Rebel #2
“Are you insinuating Diesel’s in a relationship with this kid?” Torrin demanded, as much of an asshole as Diesel. No, worse, if that was possible. “I should punch you in your fucking mouth for that.”
Ryan planted himself next to her and glared at Torrin. “Yeah, no. You’d have to tell Outlaw and my dad why the fuck you hit me. See how well that fucking works out for you.”
Torrin started toward Ryan, but Narci grabbed his arm.
“He’s right, brother. When we break this little prick, we have to make sure there are no repercussions.”
Rebel stiffened, her anger spiking again. “Is that why you overdosed CJ when the clubhouse was nearly deserted?”
They both started, staring at her as if she spoke an unknown language.
“We didn’t mean—”
“Get the fuck away from me,” she snarled. “You meant every fucking word. That’s why I know you wanted my brother dead.”
Horror washed over their faces.
Narci raised his hands. “I swear I didn’t mean it as you’re taking it.”
“By breaking me, they meant beating the fuck out of me, Reb,” Ryan told her. “Breaking a few bones.”
She wished her mother would hurry up, so they could leave.
When Jana came outside instead of her mother, Rebel glowered. Of course, Jana mistakenly thought it was because of her.
“A-are you angry at me, Reb?”
“She stays angry,” Torrin said. “Ignore her.”
Ryan shook his head.
Rocking on her heels, Jana smiled at Rebel and wrung her hands. “I-I did want to talk to you before you left.”
“You could’ve spoken to me for hours if you were coming,” Rebel grouched.
“Diesel doesn’t want me to go,” Jana told her. “But we’ll have more of a chance to bond if you come to the volleyball party Saturday night.”
“What volleyball party?” Rebel asked.
“The one we organized at Diesel’s party,” Torrin responded.
Narci smiled at her. “I’m sure Reb would love to come, J. But this is a nighttime party. It starts at eight. Kiddos aren’t allowed.”
This time when that fucking door opened, she wasn’t expecting anyone she was waiting for, so it surprised her when Kaia followed Diesel out.
Jana and Kaia exchanged a weird look, one Rebel couldn’t place.
“What’s going on out here?” Diesel demanded.
Jana rushed to Diesel’s side and smiled. “I want Rebel to come to the volleyball match at the club.”
Diesel shrugged. “Then she’ll come.”
“Yay,” Jana said, clapping and stepping into Diesel’s arms without hesitation. “You’re so good to me.”
Meeting Rebel’s gaze, Diesel dipped his head and kissed Jana, not focusing on her though she fucking clung to him.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Jana, but I’m not coming. Kaia and I are going out.”
Torrin and Narci snickered as Diesel released Jana.
“Interesting,” he said. “I swore Kaia said he was coming to the game.”
Rebel froze, thinking of what she knew of club parties, especially ones hosted by Diesel and his degenerates.
Club girls usually overran those events, along with the Bobs, hangarounds, hangers-on, drugs, and alcohols.
Kaia knew, too. She’d told him. He’d also gone to Nyx’s initiation. They weren’t going steady yet, though.
“Why don’t you and I walk to the club, Reb?” Ryan suggested. “Text Aunt Meggie and tell her you wanted some fresh air.”
“If Kaia is coming, that means you have to come too, Reb,” Jana insisted. “In case the club girls are mean to me.”
Protecting Jana wasn’t Rebel’s job. It was Diesel’s. But she was too busy wondering why Kaia even agreed to attend. She was sorry Jana brought it up. That way, Kaia would’ve had a chance to tell her himself.
Refusing to show how upset and hurt she was, Rebel nodded to Ryan. “Uh, yeah.” She turned and walked down the steps, barely seeing in front of her. “You have a ciggy you can spare, Ryan?”
“No, he doesn’t,” Diesel snapped.
Committed to not talking to Diesel, Rebel didn’t respond.
“Babe? Chi?” Kaia amended when Rebel didn’t answer him. “I…we usually don’t do much on Saturdays. I-I didn’t think you’d care…mind…uh…”
She cared and minded, but what was she supposed to say in front of all those fuckfaces? If she showed her true feelings, it felt as if she’d give them a victory. Yet, maybe, if she didn’t, her nonchalance would hurt Kaia.
Instead of walking down the pathway, she faced Kaia again, unable to read all his emotions.
“You have a choice to make, Kaia,” she said evenly. “You’re my boyfriend or their flunkey because you can’t be both.”
“A flunkey?” Kaia asked uneasily. “Wh-what does that mean?”
“Figure it out,” she growled. “I care about you. I think you’re amazing and I enjoy hanging out with you.
But you aren’t playing me anymore than you already have and I’m not going back and forth.
I’ll give you one goddamn motherfucking chance.
My life is more valuable than to spend it trying to fix a fucking relationship.
Make your fucking choice now. We break up and you can attend all the fucking orgies you want to, or we stay together and you go at my pace.
Which is my junior prom, two weeks before my sixteenth birthday ball. ”
“I don’t want to break up with you, babe,” Kaia said, ignoring Diesel’s outraged growl. “I-I’ve never had a girl like you. You’re exquisite, outspoken, and amazing.”
“I also have real fucking feelings. Don’t hang onto me because of what I am. Do it because of who I am. Because you care about me.”
“I do. I swear. But I haven’t participated in any organized games since my injury. I thought it would be fun.”
Rebel thought of Fia. “To go without me and showboat for that bitch?”
“What are we talking about here?” Momma asked, finally walking outside with Daddy and Axel hot on her heels.
“A volleyball game that my boyfriend’s attending and Diesel’s organizing,” Rebel said, not quite able to keep her annoyance at bay.
“I want Rebel to attend,” Jana piped in, “but Narci and Torrin said she’s too young.”
Momma and Daddy exchanged glances.
“Do you like working for me, Kaia?” Momma asked.
Kaia nodded. Swallowed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“What do you prefer? Working for me and not even looking at Rebel? Working for me and getting to know my daughter? Or being tossed from this roof for hurting her?”
“M-m-middle. I adore Rebel.”
“Remember that before you listen to idiots.” Momma smiled at Rebel. “Come on, love. We need to get to the airport.”
Daddy looked at Diesel. “I guess this the first PG-13 club party you ever fuckin’ hostin’ if Reb decide to go, boy.”
Narci and Torrin groaned.
Diesel nodded. “Yes, sir,” he said.
“Megan and me goin’ on a date Saturday night,” Daddy said.
“A win for me,” Rebel said, happy that she was ruining the fucking party for those fuckheads. “It’s safer for me and Kaia to be at the club than for us to be alone in the house.” She beamed at everyone, standing a little taller at her father and Ryan’s snickers. “Right, Daddy?”
“Yeah, baby,” he said, then took Momma’s hand so they could get on the road and head to the airport.