Chapter 47 – Rebel
The moment Rebel escorted Jana to the clubhouse’s backyard, she knew they’d overdressed, but instead of going home to put on a bathing suit, Rebel guided Jana to an empty table on the perimeter of the volleyball court.
For those who wanted music and anything other than beer, they could go inside to enjoy the DJ and the bar.
That’s where the Terrible Triplets had parked themselves.
Taking a seat, Rebel looked at one of the kegs with longing, but since Momma and Daddy were on a date, and Diesel was a fucking cyclops, she didn’t press her luck.
“I’m here, Diesel,” Jana called, drawing Kaia, CJ, and Torrin’s attention, though the man she loved so much didn’t look her way. He was too busy laughing with a circle of bitches to notice his fiancée.
Rebel rolled her eyes.
Dejected, Jana stumbled past the chair Rebel pointed to and plopped on one of the blankets on the ground.
Kaia jogged over and nodded to Jana before smiling at Rebel. “Hey, babe.”
Rebel kissed Kaia’s cheek. “Hey,” she said “Ready to beat Diesel?”
He laughed. “Always.”
“CJ is really competitive when he plays any game against Diesel,” Rebel explained. “Follow his lead and you’ll be fine.”
“Do the other guys follow what CJ does?”
Rebel glanced at the guys on both sides of the net. CJ’s team included him, Kaia, Grant, Bishop, Kenny, Kayce, and Ryan. Rory and Devon sat on the sidelines, probably as substitutes or as rotation players. Diesel’s team was made up of him, Torrin, Narci, Huck, Seven, Zephyr, Pike, and Potter.
“Your team’s short by one,” she said. “You don’t have enough players on the sidelines.”
“We invited some of our other friends, but no one showed up,” Kaia said.
“Diesel’s a dirty fucking player,” she warned, getting to her feet and nodding toward the guys. “I have an idea.”
“You always do,” he said with another smile and grabbed her hand, escorting her to CJ. “Reb has an idea on our dilemma.”
CJ drank from the bottle of beer he held. “I already know what it is and even if you enter the game, we still wouldn’t have ten players, Reb.”
“But we would have nine,” Ryan said. “Reb’s a good player.
“If Reb’s playing, why not ask Jana to join in, Kaia?” Devon called, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Only girls without tops and in thongs can play, Reb,” Torrin said, smirking. “Sorry, babe.”
The mocking laughter annoyed her. Tuning them out, she looked at CJ. “It’s up to you, brother—”
“As well as me,” Diesel barked. “Since I organized the game.”
“Yeah, well, send one of your fucking players to CJ’s team, fuckface, to make it even.”
“I vote to let Rebel play,” Ryan said, and glanced in Jana’s direction. “You, too.”
“I don’t play sports,” Jana croaked.
Since this was a losing battle, Rebel huffed and stomped back to the table.
Without warning, Fia, Tauriel, and seven other club girls sat at Rebel’s table ninety minutes later, a bunch of topless heifers she really didn’t want near her.
Why the fuck was she being hit with every situation that required maturity?
She really enjoyed being a spoiled brat because the high road was so fucking exhausting.
Almost as exhausting as growing up in a biker club and realizing no matter how valuable she knew she was—to herself and her mother, father, and brothers—she was still seen as someone’s pawn and her body someone’s commodity.
“They are almost through with their game,” Yarrow said. She hadn’t been part of Nyx’s inner circle, but after her death, Yarrow got more attention from the girls and the brothers. “He has such a fine ass.”
Heidi looked beyond Rebel and laughed louder than necessary. “Diesel’s naked ass is a sight to behold.”
“It isn’t fair that Diesel won’t share his beautiful, big cock with us,” another one of them said. Rebel couldn’t remember her fucking name. “He’s wasting it on wimpy pussy.”
What did that bitch’s name matter? The disrespect they were showing Jana reminded Rebel of how they’d treated Momma, who’d kept silent for a completely different reason than Jana was. Momma had done it in the interest of peace. Jana did it because Diesel was a fucking fuckhead.
“Tell me how he once chose his pussy for the evening on his birthdays, Fia?” Yarrow asked.
Fia’s brow furrowed and she looked at Rebel, then smiled. “How are you enjoying yourself?”
“Oh, dear me, Reb!” Heidi said. “We didn’t see you there.”
“Hey, Reb,” Tauriel called, waving at her.
“I’d love to know how Diesel chooses…what did you call it, Yarrow?” Rebel refused to be cordial to them. Jana was going to be a part of her family. The bitches at the table were their enemies.
