Page 32 of Rebel

Atlas and the boys drove to the therapist’s office and I met them there. When he told me he’d meet me there, that’s when I knew this was going to be a waste of time. I tried to get his parents to reconsider, but they both were very upset when I told him about driving separately. Apollo begged me not to give up on his asinine son. So here I am in the waiting room, by myself, because none of the guys have shown up. When the therapist checks yet again to see if they have arrived, I finally know I have to face the fact that Atlas is done with me. I tell her thanks but I have to leave. She gives me her card and says if I need anything to call her.

As I’m walking to my cage, my phone rings and when I see it’s Konstantin, I answer it.

“Hey, kiddo, what’s up?”

“Rebel, don’t leave. I’m driving Stefanos, Thanos, and myself and should be there in less than five minutes.”

Then he hangs up with me holding my phone, shocked to hear he’s driving. I know he got his license but didn’t realize he had a car. That’s when I see Konstantin is driving his dad’s car. My God, what the fuck is going on? He pulls in next to my car, turns it off, and jumps out.

“I’m so sorry, Rebel, thanks for waiting on us. I’m done with him. Dad’s at home, drunk off his ass. We all decided not to just leave you waiting for us, so I took his keys and here we are.”

Thanos and Stefanos are now out of the car and both give me hugs. Stefanos looks up at me, tears in his eyes.

“Rebel, can we live with you, please? Dad is being so crazy and now he’s been drinking all day. It’s like he’s turning into our mom, but he’s using booze for his fix.”

That does it, I reach for my phone and dial Athena. I tell her to come to the parking lot and not even two minutes later, they come around the corner and park next to Atlas’s car. When they see the boys, I literally watch as they look around for Atlas. When they get out, the boys explain what happened. Apollo is shaking his head while Athena tells the boys that she’ll drive her son’s car, but the boys are coming back to the ranch with her. I know what I have to do now. I say goodbye and tell the boys I’ll see them later.

Before I can change my mind, I start to drive to Atlas’s house. I’m so pissed at him for so many reasons that by the time I get to his block, I’m ready to beat him silly. His boys need him, and here he is drowning his feelings and letting them see him like that. Running up the front stairs, I pound on the door. At first nothing, then I can hear him muttering. When he unlocks and pulls the door open, I push on it so it swings with him holding on, so it takes him off guard. I push past him and once in the house, I put my hands on my hips. He glares at me.

“What the hell, Rebel? Why are you here?”

“Well, to start, Atlas, to tell you what a total fucking asshole you are. While you’re drinking your problems away, they couldn’t handle it any more so your boys took a chance and Konstantin drove to meet me at the therapy session. I don’t know what’s going on with you because, just like a man, you’re not talking or sharing. I’m so pissed at you because you are acting like an idiot. Those boys love you and you’re pushing them away. Why… because your ex-wife who abused drugs was found dead? That’s not their fault, but I wonder if you even care. I thought we had something but the first time life kicks us, you just fall flat on your face. Well, have a good life, Atlas. I’m not going to be that woman who keeps reaching out to a man who can’t figure out what he wants or how to handle life’s bumps in the road. I’m so sorry that happened to Mindy, but for God’s sake, Atlas, you were divorced and she didn’t even come to see her boys. I don’t understand and I’m done waiting for you to explain. The boys are with your parents, so take tonight and figure out what your next steps are for your boys. Try and put them first.”

With that I turn and walk out, and he doesn’t come after me. I make it to my cage before the tears start to fall. Not sure how I make it to my bestie’s house, but so glad I do. When I ring the doorbell, expecting Taz or Enforcer, it’s Teddy who flings the door open with Enforcer screaming at him to wait. When he looks up at me and sees I’m crying, he latches on to my legs. That’s how Enforcer finds us, me on the front porch, Teddy hanging on to my legs, both of us crying.

“What in the ever-lovin f?—”

“Travis, mouth.”

That brings a smile to my face as the big badass Enforcer is cut off at the knees by a rainbow-haired woman. When she seesme, she moves quickly, giving baby Mickie to her father, and pulling Teddy and me in.

