Page 18 of Rebel

Yeah, we are definitely talking sooner rather than later.

ELEVEN

‘REBEL’

MYA

Pulling my jeans up, I rub my temples because I have a headache coming on. Life has been crazy between my work with the club and also with the center. We have about fifteen new survivors in the large building from a recent circuit we busted up. It was comprised of, to our horror, a lot of younger children, like grade school age. Now that I’m part of Atlas’s three boys’ lives, it really hits home. If anyone ever put their filthy hands on any one of the boys, if anyone thinks Shadow is a merciless, cold-blooded killer; she will look like a kid in the park when I get done with the assholes who touch my boys. I stop, putting my bra down and sit on my bed. Wow, need to think about this because they aren’t mine. They have a mother, though she’s a piece of shit. Mindy and her drug-dealing boyfriend, Scott, have both been released on bail, pending their court date. When Atlas found out, Shadow went to her dad, who is Sheriff George, and he said both were let go because they have no room or, more importantly, staff for the jail. That sucks but he promised to try and keep an eye on the two of them. When Tank found out, he put two prospects on their asses. First though, he put a shout out to Atlas to make sure he was good with it, which he was. Atlas told Tank he’d do anything to protect his three boys from their biological mother.I think Tank asked some questions because Atlas shared how Mindy signed her rights away. I could hear Tank’s pissed-off voice, so I walked away to give them some privacy.

Tonight is finally here. It’s Friday night and Atlas is not on call, and his two sons Konstantin and Thanos are going to their grandparents. To everyone’s utter shock, Stefanos quietly asked to spend the night at Teddy’s. We all went out to Taz and Enforcer’s house so Stefanos could be familiar with their home before the sleepover. Between the dogs and Mickie, Atlas’s middle son was in Heaven. It also showed Atlas how much his son wants a dog. Stefanos was so cute with Mickie. When he hesitantly asked if he could hold her, I laughed out loud when Teddy got up, lifted Mickie from Enforcer’s arms, and plopped her in Stefanos’s arms. Teddy showed him how to protect her head and neck, then he sat next to Stefanos as the two boys fawned over the little girl. I literally had to reach over and close Atlas’s mouth. Konstantin and Enforcer hit it off and Thanos hung with Stefanos, Teddy, and Olivia, once she got there. Glory and Yoggie were also there, which I know was my bestie’s way to make Atlas comfortable.

Enforcer and I watch Atlas looking around at all of Taz’s crystals and stuff, so no one says a word until Taz walks into the kitchen. Enforcer leans over to Atlas and tries to whisper, which is a joke with him.

“Atlas, I feel ya, man. I allow all the rocks everywhere because it makes Que, sorry, Taz feel good. Remember at Mickie’s birth we had to lay all that shit everywhere? If you think this is a lot, you should see the rest of the house. Only place they don’t go is in my garage and workshop.”

Atlas gets up, moving to one of the many handmade shelving units holding Taz’s collection. He picks up a huge yellow piece that I’ve always loved. He turns and flips it around until we hear a gasp.

“Oh no. Please, Atlas, be careful. That’s a very expensive piece that I’m so proud of because it took me a long period of time to be able to afford it. Citrine is a crystal known to promote spiritual growth. It can also clean the aura by absorbing negative energies and transmitting them into a positive vibration. Citrine can also help clear and activate the chakras, if you know what those are, Atlas. The one most associated with it is the solar plexus chakra, which works with personal power and abundance. I mean, look at us, our lives are full. Well, mostly full, since my man over there thinks my rocks are a nuisance and don’t mean anything. Maybe if he opened his mind, my ol’ man might see the light—as they say—because he knows how much it means to me. Travis, you might like the spare crystal bedroom, it’ll give you some time to reflect. Now dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”

With that she turns and I giggle. I saw her standing there and figured Enforcer would put his foot in his mouth, and he did. Seeing Atlas looking around, I bump into him.

“What’s wrong?”

He looks around one more time before glancing at me.

“I’m confused, Taz is with Enforcer, right? Then who the hell is Travis?”

Beside me Enforcer, Glory, and Yoggie start to chuckle. Atlas watches them to make sure no one is laughing at him. Enforcer walks up to Atlas.

“Welcome, brother. In this family circle, everyone has at least two names. One is their given or government name, and then their club’s name. I’m Travis and seems like I’m in the doghouse. Again. How long was she listening, Rebel, and why didn’t you give me a sign? Thought we had a truce.”

Atlas’s head jerks down to me, and I know my eyes are sparkling.

“Paybacks are a bitch, Enforcer. Remember that time we were moving that one shelving unit in y’all’s bedroom and that one crystal tower fell off and broke. I was able to glue it back together, and you promised not to tell Taz. We even shook on it. Well, to my surprise, three weeks later she comes into Chapel, flames shooting from her eyes with that crystal tower wrapped in a towel. She went to clean the shelf and saw a small little bit of glue. When she asked you if you broke it, what did you do, brother? Yeah, she told me how fast you threw me under that bus. So what goes around comes around.”

I’m laughing and then snort. Everyone loses it, including Enforcer. The three younger kids come back in, looking from one of us to the other. Teddy then leans into Stefanos, whisper-screaming.

“Get used to this, brother. They are either screaming, laughing, or in my case, my mom and dad are kissing all the time. It’s disgusting. Let’s go back to my room.”

