Page 103 of Rebellious

“Uh, I-I was…I was th-thinking about our, uh, our wedding. I can’t wait to become your wife.” So very true.

Fia pasted a smile on her lips. “Romantic.”

Tennysee and Tauriel’s nods of agreement and Torrin and Narci’s smiles indicated Jana was on the right track.

“A-aren’t you thinking about that day, m-my love?” she asked, gazing at Diesel through the sweep of her lashes.

“Not in the least,” Diesel responded, his tone as hard as his look.

Tears rushed to her eyes. “Why not?” she wailed. His handsome face seemed hewn from granite, untouchable and unbreakable, off limits to a mortal like her.

“You know fucking well why,” Diesel snapped, not giving an inch. “You want me to air out our issues in front of everyone?”

“No,” she squeaked, cringing at Fia’s amusement. “Any woman would be as anxious as me to become your wife.”

“Our wedding is on hold until you finish rehab. I refuse to marry you right now. Once you’re clean, I’ll see where we stand.”

“But—”

“Jana, babe, let it go for now,” Torrin suggested, his tone as kind as his expression. “Let Rebel heal completely.”

“Rebel! It’s always about Rebel,” Jana cried, blinded by jealousy. She wanted Rebel to cry and feel the same pain and humiliation as her. “Everyone forgets I was hurt too.” She pointed to her still swollen face. “How is Rebel the hero and—”

“She is,” Diesel told her in a tone that brooked no argument. “She saved your fucking life almost at the cost of her own. Because of you. Because you put not only yourself in danger but my little sister—”

“Your little sister?” Jana snapped around a sob, crushed that he was still blaming her when Tabitha sent Alex, Chuck and Ron. “Are you sure that’s why you’re so angry? She doesn’t see you as her brother. She wants to take you from me, but I won’t let her.”

“I have a say in that,” Diesel told her, and she stiffened. “Fuck you and whatever the fuck you want. You could’ve gotten Torrin, Huck, Zephyr, and Seven killed by Uncle Christopher. If you hadn’t left, no one would’ve known you and Rebel were alone in that fucking mall. The entire fucked up situation is because of you and you alone.”

Jana started crying in earnest. “I’m sorry.”

Diesel shoved back from his chair and stormed to his feet. “You are,” he told her, low and intense. “You make up with Rebel or not only am I not giving you the fucking chance to straighten up, I’m kicking you off club grounds and barring you from ever setting foot here again.”

Jumping up, Jana raced around the table to intercept Diesel’s departure, planting herself in front of him. “Wait, please! I’m sorry. She’s so angry with me and I don’t know why. You know how she gets.”

“Oh, indeed I do.” Diesel thrust his face into hers and narrowed his eyes. “But for a fucking reason, cunt. Don’t fucking try to make her out to be the villain when that’s on your fucking shoulders. Make up with her. She risked her life for you.” He grabbed her throat and shook her. “If you two aren’t friends again by this time tomorrow, I’m taking you to that fucking creek and drowning you myself,” he said and shoved her away.

Not wanting him to leave so angry, she tried to grab his hand. “Diesel—”

“What the fuck don’t you understand, Jana?” he demanded, shaking off her touch. “Rebel is important to me. She’s important to her parents, her brothers, her family, and you, you, almost took her from us. Now you have the fucking nerve to want my pity? When I almost lost Rebel? Bitch, you’re lucky you’re still breathing and that’s only because of her. She doesn’t know what a stupid twat you were. Relying on motherfucking Tabitha to supply your drugs is like relying on Johnnie for good advice.”

“Diesel—”

“Enough, Jana. Enough. I’m not repeating myself and I’m not constantly rehashing this. You have my fucking terms.”

Jana stumbled back to the table, barely able to see because of the tears in her eyes. “I love you, Diesel,” she called. “So much. Please don’t leave me or…or cheat on me. I-I couldn’t…I don’t want to play tit-for-tat,” she said, accepting the napkin Narci handed her. She lowered her lashes, waiting for her words to sink into Diesel.

“Are you implying you’ll fuck someone else?” he called, his hand on the doorknob, his gaze on her, his brow lifted.

Folding her arms, Jana lifted her chin, thinking of Kaia. Her nod drew Diesel back to her side and she hid her smile.

A half-smile tipped his lips. “You want to play that game, sweetheart?”

Jana’s satisfaction slid away.

“Do you want me to describe how good Fia’s pussy is?”

Her nostrils flared and she shook her head, her tears flowing anew.