Chapter 51 – Diesel
“I hope Reb did me a solid,” Axel said, skipping next to Diesel as they walked along the pathway toward the club. “She won’t tell me nothing.”
She’d ordered Diesel to enlist some of the brothers to set everything up last night and today. His fight with CJ left him so fucking sore, but he couldn’t disappoint her after that fucking idiot fucked up so royally.
“A man wants to know about his stuffs.”
“She wants you surprised, Ax, but I think you’ll be pleased.” No, he was certain Axel would be happy. Rebel had outdone herself, though Diesel couldn’t fathom the cost of her extravagance. “She told you to wear your cut, didn’t she?”
“Uh huh.”
“Okay, so trust her.”
The words appeased Axel, though he continued to skip, always energetic. Diesel smiled, anxious for the kid to see his sister’s hard work and brilliant party planning. For the most part, Axel had been patient, not putting up a fuss when he didn’t receive any birthday presents at breakfast as usual.
The sun was setting, so the ground lights along the forest pathway flickered on. When the fence came into sight, Axel ran to the pedestrian gate, too anxious to wait for Diesel. He used his own key card to unlock it.
Some brothers milled outside the club, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
Rebel asked Uncle Christopher to enact a rule that they not smoke weed for the two hours that Axel’s party would last. Although Aunt Meggie asked the brothers to show up, those who agreed understood it was a kid’s party.
“Diesel, look!” Axel yelled in excitement, pointing to the sign hanging on the door. An LED neon sign, flashing orange and black, read ‘Club 11: Sweet Pea’s Garage’. “Reb had this made for me?”
“She did.”
Axel screamed.
The guys laughed along with Diesel, who reached around Axel and opened the door. Music, chatter, and laughter flooded out. “Come on.”
“Can I keep the sign?”
“It’s all yours as soon as the party’s over.”
Walking in front of Axel so Easton would know the birthday boy had arrived, Diesel shook his head at the extravagance. Easton, the asshole, wasn’t near the door, but luckily Seven was.
He whistled. “The birthday boy has arrived.”
“How that motherfucker know?” Axel grumbled, right behind Diesel but unable to see the checkered carpet or the red velvet ropes waiting for his arrival. “Seven can’t see me. Can you move, D?”
Rebel stood from one of the chrome cocktail tables. Diesel ignored her leather shorts, crop top, cut, and over-the-knee boots that showed her beautiful figure. Harley and Mattie got from their seats and flanked Rebel, dressed more conservatively in jeans and cuts.
“Motherfucker, if you don’t move, I’m knocking you in the back of your head with my new slingshot.”
“Is everything ready, Rebel?” Diesel asked.
“Let him in,” she said.
The moment Diesel moved, Axel stormed in and froze, glancing at the special entrance, the custom matte-black garage wall backdrop with another personalized LED neon sign that read Axel’s VIP Lounge.
Rented black leather lounge furniture, chrome cocktail tables, and industrial-style metal accents had replaced the regular tables.
Veering off from the checkered carpet was a massive tire tread down the center of the room.
In the sunken area where the pool tables usually were was the DJ and two racing simulators.
Signs in Rebel’s pretty handwriting hung from the ceiling and read ‘Happy birthday, Axel’ and ‘Happy 420 Day’, interspersed with decorations of ‘11’, birthday cakes, motorcycles, and smiling marijuana leaves with sunglasses.
Gifts piled the table where Diesel’s gifts had been during his birthday party.
“Welcome to Sweet Pea’s VIP Lounge,” the girls chorused and then turned. Rebel swept her hair to the side, allowing her ‘Property of Sweet Pea’ to be seen. Mattie and Harley wore the same cuts.
Axel gasped. “You did this for me, Reb?”
Facing them again, she tossed her hair and smiled. “I did. Do you like it?”
He ran to her and hugged her. “It’s just right.”
“We helped too, bro,” Ransom said.
Ryder snorted. “We just did what Rebel told us to do.”
Axel backed away, still looking everywhere, nodding to CJ, Ryder, and Ransom.
Gunner was spending the night at Bunny and Rule had called earlier.
Axel waved at their cousins and, surprisingly, acknowledged Kaia and Kayce.
He looked from Easton to Torrin, frowning at his arm in a sling and his bandaged cheek.
When he looked at Diesel again, Axel’s disappointment was hard to miss.
Diesel realized he’d hoped Aunt Meggie would make it after all. Rebel placed her hands on Axel’s shoulders, then nodded to the DJ, who played Cocky AF by Megan Thee Stallion, pulling him into a dance. Instead of watching her, Diesel headed to the bar, which both Potter and Kenny manned.
“A mock or cock?” Potter asked, snickering.
“Asshole,” Diesel said with a laugh. “I’ll take a cocktail.”
