Jana shook her head.
Remorse settled into Rebel’s face. “I’m sorry, Jana. I shouldn’t have said that about you.”
“I thought we could be sisters,” Jana sobbed. “But we can’t be if you think I’m a twit.”
As ifheput those fucking words in her mouth, Rebel glared atDiesel.
Mattie hurried to Jana and hugged her. “I’m Mattie,” she said. “Your soon-to-be cousin by marriage.”
Fuck. Why was everyone declaring themselves Jana’s family when there hadn’t been a fucking wedding yet?
“Rebel gets ahead of herself sometimes,” Mattie continued. “Either ignore her, tell her to fuck off, or both, until she calms down. Okay?”
Swiping her cheeks, Jana gave an obligatory nod. “What happened to your face?”
“It’s a long story,” Mattie said breezily. “And not important.”
“Fucking Uncle Johnnie,” CJ mumbled.
“Our concern is you.”
“Really?” Jana asked.
Mattie nodded.
“I’ve only ever had Diesel to truly concern himself with me.”
“That explains it then,” Rebel said crossly. “A fucking mutt deserves better than only that motherfucker—”
Kaia clapped his hand over Rebel’s mouth as if he had the fucking right to fucking touch her.
“Diesel is amazing,” Jana said. “He’s kind. Smart. Funny. Protective. He’s everything to me. I adore him.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. I appreciate that,” Diesel said.
All eyes, except Jana’s, turned to him.
“For real, asshole?” CJ said.
Jana’s shoulders slumped. “I know he doesn’t love me.”
Rebel shoved Kaia’s hand down. “Fuck love! Does this motherfucker evenlikeyou? He’s letting you put your feelings on your fucking sleeve and all the fuck he can say isthank you?”
Jana started to cry again.
“Uh, I hate to say this,” Mattie started, “and worsen the situation, but, uh, Rebel’s right.”
“No one has ever loved me before though,” Jana said. “I have enough love for me and Diesel.”
Rebel threw him a putrid look. “Are you fucking ashamed yet?”
“Not in the fucking least.”
“Of course you aren’t,” she said with sarcasm.
“We’re sister and brother, so it’s none of your fucking business,” Diesel snapped.
“You’re losing your fucking mind, Diesel,” CJ told him. “Shut the fuck up.”