From the kitchen, Taz yells for everyone to clean up and get their butts into the dining room. Teddy looks to Enforcer, who shakes his head no. The little guy’s head drops, then he lifts up and tells Stefanos, Olivia, and Thanos they all need to wash their hands. Konstantin is actually in the kitchen helping Taz, so all the adults stand up and head into the dining room to continue our discussion. The night turns out to be one of the best we’ve had as a couple. I’m hoping tonight turns out even better. The plan is Atlas is cooking at his house then we’re going to take it as it goes.

This is huge for me since I can’t remember the last time, you know, I’ve gotten me some. Between partnering with Raven at the Handmaidens Fitness & Holistic Center and being a member of the Devil’s Handmaidens club and taking on the responsibilities of S-a-A, life is busy. I’ve been trying when I can to help Atlas with the boys, which gives me the opportunityto get to know them individually and as a group. We’ve been eating quite a bit at The Wooden Spirits because Cook loves the boys, especially Konstantin. She’s working on an alternate menu now so between the two of them, Cook and Konstantin, they are trying to come up with tasty meals. To add to that, I’ve been helping Taz with Mickie, who’s not sleeping too well. Sometimes I don’t know why Atlas is sticking around because between his shifts at the hospital and the volunteer time he puts in at the clinic, our time together is like the last thing on our lists. Thank God, we seem to fit though. Even his parents, Apollo and Athena, seem pleased we’re giving whatever this is a chance. So now, once I’m dressed, after putting a quick call to Taz to see how things are with Mickie, I’m heading over to Atlas’s for a sleepover. Or that’s what smart-ass Konstantin is calling it. An adult sleepover. As much as I love that kid, he’s a pain in my ass at times.

Thirty minutes later, again in my cage, I’m heading back into town and with all the excitement I’m nervous as shit. It took me quite a while to not only shave my arms, legs, under my arms, then damn, my girlie garden had gone totally wild. Could have used some electric clippers. Though, got to say, as I shift my legs and my panties rub against the garden, I can feel how smooth it is. Personally, I hate hair so I’m surprised I left it for so long. Never again. Been thinking of getting waxed, though some of my younger club sisters have had it done and it’s split down the middle if it’s worth it or not. I choked when Squirt told her story. She went with Heartbreaker, who goes regularly. Squirt barely made it through the pelvic area and below, but when the esthetician told her to get on all fours and spread her cheeks, Squirt started screaming so loud for Heartbreaker she caused a scene. They both got kicked out and told never to come back, which for Heartbreaker sucked since her esthetician just started to wax her bikini line. Between Dottie, Dani, Kitty, and Squirtthey managed to get the wax off, but Heartbreaker was raw for a week. We all laughed like idiots, which Squirt didn’t think was funny. When Heartbreaker explained the esthetician would have put some Vaseline over her back star, the look on Squirt’s face was priceless.

As I’m driving, I could swear someone is following me but who and why, don’t know. We broke up that one circuit a few weeks ago but the whole operation went smoothly. We got the tip from one of the girls who works at the Wooden Spirits Bar and Grill. Her sister went missing and the town was going crazy with worry. Jeanie told Heartbreaker that her sister met some guy on one of those dating apps. Raven tracked it down and found where the phone was pinging because the dumbass didn’t shut his phone off, and the rest was history. Unfortunately, not before those assholes did some massive damage to Jeanie’s younger sister, Alexandria. After Tink and Taz talked to her parents, she is spending some time at the ranch, talking with the therapist. Her wounds are about healed and the bruises are fading, though that’s not what we worry about; it’s her depressed state. So between the prospects, with Peanut and Kiwi, they are keeping a very close eye on her. The one thing the club was able to give to Alexandria was that none of those men would ever hurt another girl again. Shadow and Spirit took care of that.

When I make my way to Atlas’s block, my anxiety kicks in. I’ve been wondering for days if I should tell Atlas about my past. I talked to Taz about it and she seemed surprised. She asked why I’m worried since I’ve spent nights at his house before. I explained that, yeah, we’ve spent a few nights together, but the boys were there and we didn’t have sex. In fact, besides some very heavy petting and groping, we’ve done nothing. Watching her mouth drop surprised me. She asked how I managed to keep my hands off that Greek god of mine, and I almost choked. Her hands covered her mouth as her cheeks turned bright red.

“Ummm, bestie, got something to tell me? You fantasizing about Atlas? Do I need to have a conversation with Enforcer?”

She smirks but the cat seems to have her tongue. She tells me to pull over and check my texts. Well, fuck me blue.

“What the hell is this… You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You biotches have a pool to see who can guess when Atlas and I—ugh, you know—do the deed. You are all crazy.”

“Know that Rebel. And don’t you mean when you and Atlas…make hot, sweaty love.Come on, just spit it out, it won’t bite you, sister.”

Ignoring her, I’m trying to see who picked what. Well damn, most of my club sisters must think I’m an easy slut. A third of them think Atlas and I have already done the deed. Looking for Taz’s date, I almost choke. She picked today. How the hell did she know? Right after her are Squirt, Dottie, and of course, Shadow. Tink picked a week from now and Glory gives me another two weeks. Raven shocks me; she picked a month from now. Well, I can’t tell if I’m pissed or just surprised. Who I don’t see are Wildcat, Heartbreaker, and Dutchess. She must be reading my mind over my cell phone.

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