Page 130 of Rebellious

“How about a settlement, Ax?” Diesel suggested. “The original thousand dollars?” He looked at Daddy. “And I’ll pay half the cost to repair the cameras.”

“So, we can break those motherfuckers again?” Axel asked incredulously.

“Me and your ma goin’ on one fuckin’ vacation,” Daddy barked. “You ain’t gonna be able to scheme your way outta breakin’ that shit again.”

“Try me, Dad,” Axel said sullenly. “Those cameras are ass. It don’t got nothing to do with Diesel and Rebel. You don’t want those fucking cameras on the third floor cuz it’s a…a…”

“Invasion of privacy,” Ryder supplied, grinning at Daddy’s glower.

“Invasion of privacy,” Axel echoed. “We got rights, too. You really think if Rebel wanted to do whatever, she wouldn’t find a way?”

“Unless she got fuckin’ disappearin’ powder, the cameras would follow her every fuckin’ step of the way.”

Rebel was already in a gilded cage. The cameras made the walls press in a little more. She wanted to escape, prove to Daddy, CJ, and Diesel that nothing could hold her back if she desired something badly enough.

“That’s not right, Dad.” Ryder nodded to Rebel. “She’s been through enough. Diesel’s her brother, too. We can all visit her, except him. But that’s not even my main argument. I want to know why should we suffer for her crush? You’re not suffering by having third floor cameras to watch if CJ sneaks Harley into his room.”

Daddy snapped his brows together. Obviously, he hadn’t considered that.

When Momma and Aunt Bunny returned this time, Bishop followed, carrying Gunner, with Kaia right behind them. He smiled at her, but glared at Diesel before taking his seat on the other side of the table, next to Ransom.

“Breakfast’s finally served,” Momma announced. “We microwaved the bacon to speed things up.”

“S’okay, Mom,” Axel said pitifully, back to sniffling.

Daddy threw him a putrid look.

“Christopher, I was thinking,” Momma started, setting the plates Aunt Bunny prepared in front of everyone, starting with Daddy. “How about we make it a family vacation? You and I can leave Thursday like originally planned. Diesel can drive his Mercedes and CJ can follow in my SUV and then—”

The horror on Daddy’s face combined with Axel’s satisfaction amused Rebel, but she heard her mother’s disappointment too, so she spoke up and gave Momma the alternative plan.

If Axel did his part…instead, he stuffed a sausage into his mouth and chewed contentedly.

“Rebel, sweetheart, I appreciate the offer, but—”

“Megan, I need coffee,” Daddy interjected.

Axel beamed at Aunt Bunny. “And I need juice, Aunt Bunny.”

“Rats! We forgot the beverages,” Momma said on a groan. “Be right back.”

“I’ll give you the fuckin’ five grand back,” Daddy started.

Shaking his head, Axel stuffed another sausage into his mouth. “Nope,” he said around food. “That offer expired. I want ten and I want those fuckin’ cameras down for sixty days until we have a family preview.”

“Review,” Ransom said.

“Shut up,” Axel ordered, pointing his fork. “A man feels better now, so only beautiful girls can correct me again.”

“I ain’t givin’ you no motherfuckin’ ten thousand—”

“Here you are, Ax,” Aunt Bunny said, walking back in with a glass of juice in one hand and a pitcher in the other.

Momma sat a tray with coffee, cream, and sugar down on the buffet. She prepared Daddy’s cup, then set it in front of him and laid her hand on his shoulder. “How about the kids come Saturday and we leave Monday?”

“Ten,” Daddy blurted.

Momma frowned. “Ten?”