, once and for all.

Fee walked into the hotel bar, her mind on Stretch and his fuck-ass family. How could they humiliate him as they had? Not only his family, but the
minister
.

Seeing Stretch’s heartache reminded Fee of Christopher, and the way she and their sisters had treated him. Although she’d already apologized, it shamed her all the more. Maybe, that’s why she’d punched fuckhead. The lines had blurred in her head and sent her into a blind rage at their cruel bigotry.

They’d ostracized Christopher for a different reason.
Still…
Families are supposed to stick together. No matter who or what they are. On her part, it was a hard-earned lesson, one that had almost cost her her relationship with her brother.

As to Stretch’s family, she was certain he’d forgive them, if they gave him a sincere apology one day. She doubted that would ever happen, but hope sprang eternal.

She was so grateful Cash hadn’t come. Had he been there, there’d be a few dead bodies left behind and she, Cash, and Stretch would’ve been arrested.

This morning, when she’d walked in on Cash and Stretch kissing, she’d paused, waiting for the hurt and the jealousy. Neither emotion had come. She’d felt nothing but understanding and a need to take Stretch’s pain away. Just as she had the other day. Cash knew him better than anyone, so she wouldn’t begrudge Stretch time alone with him.

Now, she scanned the room for Cash, spotting him immediately, on the far side of the bar, a dark-haired girl leaning her head against his shoulder. Fee took a step back, unsure if she should let him see her or if she should slink away with her tail between her legs to go in search of Stretch. After today, they didn’t need to be at a luxury hotel watching Cash flirt and…Fee swallowed, pushing her hurt away.

After the emotional day, she wouldn’t confront Cash about his ratfink ways. She’d believed they’d reached a happy place in their relationship. She’d thought they were past Cash’s roving eye and running away.

Before Fee made a firm decision about leaving, Cash spied her. Grinning, he nodded to Fee and whispered something to the beautiful girl, who lifted her head. Cash stood and tenderly squeezed the girl’s shoulder before making his way to Fee. Upon reaching her, his grin faded and he frowned, tilting his head.

“Is everything all right? Is Stretch okay? I thought we’d have a drink together. That’s why I texted you. Where is he?”

“He didn’t go to our hotel. He’s here,” she said coolly. “He went to the registration desk for whatever.” She’d been anxious to get to Cash so she hadn’t asked particulars when he’d excused himself.

“For our keys,” Cash answered. “We’re moving to this hotel. Now, what the hell’s wrong?”

“I can’t afford to stay here.”

“It’s on me,” he growled, glaring at her.

“Stretch knew?”

“Yes. I thought it might cheer him up and I wanted to surprise you.”

“Congratulations. You surprised me. Pat yourself on the back.”

“How’s Stretch? What happened at the funeral? Was there any trouble?”

Fee forced a smile. “What is this? Twenty questions? Stretch is fine,” she lied. He
was
better than she’d expected him to be, considering what he’d endured from his asshole relatives, including his poor excuse of a mother.