“You’re too young to be so fucking obstinate.”
She glared at him. “And you’re too old to be so fucking inconsiderate.”
“Relationships don’t work however the fuck you have them in your fucking mind.”
“Are we in a relationship?”
“As brother and sister.”
“I told you happy birthday, Diesel, so fuck off.”
“If I walk back in that fucking clubhouse without you, thenfuck you. You think you have all the fucking answers. Well, you don’t. You’re a fucking kid. A spoiled fucking brat. There’s no fucking relationship that works the way you have it in your fucking head.”
She tossed her hair, so tightly wound she felt as if she’d burst. “And yetyou’rethe one beggingmeto fucking talk toyou. It must work my way.”
He stiffened.
“Fuck you,” she snarled before he spewed more venom. “I’m telling you thisagain. Hopefully this time, you hear me—”
“Rotten little demons aren’t known for good advice. You included, since whatever you say goes in one ear and out the other.”
She flipped him off, so fucking fed up, but Jana needed someone to get through to this dickhead. “You shouldn’t want anyone to lie down and let you walk all over them for your fucking amusement,” she said for what felt like the thousandth time. “If that’s what you like in a partner, not only aren’t you the man I thoughtyou were, but you aren’t the brother I saw you as. You’re nothing but a worthless motherfucker.”
Her words hurt him. She knew by the way his entire body deflated and how bleakness flickered across his face. But then his gray eyes frosted and his lips tightened.
“You’re nothing but a lying cunt,” he snarled, low. “You swore to me a few fucking days ago that even if you didn’t like my actions, you’d always like me. That I was stuck with you.”
Rebel gaped at him, then cackled. “You’re definitely Christopher Caldwell’s raggedy son, fuckhead. He thinks he can do and say anything he wants without ever apologizing,” she said darkly.
“Don’t deflect—”
“You’re insane. You couldn’t have taken my words to you—heartfelt and truthful by the way—to mean you had permission to do any fucking thing you wanted to me. You aren’t that fucking dense.”
He clenched his jaw, glanced away, and thought for a moment, then smirked at her. “Are you sure you want to leave Kaia with the club girls? He was dancing with one of them when I walked outside.”
That was information he could’ve kept to himself and another reminder of whynottalking to him was best.
“I don’t care. I trust him,” she insisted, stepping around Diesel and hoping he wouldn’t follow her.
Of course, he did.
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. Yesterday, when she’d spoken to Ryan, she’d been at peace. Even earlier this evening as she’d chosen her outfit for the party, she’d been okay, then couldn’t bring herself to give Diesel the painting. She couldn’t pretend she could overlook his actions just because it was his fucking birthday. She’d also been so incredibly annoyed with Jana. Out of sheer bitchery, she’d left her alone. And so had Diesel.
At least he’d had the decency to stand by Jana’s side when Tabitha arrived, but it hadn’t been for Jana. It had been for him. He despised his wife. He’d had to choose between respecting Jana and humiliating Tabitha, so he’d went with what was most beneficial to him.
After all ofthatfuckery, he’d still left Jana alone the moment Axel’s antics got Tabitha to leave. The club girls were already tearing Jana apart among themselves.
Rebel wanted so badly to leave Jana to them. Although she hadn’t defended her, she’d done the next best thing. Given Jana the gift she’d purchased for Diesel.
Heidi and the rest of them made a whole production of giving Diesel presents and big ole kisses. Jana had looked so wistful andhurtand Rebel knew Jana hadn’t had money to buyanything for Diesel so she couldn’t have purchased a gift. Instead of chopping the painting into small pieces and using it for kindling, Rebel thought she’d found the perfect solution.
Instead, watching Jana give Diesel the gift Rebel purchased for him devastated her a little more.
It was as defining a moment as Rule’s attempt to drown her.
“I’m sorry, Rebel,” Diesel said as she arrived at the gate that opened onto the forest trail. “I didn’t mean to call you names.”
“Fuck you. You said them and you say them whenever you’re angry. You mean it.”
