Page 115 of Rebellious

Diesel laughed.

Diesel: How is Rory catching strays and he isn’t even here?

Axel: Cuz he’s a stray, mangy mutt just like Uncle Johnnie.

Too wound up to entertain Axel, Diesel didn’t respond. Another chime came through and he gritted his teeth, wondering if Axel bamboozled him and there would be another delay.

Axel: Coast is clear. Dad is in his room

Diesel: R u sure

He couldn’t bother with punctuation.

Axel: Trust me. I wouldn’t get u n trouble. I love u.

Diesel: I luv u 2 Ax

Throwing his phone aside, Diesel snatched the bags and rushed out of his room without further delay, praying he wasn’t walking into a trap.

He expected to find Rebel’s door locked. Thankfully, he turned the knob and it opened without hindrance. Her beautiful suite, with its pale blue, cream, and gold décor, had become a refuge of sorts for him. When his world was chaotic, he’d come in and watch her sleep. Until Uncle Christopher decided to have the cameras installed.

He rounded the corner where her bed, nightstands, and dresser were situated. She lay on her back, an angel in slumber, her lashes sweeping down, her lips sweet and inviting.

He set the bags on her dresser, aching to crawl into bed…he halted that thought before it fully formed. When he used to babysit her and read her bedtime stories so she’d settle down and give him some peace, they would lay side-by-side. Back then, he only wanted her to close her eyes, so he could take the baby monitor and call whoever he was dating.

The thought grossed him out. He couldn’t believe how far removed he was from those innocent days. But he couldn’t get the memory of her beautiful body out his mind when she’d decided to strip while his back was turned.

No, he couldn’t get her out of his mind.

Fuck, it was what it was. If he could go back and warn her not to do that, he would. Not that she’d listen. Rebel was the most hard-headed little shrew he’d ever met. Yet…this was on him. He had to resist her and the ideas she planted in his head.

Already, she played mind games. He couldn’t imagine how treacherous she’d be by the time she turned eighteen. Like Narci said…

She moved restlessly, shoving the covers aside and revealing one of her pretty nightgowns. The sight of her wearing the jewelry Kaia gave to her annoyed the fuck out of him.

Diesel knew it was real gold, but did she?

She turned her back toward him, her hair shifting with her. A moment later, she turned on her side, facing him.

Diesel was just about to wake her up, but she did that on her own, bolting into a sitting position, her eyes flying open. Her gaze landed on him and panic crossed her face, a frightened cry escaping her.

He hurried to her and dropped next to her, settling an arm around her shoulder and pulling her close. “It’s me, sweetheart. You’re safe.”

She laid her head on his chest and heaved in a breath. “Diesel?”

“That’s me,” he quipped.

“I thought…” She pulled away, turned her back to him, and laid her head on the pillow. “Never mind. You were watching me sleep again?”

“Turn around and look on your dresser.”

When she complied, he leaned back so she could see the bags.

“That’s for me?” she gasped.

“All of it. I told you I had a present for you.”

“That implies one.” She pointed to her dresser. “Definitely more than a present.”