“Travis, honey, take the kids and give me a minute, please.”

Enforcer reaches down and somehow, with little Mickie in his arms, picks up Teddy too. He leans into me and I brace.

“Just say the word and I swear to Christ, Rebel, I’ll rip him apart with my bare hands. If this is how he treats ya, you deserve better, babe.”

I go to thank Enforcer but Teddy cuts me off.

“Like Dad said, Auntie Rebel. I’ll go with and help Dad rip him apart. One question, who are we ripping apart and why?”

Taz tries so hard not to laugh, well, until she snorts then laughs. Enforcer shakes his head as he walks away, trying to explain to Teddy what he was talking about without telling him the truth. My bestie is watching me, and before I know it, I’m in her arms crying my eyes out.I’m lucky because Taz always has my back, I think as she is talking about her crystals and sending negative vibes toward Atlas, but not at his kids. By the time we’ve gone through two bottles of wine, Enforcer has to help me to their guest room so I can pass out on their spare bed.

My head is pounding and my bladder is ready to burst. It takes me a moment to realize I’m at Taz’s in one of her guest bedrooms. Shit, can’t remember much, damn her and her wine. I go into the smaller en suite and pee. Then I throw some water on my face. Back in the room, on the nightstand, there is a bottle of water, saltine crackers, and two, I’m guessing Tylenol. Swallowing the pills down, I drink a few extra sips. Then I grab one saltine and slowly nibble on it. I grab my phone to check the time and see I have fourteen missed calls and squinting myeyes, no way, five voice messages. I put the phone down without listening to any of the messages. I’ll get to them when my head isn’t pounding. Next time I wake up is to loud voices screaming. I get out of bed, opening the door, just as lil’ Mickie starts screaming. Walking down to the master suite, I knock just as Taz flings the door open. Damn, she’s a sight, as from the way she looks she’s feeling the wine too.

“Well, Rebel, seems like my son called Stefanos to tell him his dad is a big jerk. When asked why, Teddy laid it out—so from what I’ve heard so far is—Konstantin called his dad to tell him he’s a fucking screwup and he was gonna lose you. During this Thanos was so upset he had an anxiety attack. So Atlas thought it was a great idea to drive the car he bought for Konstantin as a surprise out here after he’d been drinking. Knowing he would probably take the chance to drive out to the ranch after they spoke, Atlas told his dad the car was dropped off, Apollo worried not only about Atlas but everyone on the roads. So he put a call to Sheriff George so Atlas got pulled over. Maybe you might do me a favor and go talk to your man.”

I nod, she turns, slamming the door closed, so I move toward the family room where I find Enforcer and Noodles trying to get Atlas’s shoes off. The one part of the sectional is made up like a bed. When Enforcer sees me, he shakes his head. This man has been so cool, can’t let him try and fix this shit. By the time I get Noodles to leave and Enforcer to bed, Atlas has passed out. Being so tired, I sit down on one of the recliners with one of Taz’s blankets she knitted. I must have fallen asleep because I wake up to someone kind of shaking me. Opening my eyes, I see Atlas scrunched down and looking like total shit.

“Son of a bitch, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. Everything hit me at once with my parents, the boys, and where their heads are, and then Mindy, which again brings me to worry about the boys.Honestly, don’t know what I’m doing or why. One thing I know is, I can’t lose you. Don’t think I can make it without you.”

I’m listening to him but not sure how we can fix this between us. I need to trust the man in my life to have enough faith in me to tell me when he’s drowning or having issues with shit happening in his life. When he reaches for me and I push him out of the way and get up from the recliner, he frowns at me.

“What, you don’t want me to touch you, Rebel? Am I too late, because I never meant to hurt you. My boys are pissed and said until I make things right with you, they are going to stay with their grandparents. So tell me what to do to fix this between us.”

I take a few minutes to think about the question he just asked. I don’t want to lose him or the boys because I love them. I also don’t want him to think it’s okay to treat me like he did. So I do what I think is the best.

“Atlas, you can’t treat me like you did ever again. Besides that, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m still drunk so, get some sleep, we’ll talk in the morning.”

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