“Losing my mind? I’ve already fucking lost it. Do you know why?” He pointed at Rebel. “Becausesheis a fucking nosy, unfiltered, spoiled brat. She can’t ever shut the fuck up and leave me in peace. Allow me just a shred of fucking happiness. Is this the fucking burden I have to carry as punishment for believing my mother deserted me?”
“What are you talking about?” CJ asked in confusion.
“Oh, you haven’t heard, little brother?” Diesel asked, angry with the fucking world. Still furious with Jana for using drugs. Enraged that Rebel was Rebel. That Kaia was still alive. Hating himself for feeling like his father because of Rebel. “My father beat my mother so bad he left her brain damaged. Do you know what else?” He laughed wildly. “She gave birth to me when she was fifteen because he knocked her up at fourteen.”
He stared at Rebel, truly despising her, wanting to throw up. Scream. Get high himself and forget everything.
“Diesel?” Aunt Meggie’s voice traveled up the main staircase. “Come here, son.”
“No!”
“If you make me come up there, you will be sorry.”
“I’m not fifteen, Aunt Meggie!”
“Your body isn’t. Your brain is. Now, get down here. I’m counting to three. One…”
Incredulous that she had the fucking audacity to actually do a fucking countdown, he stormed down the staircase, aware of CJ hot on his heels. Aunt Meggie stood at the bottom, still in her robe.
Even though he charged toward her, she stood her ground, not flinching.
“What do you want?” he snarled, right in her face.
“Step the fuck back, Diesel,” CJ barked, trying to jerk him away.
Aunt Meggie shook her head at CJ, then looked at Diesel. “Come with me, son,” she said gently.
“You don’t fucking know—”
“I heard every word. It was hard not to with the way Rebel went ballistic and Jana was sobbing.” She nodded to the archway. “Come on.”
“I want to come,” CJ said.
“If it’s okay with your brother,” Aunt Meggie said, lifting a brow at Diesel.
“It doesn’t matter,” he told her.
She turned on her heel, leading them to her office and closing the door before nodding to her sofa. “Sit, Diesel.”
When he complied, she sat directly in front of him on the coffee table. “Tell me what happened when you saw your father.”
“My mom never left me on purpose,” he whispered. “She doesn’t remember I exist.”
Aunt Meggie took his face between her hands. “Tell me,” she coaxed gently.
Diesel’s nostrils flared. It dawned on him that he’d called Theresa Rivers his mom. “Aunt Meggie…I didn’t mean…you’re my mom.”
“So is she, love. She was your mom first. I’m just lucky enough to share that title with her.”
“Who is lucky to haveme? What kind of a son was I that I believed the fucking worst about her? All she ever did was love me and I couldn’t give her the grace she deserved.”
“Tell me what happened,” she said again.
“Jana never asked what was wrong with me,” he said harshly. “Neither did Tabitha.”
“I’m sure Rebel did,” she said.
“When doesn’t sheevershut the fuck up? She stays in my fucking head because she always opens her fucking mouth. I had a little bit of peace yesterday until that brat came to my room and interrupted my time with Jana.” Diesel tried to jerk away from her, but she held his face tighter. “I’m just likehim. I fucking hate him so fucking much. I want to beat him again. Strangle him again."