“Nothing that you’d understand, Rebbie,” yet another heifer said.
Fia laughed nervously. “We’re just taking a piss at Jana.”
“Hazing her,” Heidi confirmed with a phony smile. “While having a little girl talk.”
Snatching her water bottle, Rebel leaned back in her chair. “You know what the fuck amazes me about you, Fia?”
“Me?” Fia squeaked.
“Yep.” Rebel loved to make that ‘p’ pop. It was the crème de la crème of a single word that spoke volumes.
“Let’s hear it from the kid,” Yarrow said with an adorably vicious smile.
Rebel sipped her water. “Fia and Tauriel are always in the thick of the bullshit.” Folding her arms, she glowered at them. “The fucking kind that can get them killed.”
“We can explain,” Tauriel said.
“Not interested,” Rebel said in bored tones. “Momma will be, but this kid won’t understand.”
“Hey, ladies.” Fia slid to the edge of her seat. “Why don’t we leave Rebel alone? We’ve been drinking a lot and we can get a little rowdy. We don’t want to accidentally offend Rebel.”
“But you don’t fucking care if you purposely offend Jana?” Rebel asked.
“We’re just having a little fun,” Heidi snapped. “Meggie said you were off-limits. No one, including Diesel and Outlaw, ever mentioned that cunt.” She indicated Jana with a wave of her hand. “Who you don’t want to be bothered with either.”
“Don’t think you know what the fuck I want,” Rebel retorted.
“We don’t have to think,” Heidi retorted. “We know it’s Diesel. We know you’re just using Kaia because you can’t have the cock you really want. Hopefully, your little stand-in eats your pussy as well as he eats Fia’s.”
Rebel wouldn’t give them the fucking satisfaction of seeing her sudden devastation and her need to burst into tears.
They were a pack of vicious bitches. It was bad enough that she’d had to accept Kaia sleeping with Fia the first time because they hadn’t been a couple at the time.
But she wouldn’t accept a fucking cheater.
To her, his treachery with another girl just confirmed Kaia also lied to her about how—why—they met.
That was one reason him lying about Fia when she’d been in the hospital mattered so much.
If he lied about one important thing, he’d lie about every important thing.
A painful lesson she’d wanted to spare herself. And, yet, she’d trusted him. Momma and Daddy’s issues hadn’t been because of a club girl. It was because of a regular woman, so Rebel believed Kaia when he told her she had nothing to worry about.
If she accepted the reasons and gave him a pass because of whatever, he’d take her for a fool forever. And, yet, it crushed Rebel, thinking Kaia…knowing Kaia…
Despite how she tried, she couldn’t stop her eyes from watering and her heart shattering right here and now.
Rebel bit down on her lip, registering Heidi’s vicious satisfaction and the fear on Fia’s face registered. If it wasn’t the truth, she wouldn’t be so afraid, but seeing Fia’s wide-eyed concern almost made Rebel’s pain worth it. Let that bitch melt into a fucking river a sweat. Fia’s lips trembled.
“They’re wrapping up,” Cara or Cora or whoever announced, nudging Heidi’s side and nodding to the guys. “We all jockey for position on Diesel’s birthday. He chooses only the most outstanding. Tonight should be the same.”
Rebel swiped at a rogue tear and lifted her chin. “He does have a fiancée,” she pointed out, indicating Jana’s spot behind her with a nod of her head.
“He also has a wife,” Yarrow retorted. “What’s your fucking point?”
“Ignore this child.” Heidi flicked her wrist in Rebel’s direction. “And that pathetic cunt on the blanket.”
Sipping her water, Rebel turned. Jana looked so mortified, but it didn’t surprise Rebel that she didn’t stand up for herself.
“I can’t wait to stick my pussy in his mouth,” Yarrow breathed.
Rebel wrinkled her nose; Jana’s face crumpled.
“I don’t want to play volleyball anymore,” Fia croaked, on the verge of tears herself.
“Me, either,” Tauriel said. “Meggie said don’t fuck with Rebel. I’m not about to get killed just to fuck Diesel.”
“They may not even want to play another fucking game, Heidi,” Fia said.
“They won’t pass up a chance to watch our tits bounce,” Heidi argued. “We’re playing in only thongs. We won’t only have Diesel’s attention, but every man here. Just one game, Fia. If you and Tauriel bail, we’ll be two short.”
Fia and Tauriel looked at Rebel.
“By all means, play,” she said, misery hoarsening her voice.
