Page 200 of Rebellious

Axel barreled through the door and skidded to a halt. “Reb!” He ran and hugged her. “You’re feeling better?”

“I am. I’m planning your party. I thought I would get it done quicker out of my room.”

“Yay! Bishop and me will leave you alone, so we don’t disturb you.” He grabbed Bishop’s hand and tugged. “Come on.” At the door, he stopped, forcing Bishop to halt, too. “I’ll be back to check your progress, Reb.”

Smiling, Rebel nodded. “I’ll be here,” she said, not stopping Axel as he dragged Bishop away.

Before heading home after work, Diesel called Fia and told her he was dropping by. She probably expected them to fuck, but he’d disappoint her. He’d barely been able to concentrate on work, his brain filled with Rebel and their conversation. His need to best Kaia and prove to Rebel how wrong she was about that motherfucker.

First, he stopped at an ATM to withdraw cash. Money would remove whatever hesitation she had.

“I’m outside,” he said, parked in front of her door an hour after he called her. He could always enlist another woman. Except emo boys like Kaia might take a stand with a new girl and claim fidelity to Rebel.

Fia didn’t make him wait, sliding into the passenger seat within minutes of his arrival. She wore a low-cut crop top and a micro-mini skirt that rode up when she sat.

“What do you need?” she asked, glancing at him through her lashes.

“Not pussy.”

The memory of Kaia’s earrings back in Rebel’s ears left a sour taste. Her words and demands, Torrin and Narci’s warnings, collided in Diesel’s brain. Rebel was his. His little sister. His great tormentor and agitator. Uncle Christopher couldn’t protect her and look out for her as well as Diesel would. Uncle Christopher was so wrapped up in Aunt Meggie and CJ that Rebel was an afterthought.

Diesel dug inside his suit jacket and took out the crisp one-hundred-dollar bills, holding them out to Fia.

She started to grab the money, but he snatched it back.

“Not so fast. I want you to fuck Kaia and record it.”

Her eyes rounded. “No, you want me to die.”

“I won’t show it to anyone.” Especially Rebel. No, he’d gather evidence, manufactured though it might be, and take his case to Uncle Christopher. “When, and if I decide that I will, I’ll get you out of town.”

“But I don’t want to leave. I want to be a Dweller girl.”

“None of us get everything we want, Fia. I will pay you two grand every time you send me proof that you and Kaia fucked. Or you sucked his cock. Or he ate your beaver.”

“Kaia really cares about Rebel.”

Diesel’s lips thinned. “Do you think I care what that motherfucker cares about?”

“You should, if you end up hurting her.”

“He isn’t any good for her and, frankly, your resistance bores me. If you’ve lost your taste for a little fun, let me know and I’ll recruit someone else.”

“Meggie will have me killed if I hurt Rebel.”

“As long as you keep your fucking mouth shut, Aunt Meggie won’t know. My life’s on the line, too.” Wanting to prove two points in one evening, he also had a job for her little sister, Tommi. He’d get to that in a minute. “But Kaia isn’t right for Rebel. If she can’t see it, I’ll make sure Uncle Christopher does.” He waved the money in front of her. “Now, do we have a fucking deal or not?”

Kaia had just put the last of the shopping bags from the party supply store in the trunk of the Impala—one of the spare cars kept in the parking garage at the clubhouse—when his phone rang. He was tired. He’d been out most of the afternoon putting a dent in Rebel’s long list of what was needed for Axel’s birthday party.

It took Kaia a moment to recognize Fia’s number. He almost didn’t answer. He didn’t need that fucking temptation in his life. But curiosity got the best of him, so he accepted the call.

“Hey, girl,” he said cheerfully. “What’s up?”

“Hey, Kaia,” she greeted. “Can you stop by? I…my toilet handle’s broken and I don’t know how to repair it. All the guys are busy. Something’s going on at the club this weekend.”

“Axel’s birthday,” Kaia answered, glancing at his watch. He didn’t know how to repair much, but toilet handles were easy. He’d figured that one out when his broke in his old apartment.

“Axel’s having a party at the club?”