Page 184 of Rebellious

“No.” She forced a smile, but dark circles ringed her red-rimmed eyes. Either she wasn’t sleeping, she couldn’t stop crying, or both. “I’m still planning Axel’s party. I’ll show you later.”

“I have faith in you, sweetheart. I know you’ll plan the best party for Axel. Better than me.”

Rebel smiled. “Thank you for that compliment.” All too soon that smile fell away and she began fidgeting. “I want you to go and spend time with Daddy, but can you think about coming home Saturday evening? That would make Axel’s night. I-if you can’t I understand. It just won’t be the same without you.”

“I’m not going,” Meggie announced, unable to keep the information to herself when Rebel was so troubled.

“Yes, you are. You have to. Please, Momma. Don’t disappoint yourself or Daddy. Please. You two deserve a break. I’m just asking you to consider…no, never mind. I shouldn’t have asked at all.”

“It’s okay, love. It’s okay, I promise—”

“It isn’t! I’m okay. I swear. You have to go. For me. You know you want to.”

“I do.”

“Then go. I’m fine,” she stressed again. “I have Axel’s party taken care of. Kaia will pick up everything on my list. He’s reliable, right?”

Meggie nodded, then squeezed Rebel’s hand, reserving her opinion until she discovered Kaia’s whereabouts. “Give me a few minutes. I’m not sure what Bishop cooked today.”

“Whatever it is will be tasty. Bishop is an excellent chef.”

“He is,” Meggie agreed.

Rebel curled up on the sofa, turning her back to Meggie. “I’ll see you soon.”

Sighing, Meggie left her daughter alone and headed down the hall, pausing near Diesel’s door and wondering if she should trust him to help cheer Rebel up. She had Riley searching for Diesel’s birth mother, but so far, there’d been no luck.

She hovered a moment longer, then decided to wait until she talked to Christopher before she tapped Diesel for anything involving Rebel.

Heading downstairs, it surprised Meggie to see Kaia hovering in the foyer.

“You’re home,” Kaia blurted before she asked him where he’d been. “I need to talk to you.”

“That makes two of us,” she said coolly. “Let’s go to my office. I need to talk to you, too.”

“I’ll be quick and I can’t talk in your office right now. I’m sorry. I’ve been helping Outlaw and he needs me to do something else at the club.”

“What—?” she asked, then caught herself. If Christopher wanted her to know, Kaia wouldn’t speak in riddles. She sighed. “What do you need to discuss?”

“Rebel isn’t sleeping. She’s afraid to close her eyes because she sees those men. Last night, she texted me until I fell asleep. Night before last, it was Diesel. Do you have a sedative you can give her?”

Rebel had been texting Diesel and hadn’t mentioned it to Meggie. But…Diesel wouldn’t be stupid enough to cross a line and leave incriminating evidence. Ignoring her unease, Meggie got to the matter at hand. “The pain pills should help her to rest.”

“They aren’t,” Kaia insisted. “I think she’s been sleeping at most an hour or two a night.”

“Okay, thank you for telling me. I’ll text her doctor and—”

Kaia’s phone beeped. “I’m sorry, Meggie. I have to go.”

Before she questioned him any further, he hurried away.

Puffing on his cigarette, CJ glanced at the dark emptiness below him, high above from the pedestrian deck at Turn Creek Bridge. He didn’t have a change of clothes to dive nor did he want to ruin Mom’s leather seats. Dad would have a lot to say about that. Besides, he wasn’t sure how the water might affect him. At least the pain was receding.

The sun had set about an hour ago. Without lights on the bridge, it was dark. He couldn’t even see the water. Maybe he’d talk to his parents and ask them to meet with the city managers. Safety should be a top priority. However, it was rare he was here this late, so maybe it didn’t matter.

His date with Harley crossed his mind. Overwhelmed, he leaned against the deck wall and thought of both Harley and Skye. He cursed. Winced. Fucking blushed because he wasn’t sure what to do.

He puffed again, tired. He had homework. And if he didn’t get home soon, his mother would be frantic. However, he needed time to himself to think. The house was always a beehive of activity. Once he got to his room, he’d have privacy. First, though, he’d need to greet Mom and Dad. Or text him if he wasn’t there. Axel would have comments. He’d probably have to eat supper with the family.