Page 128 of Rebellious

Aunt Bunny smiled. “I hope they are finally back on the right track.”

“Me, too,” Momma said, heading for the swinging door that led to a short hallway directly across from the kitchen.

“I think Harley has learned…” Aunt Bunny’s voice faded away.

“Can you give them to me now?” Rebel asked in low tones, anxious to open her gifts.

Before Diesel responded, the Terrible Triplets trooped in, dressed in their school uniforms, tears streaking their faces. Sniffling as if his heart had broken, Axel took his seat and faceplanted on the table.

Alarmed, Rebel got to her feet and started toward him, but Daddy walked in, belt still in hand, glowering.

“Sit the fuck down, Rebel,” he ordered, whipping his belt through the air. “They broke those motherfuckin’ cameras upstairs. They lucky I only spanked their fuckin’ asses and didn’t lock them in a motherfuckin’ cage.”

Rebel gulped, her mind racing to Diesel coming into her room as if he hadn’t cared. Of course he’d known about the cameras. He’d probably told Axel to do it.

“They cut the motherfuckin’ wires. Ripped some of them completely away and shattered most of the fuckin’ sensors.” Daddy lashed his belt again, this time towards the Triplets, though he was too far away to strike them. “Axel used his fuckin’ slingshot and rocks.”

“Oh goddamn,” Diesel muttered, his eyes wide.

“You didn’t have to break my slingshot!” Axel wailed. “That was my favorite one.”

“I ain’t only breakin’ that one. I want every motherfuckin’ slingshot you got. I’m burnin’ those motherfuckers.”

Axel hadn’t stopped crying, but he burst into louder tears.

“It’s okay, Ax,” Ransom said, patting his back.

Ryder leaned over and hugged him, compelling Rebel to start toward Axel again.

“Sit the fuck down, Rebel,” Daddy repeated, like a mad dog.

“Uncle Christopher—” Diesel started but Daddy rounded on him.

“If you know what the fuck’s good for you, you shuttin’ the fuck up. Those three lil’ nightmares said they wanted those cameras gone, but they ain’t ever had a problem with it befuckinfore. It seem mighty fuckin’ strange the night Rebel released, my fuckin’ cameras destroyed.”

“Leave Diesel alone,” Axel snarled, swiping his hand across his snotty nose and glaring at Daddy. “I hate your stupid fuckin’ cameras. They get in the way of a man’s work, so fuck you. Diesel didn’t do nothin’.”

Daddy growled and started for Axel again.

“What’s going on in here?” Momma asked, her and Aunt Bunny standing side-by-side, holding more food. “Axel? Sweet Pea?”

She rushed to the sideboard and set her bowl of grits down, then hurried to Axel and hugged him.

“Mom!” he wailed, falling into her arms and sobbing. “Dad’s a mean motherfucker. He spanked me and my men cuz we destroyed his camera stuffs. But they’re everywhere. We can’t have no fun no more. I get stuffs for you and it can’t be a surprise with all the cameras.”

“You sabotaged the cameras?” Momma asked, hugging Axel against her and sidling a glare at Diesel. “Why would you do that, Sweet Pea?”

“It’s an envision of privates,” Axel said, sniffling.

“Invasion of privacy,” Ryder corrected.

“Yeah, that,” Axel said miserably, lifting his head and looking at Momma.

She cupped his little face between her hands. “Be honest with me. Did Diesel ask you to ruin those cameras?”

“No, Mom,” Axel said without hesitation. “Dad didn’t refer with me and my men. Or Reb. Or Diesel. He just put those cameras up everywhere. It’s like a security jail. We don’t do nothing.”

“Confer. You did bomb Diesel’s bathroom, love,” Momma said gently. “That’s definitely something.”