Diesel’s joy fled. He didn’t want to fuck up and hide his marriage to Jana from Rebel as he had Tabitha. Although his wife was no saint, her introduction to Rebel planted her seeds of hatred toward Tabitha. Just as he wanted Jana’s family to like and accept him, he wanted his own family to like and accept her.
“I’ll let Axel know you have more important obligations.”
“Don’t do this, Rebel. Jana’s important to me. One day you’ll understand. In the meantime, give her a chance. Welcome her into the family. For me,” he added, though he had no right to do so. “Please.”
“You’re a motherfucker,” she snarled. “You knew you wouldn’t be there for my sixteenth birthday to take me out. If it wouldn’t be Tabitha or Jana, it would be someone else, so fuck you. I’m better off without you.”
“I’ll always be your big brother,” he told her, regretting answering her phone call.
Her sob gutted him, but no one would ever approve of theideaof a future relationship with Rebel. He was stuck in one place and to do better, he had to improve his life. His thoughts. His actions. His emotions.
“I love you, Rebel. I’ll always love you. I’m your big brother and nothing you ever do or say can change my love for you.”
“I love you too, Dee,” she whispered, sniffling.
He smiled at the nickname she’d given him before she could pronounce his name. “I’ll text Axel and tell him I’ll make it up to him.”
“That’ll cheer him up,” she said dully. “I’ll let him know, but first I have a question for you and I want you to tell me the truth.”
“I always tell you the truth.”
“A bald-faced lie, but who’s keeping score?” she said sweetly.
Diesel laughed. “You’re impossible.”
“I want the truth, Diesel.”
“Fine. I’ll answer honestly, I swear.”
“Kaia had sex with Fia, didn’t he?”
Of course Diesel should’ve expected her to ask, but he’d thought Aunt Meggie’s interruption and Fia’s stammered denial removed Rebel’s doubts.
“I see,” she said miserably.
“I didn’t say any fucking thing,” Diesel snapped.
“You didn’t have to. Your silence is enough.” She started to cry again. “He partied with you and Fia.”
“What fucking difference does it make if he did? You aren’t in a relationship.”
“Not anymore! But I was the Chi to his huahua,” she sobbed.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Nothing!”
Gnashing his teeth together, Diesel swallowed his revulsion at the thought of Kaia stealing Rebel’s heart. Doing better meant stepping out of the way until he killed Kaia without raising suspicions, especially Aunt Meggie and Rebel’s. He hated the thought of her with anyone, but Kaiaespecially. That motherfucker chafed Diesel’s nuts.
“Kaia didn’t fuck Fia, Rebel,” Diesel bit out. He’d make sure the rest of the videos never saw the light of day. “It was a joke. Okay. That’s fucking it.”
“Because you’re a jealous fucking fuckhead,” she snarled.
“Jealous?” he spat. “Are you out of your fucking mind? Jealous? Me? Of you and Kaia? You? My little sister?”
“Yes,” she said, not backing down because of course she wouldn’t. “You hate the idea of me being with anyone.”
“It wasn’t out of jealousy,” he said coolly. “It was out of concern. I don’t think Kaia is good enough for you.”
