Axel grabbed Diesel’s hand and tugged. “Let’s go back inside. Dad might say some stuffs to cheer you up.”
That didn’t happen either. Uncle Christopher, Aunt Meggie, and most of the family were preparing to leave when Axel pulled Diesel inside. Even Mortician planned to spend the night at Digger and Bunny’s place because he wasn’t in the mood for an all-night party.
CJ, Grant, and Ryan stayed behind as did Kayce Riggs. And motherfucking Kaia, bumping and grinding with Heidi, Tauriel, Cricket, and Fia. Especially Fia, who he paid the most attention to.
And that was the motherfucker Rebel trusted. It made sense to Diesel that Kaia and Fia might hook up. They’d already fucked. According to her, he was a good lay. She definitely had good pussy. With Rebel gone, it cleared the way for Kaia to get with Fia.
Her attention was probably the fucking reason Kaia chose to stay at the club when his brother left with CJ and Grant.
Motherfucking fuckhead emo. One way or the other, Diesel would get rid of Kaia. The easiest way would be to let Rebel find out about theattention he was giving one of her enemies. But she already hated Diesel, so he had to think of something else.
The painting she’d commissioned and gave to Jana to give to him was on the table where all of his gifts had been, leaning against the wall, taunting him with the knowledge of how harsh he’d been toward his mother and how deeply he’d hurt Rebel.
Seeing Huck, Potter and Zephyr sitting at a table, keeping Jana company allowed Diesel to go to the bar and sit on the same stool that Rebel had been on before she walked out.
“Hey, bro.” Narci clapped Diesel on the back and slid onto the stool next to him. “What’s cooking?”
If Diesel wanted to score drugs, Narci was the right man to go to. As much as Diesel wanted coke, however, he just couldn’t bring himself to buy it after promising Uncle Christopher he’d quit.
After getting his near blessing to be with Rebel in a few years.
“You look like you can use a pick-me-up, Big D.”
Narci always scoped out needy, pathetic fuckheads. He always played on their weaknesses. Just as he did now by pulling an 8-Ball from his pocket and lying it on the bar top.
“My other birthday present to you, brother. The best one.”
“The fidget gel pens are nice, too,” Diesel responded.
“But boring.” He dangled the baggie with an eighth of an ounce of fine white powder. “This is hardcore. Perfect for jaded motherfuckers like us.”
Diesel glanced away, but Narci shook the plastic again and the crackly sound mesmerized Diesel.
He swung the 8-Ball in front of Diesel, the crackly sound, the white powder, the temptation...there in his face. Within reach. “Your troubles will disappear.”
“Unless she uses her two fucking legs to make herself disappear, my troubles will always be there,” he muttered, beginning to sweat.
Narci snickered and leaned closer to Diesel. “It won’t be a real dirty thirty without a little dirty fun from a dirty boy.” He tapped the bag. “And it’s dirtiest with a little powder.”
Diesel’s nostrils flared and his muscles cramped. He actually felt lightheaded.
“Who’ll know?” Narci pressed. “I won’t tell. Besides, who’ll care?”
Certainly not Rebel.
CJ, Uncle Christopher, Axel, and Aunt Meggie would.Torrinwould, too. They’d had a conversation about drugs earlier.
His heart pounded as if he’d already snorted the coke. He jerked at the growing clamminess of his skin. Still, he glanced around, searchingfor the only support he had at the moment, but he didn’t see Torrin anywhere.
He slid his hand in his pocket, searching for his phone, to call Uncle Christopher, but it wasn’t with him. He’d left it at the table when Axel called him to check on Rebel.
“One line, Diesel,” Narci crooned, wagging the baggie. “I miss my best customer.”
He started to stand, intending to leave. He had to collect Jana, though. If she saw him, she’d know. She suffered with drug cravings herself. Diesel knew she’d be no help to him, though. She’d tell him to do a line and then ask for her own.
His hands shook as he sat down again.
“The way Little Rebel treated you tonight must’ve hurt. You’ve been a damn good big brother to that kid.”
