Page 222 of Rebellious

Saturday, April 20th

“I hope Reb did me a solid,” Axel said, skipping next to Diesel as they walked along the pathway toward the club. “She won’t tell me nothing.”

She’d ordered Diesel to enlist some of the brothers to set everything up last night and today. His fight with CJ left him so fucking sore, but he couldn’t disappoint her after that fucking idiot fucked up so royally.

“A man wants to know about his stuffs.”

“She wants you surprised, Ax, but I think you’ll be pleased.” No, he was certain Axel would be happy. Rebel had outdone herself, though Diesel couldn’t fathom the cost of her extravagance. “She told you to wear your cut, didn’t she?”

“Uh huh.”

“Okay, so trust her.”

The words appeased Axel, though he continued to skip, always energetic. Diesel smiled, anxious for the kid to see his sister’s hard work and brilliant party planning. For the most part, Axel had been patient, not putting up a fuss when he didn’t receive any birthday presents at breakfast as usual.

The sun was setting, so the ground lights along the forest pathway flickered on. When the fence came into sight, Axel ran to the pedestrian gate, too anxious to wait for Diesel. He used his own key card to unlock it.

Some brothers milled outside the club, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. Rebel asked Uncle Christopher to enact a rule that they not smoke weed for the two hours that Axel’s party would last. Although Aunt Meggie asked the brothers to show up, those who agreed understood it was a kid’s party.

“Diesel, look!” Axel yelled in excitement, pointing to the sign hanging on the door. An LED neon sign, flashing orange and black, read ‘Club 11: Sweet Pea’s Garage’. “Reb had this made for me?”

“She did.”

Axel screamed.

The guys laughed along with Diesel, who reached around Axel and opened the door. Music, chatter, and laughter flooded out. “Come on.”

“Can I keep the sign?”

“It’s all yours as soon as the party’s over.”

Walking in front of Axel so Easton would know the birthday boy had arrived, Diesel shook his head at the extravagance. Easton, the asshole, wasn’t near the door, but luckily Seven was.

He whistled. “The birthday boy has arrived.”

“How that motherfucker know?” Axel grumbled, right behind Diesel but unable to see the checkered carpet or the red velvet ropes waiting for his arrival. “Seven can’t see me. Can you move, D?”

Rebel stood from one of the chrome cocktail tables. Diesel ignored her leather shorts, crop top, cut, and over-the-knee boots that showed her beautiful figure. Harley and Mattie got from their seats and flanked Rebel, dressed more conservatively in jeans and cuts.

“Motherfucker, if you don’t move, I’m knocking you in the back of your head with my new slingshot.”

“Is everything ready, Rebel?” Diesel asked.

“Let him in,” she said.

The moment Diesel moved, Axel stormed in and froze, glancing at the special entrance, the custom matte-black garage wall backdrop with another personalized LED neon sign that read Axel’s VIP Lounge. Rented black leather lounge furniture, chrome cocktail tables, and industrial-style metal accents had replaced the regular tables. Veering off from the checkered carpet was a massive tire tread down the center of the room. In the sunken area where the pool tables usually were was the DJ and two racing simulators.

Signs in Rebel’s pretty handwriting hung from the ceiling and read ‘Happy birthday, Axel’ and ‘Happy 420 Day’, interspersed with decorations of ‘11’, birthday cakes, motorcycles, and smiling marijuana leaves with sunglasses. Gifts piled the table where Diesel’s gifts had been during his birthday party.

“Welcome to Sweet Pea’s VIP Lounge,” the girls chorused and then turned. Rebel swept her hair to the side, allowing her ‘Property of Sweet Pea’ to be seen. Mattie and Harley wore the same cuts.

Axel gasped. “You did this for me, Reb?”

Facing them again, she tossed her hair and smiled. “I did. Do you like it?”

He ran to her and hugged her. “It’s just right.”

“We helped too, bro,” Ransom said.