Rebel
Languishing in the bathroom was a new fucking experience for Diesel.
No, languishing was one thing. He was fucking hiding.
The moment he opened the door, Jana would look at him with expectation.
Hope. It wouldn’t matter to her that he’d escort her to the treehouse via the back route—back stairs, back hallways, back pathways outside—as if he were ashamed of her.
Whom she’d allowed to kiss her. Diesel hadn’t given a fuck about the champagne, but it was the excuse he needed to confront her. He applauded her impetuosity that led her to stealing that bottle. Without it, he would’ve had to live with the knowledge that she was in that fucking room.
Allowing emo boy to kiss her. Her first kiss. Even if she hadn’t blared that, Diesel would’ve known she’d been kissed for the first time. Romantically? Passionately? Either left a sick feeling inside him.
Her lips had been a little swollen, red, alluring, but the blueness of her eyes were soft and dazed, her cheeks flushed.
Diesel would never forget how she looked or his jealous fury. It left him helpless to even try and pretend it was anything else. He couldn’t wait to fucking cut out Kaia’s tongue and gut him.
Scowling, Diesel glanced at his watch. 10:30. He’d awakened at his normal 7 a.m. with Jana curled against him. Instead of her presence smothering him, it pleased him to open his eyes and realize she was there.
He felt…a way. He’d taken that feeling down to breakfast, Once he ate, he brought Jana a plate, enjoying her company. He’d even made love to her and then held her in his arms while they laughed and joked. Time had gotten away from him and before he knew it, it was 9:45.
Then, Rebel knocked on his fucking door. Believing he’d taken the day off, she’d invited him to watch a movie with her.
Until Jana squealed and gushed, “Hi Rebel. I can’t wait to formally meet you. I’d invite you in but both Diesel and I are in the altogether. Diesel is already late for work. You and I can watch the movie together.”
The anger and hurt in Rebel’s eyes destroyed the little peace Diesel had found.
“Fuck you,” she’d growled, and limped her way back to her room.
He’d slammed the door, furious with Jana. Unfortunately, Jana had been crushed, thinking Rebel cursed her, when Diesel knew she’d spoken to him. The tears in Jana’s eyes and the way her face crumpled upset him, too.
“She hates me,” she said.
“I’m going to talk to her, sweetheart,” he promised.
“Can I talk—?”
He didn’t want to deny Jana and hurt her even more, so he chickened the fuck out. “I have to shower, babe. As you pointed out, I’m already late for work. Rest while I dress.”
She’d nodded. Sniffled. Laid her head back on the pillow.
Diesel escaped to the bathroom and hadn’t left yet, but he had to get to the office. Sighing, he opened the door. Jana was sitting on the edge of the bed, subdued and morose. He thrust his fingers through his hair.
She wore a threadbare T-shirt and ratty jeans. He needed to buy her clothes. Stat.
Jana raised a pitiful gaze to him. “The boys like me. What did I do to Rebel?”
“Nothing, sweetheart.” Feeling as if he was going to his execution, Diesel decided to tell her the truth.
He sat next to her and drew her close. “Rebel fancies herself in love with me.” As forced as his chuckle sounded to his own ears, he wondered what Jana thought.
“Insane, I know, babe. She’s acting out because she’s a spoiled little brat. ”
“Can I talk to her? Please?”
That was the worst possible idea. Rebel would never cooperate and Jana would end up even more hurt. Besides, Diesel didn’t want to see all of Rebel’s emotions that, when narrowed, would focus on her anger toward him.
“Just for a few minutes. Girl-to-girl.”
“I-I’m late for work. I wanted to stop in and introduce you to Aunt Meggie.
” Diesel also needed to talk to her about his parents.
Theresa’s fate weighed heavily on him. Maybe Aunt Meggie would have words to console him.
“You and Rebel will have plenty of opportunities to talk. Besides, she can’t know about your drug use.
No one can. I don’t want them to pass judgment on you,” he added quickly, so he wouldn’t hurt her feelings. “Or decide you shouldn’t be here.”
“I won’t take long with Rebel,” she pressed, not addressing anything else. “I promise. I’ve always wanted to be a big sister. What I have to say might help her.”
Diesel gritted his teeth. Why the fuck couldn’t he say no to Jana? Rebel was the last person Jana needed to interact with. His little sister would rip his fiancé to shreds. Then, he would spank that little bitch.
At the images bouncing in his head, he quickly nixed that idea.
Standing, he held out his hand. “Come on.
Sitting on the sofa in her room, Rebel tried to focus on the computer screen and her math lesson, but she kept seeing Diesel’s unkempt hair and lidded eyes. When he’d answered his door, he’d hidden his lower half. She’d suspected it was because he was naked.