He slid Diesel a handwritten drink list with a list of five mocktails. There was the Wipe Out, Nitrous Boost, High Octane, Broken Chain, and Smoking Oil.
“She couldn’t come up with better names?”
“I think Mattie came up with the names, brother,” Potter said.
Fuck, that explained it. She was trying to manifest her father’s death.
“I’m a little disappointed Axel hasn’t asked about the food,” Potter commented as he began preparing a High Octane with tequila for him and a mocktail for Axel.
“Or the cake,” Diesel said. “When he gets hungry, he will.”
“Yeah, I think he was looking for Meggie.”
“I think so,” Diesel said.
“I’m surprised he didn’t want Mortician to come.”
“He told me it would make him miss Uncle Christopher too much.”
For the mocktail, Potter mixed a combination of cherry and lime juices, and a small bit of ginger syrup.
He used tongues to drop two pieces of dry ice into the combination, making it bubble and creating billowing smoke.
Diesel snapped a photo of the drink, then recorded a video of Potter preparing.
Once he poured tequila in Diesel’s, he dropped the dry ice, then added lemon wedges to both glasses.
Once Potter handed him the drinks, he went to where Axel stood with Ryder and Ransom, talking amongst themselves.
There was chatter and bursts of laughter, but something definitely was missing. Axel’s energy. In spite of his initial enthusiasm, he was quite low-key. Even when Diesel brought him the mocktail, he smiled and said, ‘thank you’, and left it at that.
Narci, Torrin, Seven, and Easton sat in a grouping of the leather seats, so Diesel found a spot, hoping Axel’s party wouldn’t be a bust. Not only for him, but because Rebel went through a lot of time and effort.
“What the fuck are we going to do for the next two hours?” Narci grumbled.
“Amuse Axel,” Diesel responded.
Torrin swiveled his head in all directions, then sipped his beer. If he felt any pain, he gave no indication. “A part of me is happy I don’t have to involve myself with this bullshit. Another part of me misses my daughter.”
“I’m not sure I ever want kids,” Seven announced, and twirled his finger. “This shit is boring.” He looked at Easton. “What about you, DeLuca?”
“Can’t see myself as a father.” Easton left it at that and punted the question to Diesel. “What about you?”
Once again, he thought about Rebel’s announcement, months ago, that she wanted his baby and she’d name her Julia. “Children are my worst nightmare,” he said, and clamped his jaw shut.
Rebel got to her feet, drawing the attention of almost every guy there.
She said something to Harley and Mattie, and they all laughed.
Glancing around, she spotted Ryan and crooked her finger at him, then did the same to CJ.
When they reached her, she pointed to the racing simulators and pushed them toward it.
“You and CJ made up?” Torrin asked, watching as Ryan put an arm around Rebel and dragged her with them.
“We were friends again before we left the clubhouse.”
“If he sees the way you’re watching her, he might pluck your fucking eyes out,” Torrin said, looking over his shoulder as Ryan halted so Rebel could talk to the DJ, while he and CJ went to the racing simulators.
“The ratio of men to women suck,” Narci growled, draining his beer.
“There are no women in here,” Easton stated. “There are three little girls.”
“Who asked you, DeLuca?” Narci sneered.
“Enough,” Diesel ordered. “Rebel doesn’t want any fighting tonight.”
Rebel hurried to where Diesel sat. “I should’ve invited some little monsters, right? Mattie told me to.”
“Little monsters?” Diesel asked, considering holding his inhales until she left so he would breathe in her scent.
“Other kids,” she announced.
Seven laughed. “You call them little monsters, babe?”
Giggling, Rebel turned to address Seven. Diesel wanted to shoot that motherfucker. “Axel is a little monster, but he isn’t enjoying himself at all.”
“Don’t feel bad, Rebel,” Easton said before Diesel could comfort her. “You did a beautiful job.”
“Thanks. I just wish—”
“Reb, c’mere,” Mattie called, waving her over.
Rebel started to walk away. “Wait. Am I supposed to serve you guys like Momma and the aunts do sometimes?”
“In their fucking dreams,” Diesel said. Enough was enough. What kind of fucking question was that?
Mattie rushed over. “Harley reminded me about the temporary tattoos. That might draw Axel into having fun.”
“Babe?” Kaia called, grating on Diesel’s nuts, especially when Rebel rushed away and took Mattie with her.
Rebel touching the gauges in Kaia’s ears and then him whispering to her almost sent Diesel over the edge. She nodded and Kaia broke away, heading to where the Triplets stood.
Diesel waited for Axel to send that motherfucker on his way. Instead, he allowed Kaia to guide him to another grouping of rented seats where they both sat. Rebel clapped, and Kaia winked at her. She started to follow behind them as Mattie and Harley did, but Diesel called her to him.
“What?” she asked.
“What is emo boy about to do?”
Everyone except Easton snickered.