“I’m not saying a word. I’ll even suggest the best of three.
Three matches, same players.” She needed to buy time.
Thinking they could get over on her, outshine her, was a fucking mistake.
But adding disrespect to Jana after how they’d devastated Rebel was fucking war.
“Scoring among yourselves. Ask Grant or Bishop to help you. Whoever they give the highest score as the MVP over the three sets wins top honors.”
“That’s actually a good idea,” Yarrow said. “Who would’ve thought you’d think of anything other than shopping and Diesel’s cock?”
Fia and Tauriel shifted. Those other heifers cackled.
Heidi got to her feet. “Come on, ladies.”
Rebel was her mother’s daughter and no motherfucker would keep her down.
Holding her hand out, she let the air sweep over her skin. Outdoor lighting brightened the darkness and beamed on them from all angles and helped to warm the chilly evening. Fia, Tauriel, Heidi, Yarrow and the rest of them acted as if they were on a tropical island.
Heidi thrust her tits out and curled her lip at Jana. “Once he sees me, he’ll forget you and your pussy exists.”
Jana sobbed softly, her reaction adding to Heidi’s triumph as they marched away, except Tauriel and Fia.
“Rebel,” Fia started.
“Go,” Rebel drawled. “You don’t want to lose face with them.”
She and Tauriel looked at each other and their shoulders slumped.
“Jana—” Tauriel started.
“Diesel loves me,” Jana said miserably.
That motherfucker loved no one, but it wasn’t Rebel’s place to say that. She could only defend her and hope she realized she needed to defend herself.
“We’re getting married, so it doesn’t matter what else he does.”
“Go,” Rebel said to Fia and Tauriel again before Jana revealed even more of what a trainwreck her relationship was. “I promise when Daddy kills Heidi, I’ll defend you.”
Fia squeaked.
“Gotcha!” Rebel said with a grin. “Just a little friendly teasing.”
They laughed nervously.
“You’re hilarious, Reb,” Tauriel said.
“A real cut-up,” Fia added.
“I know. In your eyes I’m a gorgeous, sweet, kind, comedienne who you greatly admired.”
“Exactly,” Tauriel said.
“You’re that and more,” Fia rushed out.
“Fia!” Heidi called. “Tauriel. It’s game on. You’re holding us up.”
“Go,” Rebel ordered for the third fucking time.
Tauriel and Fia finally left. One last time, Rebel searched inside herself.
She still hadn’t gotten back in the pool.
She was uneasy in her room, though she was determined to overcome that because she loved her suite so much.
She didn’t have Rule and she and Diesel might not ever be close again.
Her body was a part of her. Hers. She owned it.
Not Willard and Wallace. Not Tio. Not anyone.
She refused to allow those motherfuckers to take her agency away and make her ashamed of her body.
Fuck them.
Jana needed to stand up to Diesel. At the moment, there was only one way to do it.
Rebel went to Jana’s blanket and sat next to her. “How about you give them a run for their money. Make Diesel focus on you?”
“I could never,” Jana mumbled. “I don’t have their confidence.”
“You should. You’re really pretty. As pretty or prettier than them.”
“I’m not sexy like them.”
“How about we do it together?”
“Do what?”
One of those heifers squealed and the guys laughed. Rebel picked out Diesel’s because she’d know it anywhere.
“Steal Heidi’s thunder.”
“You could.”
Irritation surged into Rebel. “I’m desperately trying not to make this about me, Jana. You’re sad enough. I don’t want to use your pain to teach them a lesson. This is about you. Diesel seeing you.”
“But it’s his game.”
“My pussy’s yours, Diesel,” one of them called.
“Fuck my idea. Go over there and tell him how much they’ve hurt you.”
“You never even said what it was.”
“And I’m not going to. It was a bad idea anyway.”
“Suppose I t-tell him and he doesn’t leave?”
Both Jana and Rebel wore jeans and cashmere sweaters. Because Jana’s feet were bigger than Rebel’s, she wore sandals, while Rebel chose her favorite Uggs. Unfortunately, Diesel might ignore Jana when presented with so much tits and ass right in front his evil fucking face.
“I’ll try your idea,” Jana announced suddenly.
“You don’t know what it is,” Rebel reminded her.
“I don’t care,” Jana said tearfully. “If you do it with me, he’ll remember I’m here.”
Rebel wouldn’t point out her flawed logic. It would only hurt and upset Jana more.
Rebel stood, dusted off her backside, and nodded to Jana. “Come with me.”