Page 21 of Rebellious

“Yeah, Reb,” Daddy answered, not going into detail. She was too tired to probe further.

Before she spoke again, Kaia walked in and stopped at the foot of her bed. Dark circles ringed his eyes and he looked pale and gaunt. His hair was starting to grow back, but it wasn’t the luxuriant mane it had been when they met.

“Can I talk to Kaia alone?” she asked.

“Ima go to the nursery and check on your ma and Jo,” Daddy said, kissing her cheek, throwing Kaia a hateful look and walking out.

Christopher was so fucking proud of himself for not snatching Kaia and choking that motherfucker. He’d ordered Kaia to the hospital. He hadn’t actually brought that assfuck. Killing him on sight would’ve made Megan madder than a motherfucker, traumatized Rebel, and made Kendall want to fuck him up. He would’ve killed that assfuck in a public place. A hospital, at fucking that.

So, he did as Rebel asked and walked the fuck out, leaving her alone with a fuckhead whose head Christopher allowed to stay on his miserable fucking shoulders because of Megan, Rebel, and Kendall.

He’d just gotten into the hallway when Mortician guided CJ, Axel, Ryder, and Ransom in. The moment he’d seen his sons, Christopher was quite fucking happy he was there. They’d been shell-shocked, and he’d given them a quick pep talk before sending them to Rebel’s room, even more pleased because their arrival would interrupt whatever the fuck she had to say to Kaia.

Hopefully, it wasn’t the offer of a second chance. But Rebel was young, naïve, and injured. She wasn’t thinking clearly. He’d forgive her if she wanted to go steady with Kaia again.

That fuckface, though? Christopher couldn’t wait until May 15th when they put Kaia on a plane and an ocean between him and Rebel.

Not long after his sons went to their sister’s room, Kaia came out with his tail between his legs and found a corner to stand in, like a punished fucking moron. He was still there, ignored by everyone.

Seeing Kaia made Diesel’s absence hard to miss. Easton said Diesel shot the fuck out of the motherfuckers who targeted Rebel and Jana. Yeah, they needed disposing, but those motherfuckers could wait. The meatshack had refrigeration drawers for times like this. Under normal circumstances, Diesel would be hovering. If not on Jana’s behalf, then on Rebel’s.

So, where the fuck was he? What the fuck was up?

A slew of motherfuckers surrounded Christopher, though he felt as if he’d been dropped in the middle of a hellscape, blind to everything except...Rebel. And Diesel’s continued absence.

“Johnnie and Red coming soon, Prez,” Mortician said, breaking into Christopher’s thoughts, standing next to him and waving his phone in front of Christopher. “Red texted to let me know.”

Scrubbing a hand over his face, Christopher nodded.

“I hope Johnnie fucking behave.” Disgust rang in Mortician’s voice.

Christopher couldn’t find the energy to fucking hate Johnnie right now. Unfuckingbelievable. There should always have been energy to hate motherfucking Johnnie.

Fuck. No. There wasn’t. Especially now.

“Val on the way. Chester been throwing up most of the day,” Mort continued. “He had to leave her behind.”

“Tell him to stay with her,” Christopher said, numb. He’d intended to go to the nursery to see what was up with Jo, but the chaotic arrival of the boys and his conversation with Rebel made his muscles feel frozen.

“Let’s go have a smoke, Outlaw,” Mort suggested. “Get a little fresh air for five minutes.”

Christopher glanced at the double doors, then toward the corridor that led to NICU. Five minutes wasn’t long. It would clear his mind of the horror that drove him ever since Easton’s call. He could try to track Diesel and tell Mort about Lance Hart’s phone call.

“Five minutes,” Christopher agreed, getting to his feet and heading to the elevator.

For long moments, Rebel and Kaia stared at each other. It was as if she saw him for the first time after weeks apart. He looked different and, yet, the same. Earrings looped through small gauges. Black hair coming back in after Axel’s revenge. Deep blue eyes ringed with purple irises and something new. Something that touched her so deeply, she swore she felt it physically: the saddest expression she’d ever seen.

He offered her a smile that she didn’t return. She couldn’t, not when confusion and misery scrambled her brain.

He rested his hand on the blanket covering her foot. She drew her knees up.

“You asked to see me? I was hoping that meant you’ve forgiven me and want us to be—”

“No, motherfucker. Never. I will n-never be your Chi again.” She swallowed, trying to hold in her tears, hating how much that hurt to say, hating her lack of conviction. She’d been so very unhappy, yearning for things she couldn’t have, her lost dreams with him. She just wanted the pain to stop. If she could only believe him… “I fucking warned you not to fuck over me—”

“I’m sorry.” His eyes glistening, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I just…Sex…I’m sorry—”

“Keep your apology. You s—”