Rebel made a face at Diesel. “He’s about to draw a tattoo on him with a marker.” She glanced at the clock behind the bar. The movement bounced her hair and spread its bergamot scent around. “I hope my surprise arrives. It should cheer Axel up.”
“Only your Mom and Outlaw would do that,” Torrin said.
Rebel stiffened. He’d told Torrin to keep her there while Diesel sat in one of the back rooms with Tommi.
She’d played a game on her phone and he’d counted the minutes until he could spring his surprise on Rebel.
He’d expected that motherfucker to have some goddamn sense.
He hadn’t asked Torrin what else he’d said.
Diesel didn’t want to know. However, he’d remind Torrin to treat Rebel with the care and respect she deserved for the rest of his fucking days.
She looked at Diesel. “We’re going to do a line dance. Axel likes those. Whoever wants to join can.”
“What’ll it look like with a bunch of motherfuckers dancing and only three chicks, Reb?” Seven shook his head. “And underaged chicks at that.”
“Like you’re trying to give my little brother a good party,” Rebel said. “Suppose I make sure I’m between you and Kaia?”
Diesel choked.
Amusement lit Seven’s eyes.
“And suppose I said please?”
“And suppose I put you over my fucking knee and spank you for your bullshit?” Diesel snapped. “You know what the fuck you’re doing.”
“I’m talking to you for Axel’s party. Starting tonight at 12:01AM that changes, so quit while you’re ahead.” She turned and stomped away.
Diesel drained his glass as Axel stood because Kaia had finished drawing skull tattoos on his face and arms.
“Come here, Ax,” Rebel said, from where she stood near the DJ’s table. “Just follow my lead, okay, little brother?”
“Okay, Reb.”
When Good Time by Alan Jackson came on, Rebel grabbed Axel’s hand and danced with him, twirling, switching hands and places.
As soon as Axel caught on, CJ got Harley and Ryan brought Mattie onto the dance floor.
It wasn’t ideal, but the bikers livened up a little, spurred on by her.
Somehow, she managed to get the party going by sheer determination.
They danced to several songs, which helped to pass the time.
As did her insistence that Axel and Diesel test the racing simulators before convincing Easton, Seven, Kaia, Kayce, Grant, and Bishop to do the same.
An hour into the party, Rebel took the mic from the DJ. “I want to thank you all for coming to Sweet Pea’s VIP Lounge in his garage.”
“I’m hungry, Reb. Where’s the food?” Axel finally asked.
“You’ll see,” she said cryptically. “Come and thank your guests.”
“Do I gotta? I want to eat and open my presents.”
Rebel glanced at the clock again then sighed. “Just a quick word. Please?”
“The things a man gotta do for a beautiful girl,” Axel said, eliciting laughter. He walked to Rebel and took the mic from her.
“You don’t know the half of it, Ax,” Grant told him.
Axel looked at Harley and Mattie then tipped his head back to see Rebel. “What do you want me to say, Reb?”
“Whatever’s on your mind,” she said.
“Food. You got ear boogers?”
“You’re disgusting,” Rebel complained. She pointed to the mic. “Talk.”
Straightening, Axel shook his head. “Ask me nicer.”
Rebel thought for a moment. “I’ll take your cut off. You’re supposed to be nice to me as your property.”
“You got me there,” Axel grumbled. “Keep the cut on. I’ll talk.” He looked at the audience. “Thank all you motherfuckers for coming. I shouldn’t have invited you cuz you’re all boring. I better have good presents, and I’m hungry, so feed me, Reb.”
The door opened and Aunt Meggie walked in, wearing an outfit almost identical to Rebel’s with the same ‘Property of Sweet Pea’ cut.
“You made it, Momma,” Rebel said in relief.
“MOM!” Axel screamed, almost knocking her off her feet and hugging her.
“Happy birthday, Sweet Pea,” Aunt Meggie said, kissing Axel’s cheek.
“Where’s Dad, Mom?” CJ asked.
“Outside with the food truck.”
“You brought a real food truck?” Axel said, his eyes rounding.
“I did.” She grabbed Rebel’s hand. “You did good, love.”
“How’s Daddy?” Rebel asked.
“Disappointed, but we’ve already booked the cabin for next year for the weekend of the 26th, since Axel’s birthday and Easter fall on the same day.”
Axel grabbed Aunt Meggie’s hand. “Let’s eat, Mom,” he said, dragging her toward the door.
Rebel started to hand the DJ his mic back.
CJ’s approach halted her. “You asked Mom to cut her trip short?”
“I did,” Rebel confirmed.
“Why? She was looking forward to spending time with him.”
“Axel wouldn’t have been happy, CJ. Daddy had two nights on his own with her. He’ll survive,” she announced, nodded to Mattie and Harley, and followed Aunt Meggie outside.