Chapter Forty-Six
Well before Rule reached the indoor pool, sounds and scents floated through the door that was ajar.
Rule heard the music— The Summoning by Sleep Token—and smelled the cigarette smoke. Rebel was indeed in the room. Alone.
Harlot.
Kaia’s silly behavior, Diesel’s lack of control, and the deaths of Eric and Billy ran through Rule’s minds. It was all because of Rebel. He might’ve excused her, but they couldn’t. Especially after the clips of Rebel in her bedroom, prancing around without clothes.
Touching herself.
Stop!
Giggles reached him.
Rule paused and listened, breathing through his nose and trying to keep the voices in his head at bay. For the entire day, he’d stayed away from his beloved bible because scripture demanded he correct the wrongs of his mother and his sister.
Except he loved Mom. As far as he knew, she didn’t tempt men into turning into stupid motherfuckers like Uncle Johnnie. She was innocent of that . But Dad’s torment? His brothers’ out-of-control behavior? Jo’s suffering? All those stupid ‘R’ names?
Those crimes lay at Mom’s feet.
Kill her . Kill herrrrrrrrr. Killlllllllll her.
Rule clapped his hands over his ears.
Killllllllll herrrrrrrr.
The order was internal, so those two words kept echoing in his head.
“No! No! No!” he cried.
Abruptly, the voices stopped. He drew air into his lungs, sweat popping from him. In only his swim trunks, he shouldn’t feel so overheated. This area of the house, on the first floor, led to the patio, outside pool, pool house, and barbeque pits.
Dad had built Mom a ridiculously massive mansion that Rule no longer believed she deserved. She was vile and evil, punishing Dad for being a man.
You hate her.
I don’t! I love my mom.
No!
The word screamed through his head in a piercing echo like a demon invaded him.
Unable to stand it any longer, Rule yanked the door to the natatorium fully open.
Close the door tightly.
After obeying and stepping into the room, he halted.
He scowled at the additional evidence to use against his mother.
The room was just more unnecessary excess, built like a Roman bathhouse with mood lighting, the heated pool, a sauna, and a bar.
It was surrounded by chaise lounges and oversized pillows.
Months ago, he’d come for a late night swim and found his parents. Both of them naked, Mom on her knees pleasuring Dad, his fingers buried in her hair as he hammered her mouth.
Rule hadn’t seen a problem with that. As his wife, it was Mom’s job to service Dad in however he wanted her.
Then, he’d finished and Mom had laid on one of the chaise lounges and spread her legs, revealing everything to both Rule and Dad, like a fucking slut.
She’d touched herself and tweaked her nipples, tempting his poor father.
Instead of taking his own pleasure inside her, he’d licked her pussy and made her come.
Filthy whore .
Rule blinked, unsure if he’d thought that or the friends in his head. His erection hurting, he started to back away, but Rebel stood from her chaise lounge just then and turned.
Screeching, she covered her bare breasts as Sex Metal Barbie started playing over the speakers. She bent and grabbed her T-shirt, turning away from him and revealing her ass cheeks because of her thong. Once she’d put on the T-shirt, she faced him.
Killllll herrrrrr .
He rushed to the deep end of the pool and jumped in, both to cool his nuts and deter his urges. But the water was comfortably heated, so it barely helped. He did two laps.
“Want a smoke?” Rebel asked when he dragged himself onto the heated floor and stood next to her. She held out her pack of cigarettes and a lighter. “If I would’ve known you were taking two laps, I would’ve put my bikini top back on and joined you.”
Get her in the pool and drown her .
“I’ll take two more laps,” he said calmly. “We haven’t swum together in a while.”
After seeing his parents, he tried hard to stay away from the natatorium. As long as he didn’t see the scene of his mother’s crime, he didn’t think about it.
Rebel smiled at him and hopped to her feet. “Really?” she said happily as if she hadn’t lured two men to their deaths and turned Kaia into an idiot. As if she didn’t want to fuck Diesel.
She stood in front of Rule, unconcerned that her legs were out. The scrap of material covering her pussy was too insignificant to suggest she wore anything underneath that stupid shirt.
Shameless whore .
Kill for Your Love by Labrinth piped through the speakers. She grabbed his hands and pulled him to her, starting to dance. He refused to move.
She stopped and folded her arms. “What have I done now, Rule?” she asked tiredly.
He studied her mouth. Beautiful pink lips. Flawless creamy skin. A straight nose and high cheekbones. The most beautiful blue eyes he’d ever seen, other than his mother’s.
She’s that slut all over again .
He and Rebel would soon turn fifteen. Although he looked older, it was fine. He was a man. His twin was just a seducer.
A fucking demon temptress, my child. Rid the world of her.