Her lips trembled. She owed him an apology for cursing him. Hearing Jana’s voice shocked her, though. As her brother, it shouldn’t have mattered what woman he had in his bed. And it didn’t. Not really.
They were family, brother and sister, so close they both had some of Daddy’s traits. She wanted Diesel happy. If Jana made him happy, Rebel had to accept that.
Kaia certainly made her happy. When she could overlook her suspicions.
The knock on the door surprised her. Momma usually texted her when she was on her way to Rebel’s room. Daddy rarely visited. The boys were at school. Kaia and Bishop were working. That left Diesel.
The knock came again.
“It’s open,” she said miserably.
Diesel guided Jana in, immediately raising Rebel’s hackles and she opened her mouth to ask him if he’d lost his fucking mind. So, what if she was wrong? She’d intended to apologize but she wouldn’t allow him to force Jana on her.
“Get out,” she ordered.
“Jana wants a sisterly visit with you,” Diesel said coldly, pulling Jana to one of her chairs and then nodding for her to sit. “You’re going to listen to her and behave. Or else.”
She glowered at him. “When I smother you in your sleep, don’t be shocked.”
Not answering, Diesel bent, tipped Jana’s chin up and brushed his lips over hers. “I’ll call you when I get to the office.”
“Okay.”
“Rebel will walk you back to the treehouse.”
“In your fucking dreams,” Rebel bit out.
Straightening, Diesel bared his teeth. “The alternative is her in my bed for the rest of the day.”
She made a face at him.
“I thought not,” he said, kissed Jana again, and sauntered out.
He left Jana with Rebel too fucking easy. If she knew anything about him, she knew he wouldn’t go far in case Jana needed him. Fuckhead.
“I’ve always wanted a little sister,” Jana started.
“Good for you. I never wanted one until I got one and she almost died.”
Jana’s shoulders slumped and Rebel huffed. She didn’t want to feel sorry for Jana.
“I love Diesel. You’re very important to him. If we don’t get along, I’m afraid he’ll leave me.”
“He won’t,” Rebel said with certainty.
“The treehouse is so nice, but I miss him. I think he’s keeping me there because of you.”
“Not. Diesel does whatever he pleases, and he doesn’t care who likes it.”
“What can I do to get you to like me? I’ll clean your room or do whatever you tell me.”
“How would that make me like you?” Rebel asked, genuinely confused. “Even if I accepted, which I won’t because I like my allowance, I would only use you to get out of my chores. That wouldn’t be fair.”
Tears slid down Jana’s cheeks. Sniffling, she swiped them away. “He told me you’re in love with him.”
“I thought I was. He’s my brother. It’s gross.”
“I would understand if you are. If he loves you, I wouldn’t complain if he wants you as long as he wouldn’t stop being nice to me.”
Rebel searched Jana’s face to see if she was setting her up. Tabitha’s bitchery was very direct, but the club girls were schemers and dreamers. They employed all kinds of tactics to one-up each other.
“Even if he did want me, he’d have to wait until next year to have me.”
“I-I didn’t know you were so close to eighteen.”
“I’ll be sixteen next year.”
Jana chewed on her lower lip. “Wouldn’t…wouldn’t he still go to jail?”
“Nope.” Daddy would kill Diesel long before the law got involved.
” He was smart. He could’ve figured how to take her virginity on Prom night without getting caught.
Now, Rebel would help Kaia plan for her big night so they’d enjoy it without a problem.
Or Kaia’s death the next day. “But I don’t want Diesel. ”
“You’re very pretty. Gorgeous, as a matter of fact.”
“I know. Thanks for the compliment, though.”
“Sisters are supposed to share secrets and have girl talk.”
“We’re girls and we’re talking. Congratulations. Scratch that off your bucket list.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
“If you were only talking about my room, I’d be the first to put you out. But I think you mean leave and go back to wherever you came from.”
“I do.”
Adjusting on the sofa because the cast was even hotter and itchier, Rebel folded her arms. “You’re super nice.
A little timid. Which isn’t good. The club’s a big part of Diesel’s life.
Chicks are everywhere. You will never survive them if you have your current attitude.
You’re going to be Diesel’s wife. Allowing him leeway is bad enough.
But those heifers? You will never earn their respect. ”
“I’ve never put boundaries on Diesel. I could never do it, especially now that he’s willing to marry me.”
Rebel had spoken her piece. She wasn’t about to waste her breath on a woman who apparently didn’t really know Diesel.
“I would prefer if he didn’t have sex with other women,” Jana continued, “but if that keeps him happy, I will have to deal with it.” She tipped her head back and glanced around the room. “This room is so gorgeous.”