Page 13 of Rebel

SEVEN

‘REBEL’

MYA

Today has been one of the longest days of my life. Jesus Christ, when Heartbreaker went down and with Konstantin messed up, for the first time since I became a Devil’s Handmaiden, I didn’t know what to do. I panicked and then started to have an anxiety attack. When Atlas got there and stood at the door, for a millisecond the look on his face said it all. Devastation, worry, panic, and love were all visible. He didn’t hide his emotions like most men do, or maybe it was his emotions for the boys. With Konstantin still in my lap, Atlas stared at me with a look I didn’t understand. It was like relief and anger mixed together. I didn’t give a flying whatever if that look was truly directed at me because either way, his son needed someone and he called me. As I went to move, I watched as Heartbreaker ran toward Atlas just as his knees buckled. Holy shit, my sister tried her damnedest to keep him upright, but the man is a Greek god so they both tumbled to the ground hard.

What happened next confused the hell out of me at first. Hearing Atlas screaming at Heartbreaker while gently slapping her cheeks, he then started yelling orders at the EMTs who split up, with one staying with Konstantin and the other moving to Heartbreaker. That’s when it dawned on me that my friend, nomy sister, passed out. Gently, I moved Konstantin’s head off my lap and got to my knees, humping it to Heartbreaker. When I was holding her hand, I whispered to Atlas I had this and he should go to his son. He nodded and as I did, Atlas kneed it to Konstantin. What a total clusterfuck, and I felt so bad for the EMTs. Natalie called 911 for another ambulance to come as we had two patients. After seeing how competent Natalie truly is I’m going to talk to Tink and Glory, maybe we can find her somewhere to work where she’ll be appreciated. Then I realized we needed an assistant manager at our trucking company. I put that thought in the back of my mind for a discussion later.

After both patients were loaded into waiting ambulances, Atlas checked and Konstantin told him he was fine. Atlas wanted to go get his other two sons so they all could be at the hospital. By that time, school was about to dismiss so when I felt a warm hand at my elbow, I looked up to see Atlas staring down with that same look in his eyes. He led me outside and then right to my cage.

“How the hell did you end up here, Rebel? I was doing a procedure, which means I didn’t have my phone on me. Not sure why Konstantin didn’t call my parents. Shit, I’m messing this up, as usual. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking care of my son. He’s such a good kid carrying a heavy load. I can’t figure it out, he’s so on top of the management of his diabetes. He’s the one who plans our meals so we can all eat the same thing and he’s not left out. We all shop and cook together; this doesn’t make any sense. I’ll talk with him about it, but please know I owe you more than all I have, my feisty Rebel.”

I can tell he’s still flustered, so I step closer and wrap my arms around his middle. He leans down as he puts his arms around me, and I feel surrounded by all that is Atlas. And God what a feeling it is. I can feel the adrenaline dropping and when I softly start to sob, he comforts me. Knowing I must look a mess,without thinking I wipe my face on his shirt. Oh shit, what was I thinking? Leaning back, I see one section of his tailored shirt is wet with some—no, please God—snot on it. He lifts my chin with his long fingers and starts to wipe my face off. I pull back, so embarrassed.

“Don’t worry about it, Rebel. It can be cleaned. Your body is finally realizing that this panic situation is over and the ‘adrenaline rush’ you experienced during Kon’s episode is done, so now your body is trying to catch up. Let it happen, it’s perfectly normal. Come on, let’s get you in your car so you can sit awhile. I’ll wait with you to make sure you’ll be okay. Give me your keys.”

The dominant and alpha traits are front and center with Atlas. This man hides nothing and what you see is what you get, which is perfect for me because I’m exactly the same. Never thought I’d let a man boss me around, but something about this particular man is different. I reach into my crossbody bag and pull my keys out, handing them to him. He leans down, kisses my nose, and in a deep gruff voice tells me, “You’re a good girl, Rebel.”How in all that is holy does he do that?I think to myself as my clitoris swells and seems to shiver down there in my girlie garden. He opens the SUV then helps me into the driver’s seat before closing the door. I’m stunned as I watch his long body pass in front of my vehicle, and before I know it he’s sitting next to me, adjusting the heat. He grabs my hand and seems to be taking my pulse, so I sit quietly.

“It’s a little high but to be expected. How do you feel? Good, drink some of that vitamin water, it will help. Damn it, wish we were in my car. I have all kinds of snacks and shit in there.”

His phone starts to buzz and ring at the same time. He pulls it out of his coat pocket and looks at it. When he answers, I know it’s the hospital by the way he’s talking. That is until whoever says something that pisses Atlas totally off. He starts givingorders and tells the person on the line to call the police and no one is allowed near his son. That has my ears opening as I lean closer to try and hear what’s going on. When he hangs up, he looks to me with those sapphire eyes that look torn. I grab his hand and squeeze.

“Go to the hospital. If you want, I can go get Stefanos and Thanos for you. All you need to do is call their school. They do go to the same school, correct? No worries, I’ve got this.”

He does that, staring at me for a few seconds, then he shocks the ever-lovin’ fuck out of me when he explains the phone call.

“That was the hospital. Apparently, my ex-wife with her drug-dealing boyfriend showed up in the emergency room asking about ‘her son’ Konstantin. How she knew he was even there or having a problem I don’t have a damn clue. Everyone at that campus knows what happened between us, so the charge nurse put a call out to me. You heard my response, but I’d feel better if I was there. First, you sure you’re okay with getting my boys? And if so, is it too much to ask the woman I’ve not even had a date with yet to do me another favor regarding my boys? But I don’t have a choice, Mya, so if you don’t mind, can you please pick the boys up and bring them up to the hospital? I promise to make all of this up to you, cross my heart.”