Drowning would be too easy. If he slit her throat, he could bathe in her blood and infuse her strength into him.
“I’m going to my room,” she said with disgust. “You’re a fucking jackass.”
Before she moved, Rule balled his fist and punched her in the stomach. Shock crossing her face, she doubled over, staggered back and fell to her knees. Tears rushed to her eyes and pain gleamed on her face .
Strike again. She’s a weak bitch. Move in for the kill .
CJ and Diesel had taught her to fight, but she was still a girl.
Smirking at her and not giving her a chance to get over the pain or her surprise, Rule reached her, leaned down and grabbed a handful of her hair, dragging her to her feet before punching her again. She fell onto the chaise lounge.
She gasped, bursting into tears.
Not so high and mighty now.
He still couldn’t distinguish the voices and no longer cared who it belonged to.
He stalked toward her, but she scrambled back.
“Please, Rule!” she sobbed. “I’m sorry. Whatever I’ve done! I’m sorry. Don’t hurt me.”
KILL her .
He caught her foot and began dragging her toward the pool. She began to struggle and scream, but the room was soundproof. There were buttons to press in case of an emergency in various locations, but she wasn’t anywhere near one.
Be careful .
Just when he would’ve dragged her into the pool, she punched him in his kidney and dropped him like a stone. She didn’t waste time, limping toward the door.
STRENGTH!!!
The command blasted in his head. He’d been training himself to withstand massive pain. Adrenaline kicked in. Rule catapulted after her, ignoring his agony. He caught her before she got away and slapped her to the ground.
“Motherfucker!” she spat around tears, somehow managing to drag him down and slamming her fist into his mouth. “You insane Jesus boy.” She punched his nose. “Leave me the fuck alone!”
Rule twisted his legs around her and reversed their positions. If she hadn’t tried to headbutt him, he would’ve slammed her head against the concrete.
She screamed again, bucked her body and upended him. “You fucking asshole,” she said, jumping on him and whaling.
Rule could barely block one blow before she landed another one, the punches coming so fast and furious it disoriented him.
Surrender. Get her to stop. Go in for the kill.
“Stop!”
“Fuck you,” she snarled.
“I’m sorry! I surrender. Stop!”
Immediately, her fists stopped flying. Her knuckles were bloody.
Told you .
“You did.”
“I did what?” Rebel fell to his side and panted for breath. “I didn’t do anything, Rule. I was in here listening to music in between swims, enjoying the fucking solitude. Just happy with l-life.” She sniffled. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Shut up,” he ordered, sitting up and in pain everywhere. Bitch. “I’m sick of your bitch mouth.”
He enjoyed watching the devastation suddenly on her face. It made her weak and vulnerable.
“Then fuck you.” She staggered to her feet. “You don’t ever have to worry about hearing it again, you miserable motherfucker.”
This is your last chance .
“Wait, Reb! Wait. I’m sorry. I just…you aren’t a child of God and that infuriates me. There’s no reason you should be in here topless. Dad might’ve walked in.”
“Daddy’s at the club, doofus. Gunner’s with Aunt Kendall. And those vicious little Vikings are trying to take over Valhalla. ”
Rule smiled. “A small segment of Asgard for brave fallen warriors. More than likely, Ryder, Ransom, and Axel will end up in Helheim.”
“Hel,” she agreed. “They are our brothers. I was being generous.”
“Since when?” He laughed at his own joke. She glowered at him. “As long as you don’t confuse the Viking Hel with the Christian Hell, you’re fine.”
“I don’t give a fuck about your approval. Keep your lessons to yourself.”
“Liar. We’re family. Twins. You care about what I think. That’s why you’re still in here.”
“I can remedy that, fuck face.”
Rule limped in front of her. “Don’t. Please? I knew you were in here.” She’d mentioned it to Mom and Dad over dinner, but he hadn’t been certain she was still there. “I do want to swim with you.”
Hope replaced the anger and hurt in her eyes.
Weak cunt .
“You don’t always have to fight, Reb.”
“Yeah, I do. If I didn’t, those bozos would annihilate me. Ryan, too. Most recently, you .”
“Violence doesn’t calm bullies.”
“If I chop their fucking fingers off and cut out their tongues, it’ll appease me and stop their bullshit.”
She’s a blight upon her sex.
“Yes,” he responded, although his sister mistakenly thought he was speaking to her. He’d take it. He smiled and grabbed her hand. “Come on. One lap.”
Her smile lit up her face, turned her into a blindingly beautiful female, the kind who’d only ever look at him with pity.
“One lap, then I want to text CJ and see how his first real club party is going.”
Rule faltered. “Does CJ know you intend to check in on him?”
If he was aware of her plans and Rebel didn’t follow through, he’d call Dad.