Chapter Twenty-Five—Diesel #2
“I’m still not following you,” Diesel said. “Why do we need to wait a year and why do you need to take extra shifts if you’re injured?”
“We didn’t save for her wedding,” Amy confessed. “Besides, I need to find my sister, Seraphina. She’ll want to help with the planning.”
“I don’t know how to plan anything.” Jana stumbled to the sofa, curled up on it, and fell asleep almost immediately.
Tenderness welled inside him. He’d made peace with his decision and he’d be good to Jana and for her.
“No disrespect, Amy and Sue,” Diesel began, uncomfortable for the first time about flaunting his wealth.
Normally, he used it as he used sex—like a weapon.
But he didn’t want to insult his soon-to-be wife’s parents.
“Uh, Jana told me about the type of wedding she wanted, so I’ve already set up an account for her.
I intend to add my mom’s name so she can oversee the spending.
I’ll be happy to add your name instead, Amy.
” He smiled between the two of them. “I hope you don’t mind.
It never occurred to me you’d want to pay for her wedding. ”
A flaming fucking lie that worked like a charm. Sue released a breath and nodded, his face clearing of concern and worry.
“I’m not sure if I’ll locate my sister, but if I do, would you mind adding her name?”
“Not at all,” Diesel said. “As a matter of fact, until we get Jana into rehab, it may be better if someone else is in control of the account.”
“Agreed,” Amy said briskly and gave him a pleased smile. She shifted her weight. “Er, tell me a little about yourself, Diesel.”
“I’m an attorney. A defense attorney and a junior partner at a firm in Hortensia. I’m also a member of the Death Dwellers.”
“Is Johnnie still affiliated with the club?” Sue asked.
“VP.”
“I see.”
“You sound as if you don’t like him very much.” Another member of the I-fucking-hate-Johnnie club. “He grows on you after a while.”
A blatant fucking lie, but whatever.
Sue grunted. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Glancing at Jana again, Diesel opened his mouth to speak to her parents but his phone vibrating interrupted. Seeing Rebel’s name, he sighed.
“It’s my little sister,” he announced and turned away to answer. “What’s up, Reb?”
“Axel is waiting so you two can watch something about the popes throughout history on his iPad.”
“I’m not coming back to the hospital tonight, sweetheart.”
At the prolonged silence, he moved the phone from his ear to make sure the seconds still ticked up. The call hadn’t dropped.
“Who are you with?” she finally demanded.
“Jana. And her mom and dad.”
“I see.” Rebel’s voice wobbled.
Diesel’s joy fled. He didn’t want to fuck up and hide his marriage to Jana from Rebel as he had Tabitha.
Although his wife was no saint, her introduction to Rebel planted her seeds of hatred toward Tabitha.
Just as he wanted Jana’s family to like and accept him, he wanted his own family to like and accept her.
“I’ll let Axel know you have more important obligations.”
“Don’t do this, Rebel. Jana’s important to me. One day you’ll understand. In the meantime, give her a chance. Welcome her into the family. For me,” he added, though he had no right to do so. “Please.”
“You’re a motherfucker,” she snarled. “You knew you wouldn’t be there for my sixteenth birthday to take me out. If it wouldn’t be Tabitha or Jana, it would be someone else, so fuck you. I’m better off without you.”
“I’ll always be your big brother,” he told her, regretting answering her phone call.
Her sob gutted him, but no one would ever approve of the idea of a future relationship with Rebel. He was stuck in one place and to do better, he had to improve his life. His thoughts. His actions. His emotions.
“I love you, Rebel. I’ll always love you. I’m your big brother and nothing you ever do or say can change my love for you.”
“I love you too, Dee,” she whispered, sniffling.
He smiled at the nickname she’d given him before she could pronounce his name. “I’ll text Axel and tell him I’ll make it up to him.”
“That’ll cheer him up,” she said dully. “I’ll let him know, but first I have a question for you and I want you to tell me the truth.”
“I always tell you the truth.”
“A bald-faced lie, but who’s keeping score?” she said sweetly.
Diesel laughed. “You’re impossible.”
“I want the truth, Diesel.”
“Fine. I’ll answer honestly, I swear.”
“Kaia had sex with Fia, didn’t he?”
Of course Diesel should’ve expected her to ask, but he’d thought Aunt Meggie’s interruption and Fia’s stammered denial removed Rebel’s doubts.
“I see,” she said miserably.
“I didn’t say any fucking thing,” Diesel snapped.
“You didn’t have to. Your silence is enough.” She started to cry again. “He partied with you and Fia.”
“What fucking difference does it make if he did? You aren’t in a relationship.”
“Not anymore! But I was the Chi to his huahua,” she sobbed.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Nothing!”
Gnashing his teeth together, Diesel swallowed his revulsion at the thought of Kaia stealing Rebel’s heart.
Doing better meant stepping out of the way until he killed Kaia without raising suspicions, especially Aunt Meggie and Rebel’s.
He hated the thought of her with anyone, but Kaia especially. That motherfucker chafed Diesel’s nuts.
“Kaia didn’t fuck Fia, Rebel,” Diesel bit out. He’d make sure the rest of the videos never saw the light of day. “It was a joke. Okay. That’s fucking it.”
“Because you’re a jealous fucking fuckhead,” she snarled.
“Jealous?” he spat. “Are you out of your fucking mind? Jealous? Me? Of you and Kaia? You? My little sister?”
“Yes,” she said, not backing down because of course she wouldn’t. “You hate the idea of me being with anyone.”
“It wasn’t out of jealousy,” he said coolly. “It was out of concern. I don’t think Kaia is good enough for you.”
“That isn’t your call, dickhead.”
“Are you through?”
“Yeah, so fuck you.”
“Wait, goddamn it!”
“What now?” she asked irritably.
Diesel glanced over his shoulder. Jana remained asleep. At some point, Sue and Amy left the room, though their excited voices traveled through a doorway. “Give me an hour, sweetheart,” he said. “I’ll come back to the hospital. Let Ax know.”
“Really?” Rebel breathed, her anger dissolving.
“You’re such a fucking brat.”
She giggled. “Stop in and tell me goodnight.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”