“You don’t love her!” Tabitha argued.
Rebel and Axel ran to Kaia. While Rebel whispered to him, Axel bounced up and down. Jana wished she could be with them.
Tabitha curled her lip. “You don’t love anyone, Diesel.”
Diesel tightened his hold on Jana, while Kaia headed to the jukebox and Rebel lifted Axel onto the pool table, then tapped CJ’s shoulder.
“I care about her, Tabitha,” Diesel said, so focused on Tabitha that he missed CJ lifting Rebel next to Axel. “More than I ever did for you—”
“Tabi Cat, this song’s just for you,” Rebel purred. “Hit it, Huahua.”
Red Neck Hoeby Insane Clown Posse suddenly blared from the jukebox. Rebel and Axel focused on Tabitha, singing and dancing. Axel was adorable, but Jana didn’t think he was the main focus with the way Rebel’s hair flew about her as she jumped, shimmied, and shook.
Some of the bikers and club girls howled with laughter. Not wanting to offend anyone, Jana clapped a hand over her mouth to hide her giggles. Tabitha stormed out, though Rebel and Axel danced until the song ended and then they high-fived.
CJ swung Axel down as Bishop did the same with Rebel. She bowed at the applause.
Diesel heaved in a breath, his looked unreadable. “Did you have to, Rebel?”
“Sure did.”
“It got her to leave, Diesel,” Axel said. “And it was my idea. The Blonde Viper just helped me. Say ‘thank you’ and get back to your party.”
“Thank you, Ax,” Diesel said.
Axel narrowed his eyes. “Reb helped, too.”
“Good for her,” he said, kissed Jana’s cheek, and walked away.
Annoyed to no fucking end at Rebel and regretting not killing Tabitha, Diesel stalked to the bar. Torrin revealed what Rebel had said about Jana and why she might be spiraling. It had never fucking occurred to Diesel that she’d thrived right after his proposal because she’d had a support system. He needed to talk to her, apologize, let her know he’d do better and explain to her about Bash’s ultimatum. He should’ve done that at first.
But he’d been so consumed with Rebel and her feelings, he hadn’t considered anything about Jana. He’d rectify that tonight.
Rebel would come around. She couldn’t stay angry with him and shedidn’thate him. No matter what the fuck she said. In the meantime, he’d live his best life with a sweet, kind, unassuming beauty.
Besides, like Uncle Christopher said, whenever he got what he wanted, he lost interest. Part of the insanity with Rebel had been the danger and excitement of the forbidden.
Extremelyforbidden. So forbidden it was fucking illegal.
Butthat had been part of her allure. Nother. She was a child. Of course, she’d have energy and love life, love herself. She hadn’t been exposed to the ugly realities of the world. She was achild. All children were beautiful. That’s why she was so beautiful—she was a child.
Her body had just developed prematurely, which he wouldn’t have even noticed if she’d kept her fucking clothes on. Her mouth was as dirty as any slut’s because she tried to keep up with her brothers. She commanded attention, owned a room, because that’s what children did.
They were sweet and cute and everyone admired them. Soon, Rebel would grow warts on her face and lose some of her teeth. She’d look like a witch instead of a princess.
If fucking only.
On top of her beauty, she was so fucking stubborn.
Damn her and her childish unreasonableness. Unless he got through to her, she would hate him for the rest of his life.
“I need a beer, Kenny,” he growled to the skinny prospect with a fat crush on Kendall.
“Give me one, too.” Mortician halted next to Diesel and held out his hand. “Happy birthday, fuckhead. Dirty thirty. How that feel?”
“You tell me,” Diesel said, accepting the enforcer’s hand and shaking. “You’ve already been thirty. How was it for you?”
“Just another year in the fucking club.”