Halfway through I close my eyes because his voice is pure sex, and he has me so excited I imagine those thick football thighs naked with my hands on them, then my tongue tasting and nipping as I make my way to the junction between them. Again, my breasts are aching and my girlie garden feels like the sun is shining down there. When I open my eyes, all I see are dark sapphire-blue eyes right in front of me. Watching as if it’s in slow motion, Atlas slowly bends down and plants a short but hot kiss on my lips before pulling back. He takes his phone, scrolls, then pushes call. It’s so quiet in my car that when the line is answered, I jump a little bit. He explains the situation and whenI hear them ask my name, I whisper to him to tell them Rebel from the Devil’s Handmaidens. The woman on the line says she knows me, so sure, just stop by the office and show some ID. He disconnects and places his phone back in his pocket. Then again he leans over and kisses my nose first then my lips, with the sweetest ever kiss I’ve ever gotten in my entire life. Then he jumps out of my car and runs to his. Before I can even process that he’s not in here anymore, I watch his vehicle drive away like a maniac. I think to myselfthat bitch better stay away from Konstantin if she knows what’s good for her.That’s one of my last thoughts before I pull away myself, in the opposite direction, to pick up Atlas’s two younger children.

What a zoo. When the two younger boys and I arrive, two older folks are waiting in the foyer. Thanos runs to them and Stefanos turns to tell me they are their grandparents. After introducing myself and meeting Apollo and Athena Giannopoulos, I have to promise to come to dinner when all the drama is over. With that promise, they let me go and swear they’ll keep their eyes on both boys. Thanos hugs me before I leave, while Stefanos waves at me.

Between all the employees who know Atlas checking in on Konstantin, so are the Devil’s Handmaidens. He is so enthralled with my club sisters and their club names. When one walks in, he wants to know her name, rank, and her marital status. This kid is cracking me up. It’s so easy to see his type, which is he doesn’t have one, he’s all over the damn board. When Squirt walks in his eyes nearly pop out of his head. And she’s oblivious to how gorgeous she is. Konstantin almost growls when Presley shows up a few minutes later, putting his arm around his ol’lady. When they leave to check on Heartbreaker, he asks me who Presley is and how they met. Cutting this off at the knees, I tell him she’s too old for him and they are committed to each other. He pouts until the next club sister walks in which, of course, would be my bestie, Taz, with Enforcer. This time Konstantin has no questions which shocks me. I take a minute and see how intimidated he is by Enforcer, who can be an asshole sometimes.

“Hey, Enforcer, knock it off. If you’re so afraid a high school kid can steal your Que then you have more issues than I ever thought you did.”

Enforcer doesn’t say a word but flips me the bird. Konstantin sits up in the bed and growls.

“Hey, don’t disrespect Rebel like that. Just ’cause you’re a big muscular dude, have some respect. If my dad was here, he’d kick your ass for that. Especially you being rude to Rebel.”

“Konstantin, calm down. Enforcer and I have a hate/love relationship. Don’t worry, he doesn’t bother me, and I have to put up with him because he’s with my BFF.”

That brings a smile to his face. I ask who’s watching the kiddos and Taz said Momma Diane and Tank. When Konstantin turns to look at me with a puzzled look on his face, I explain.

“Our club is made up of a bunch of misfits who came together. All of us grew up rough, that’s why we try to protect the innocent, abused, and taken. Tink, our prez, and Shadow, our enforcer, started the club a few years ago. Since then we’ve grown and have had good and bad times. Tink’s parents are Momma Diane and Tank. You probably have seen Tank around, he’s an older guy, huge with tons of tats. He’s the prez of the Intruders.”

His eyes get big and his head jerks toward Enforcer, who is in his Intruders kutte. The kid turns white then green like he’s gonna vomit. Taz grabs the garbage can and passes it to me. I go to give it to Konstantin but he pushes it away and swallows big.

“Hey, I owe you an apology. Didn’t mean to be an ignorant pain in the ass kid. Didn’t know you were part of that club. I’ve seen some of your, what do you call them… brothers… around in town. Should have kept my mouth shut. My dad is always telling me that.”

Enforcer is staring at the kid with no emotion, that is until Taz plants her elbow right into his ribs, which brings an “umph” out of him. Then he looks down and smiles at her. That right there is why I put up with that asshole. He looks my way again, flips me off, then gives it to Konstantin.

“Kid, don’t worry about it. I wasn’t. That you would try to protect Rebel is admirable. Just remember, once you let those kinds of words out, you better be able to back them up. I’d think twice about being a cocky bastard when lying in a hospital bed. Just sayin’. We ain’t got a problem as long as this badass dad of yours doesn’t try to kick my ass ’cause gonna tell ya, kid, I won’t hold back.”

Enforcer doesn’t realize as he is speaking that Atlas has quietly walked in and is standing in the doorway. When Konstantin sees his dad, the first emotion that runs across his face of course is love, but then I see his worry when he realizes his dad must have heard Enforcer. Seeing the young man staring behind him, Enforcer turns and I wait for it as their first meeting wasn’t all that great. Both are very dominant alphas, so this could go in so many directions. Both Konstantin and I never expect it to go like it does.

Enforcer moves toward Atlas and I can feel Konstantin tense up. Then all hell breaks loose. In a good way.

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