Page 9 of Rebel

“Holy fuck, this is beyond good. I can’t remember when I ate anything so good. How does the cook make this, Rebel?”

Konstantin is staring at me. It hits me that this poor kid is diabetic. I know for a fact Cook doesn’t use sugar because her momma has the same condition. I don’t know what or how she does it, but it’s the best pie I’ve ever had.

“Konstantin, I’m not sure but I’ll ask Cook. Figure it out with your dad, and we’ll schedule a day of lessons for you from Cook.Her momma has diabetes and she makes all kinds of food that tastes better than anything I’ve ever eaten. You good with that?”

He’s nodding and grinning, so guess I did the right thing. When Atlas leans into me that tells me I’m right. By the time we finish our pieces of pie, I give a look to Heartbreaker to hand me the check as I’ll take care of it. Especially since Atlas probably saved that man’s life and the club another lawsuit. When I make the check mark action, she shakes her head then chuckles before she smiles and walks our way. So, when Atlas asks her for the check, she smiles at him then shifts her head my way. The look in his eyes immediately heats up my girlie garden. I can feel my nipples hard against my bra. Somehow, he knows because the grin he gives me actually has my entire body trembling. With a look. I’m so screwed it isn’t funny.

“Rebel, when I have dinner with a woman, I pay the bill. That’s my dominant side. So how much is it?”

I grin as my panties get wetter. Two can play that game.

“Well, Atlas, when someone saves a person’s life in my restaurant, I pay the bill. So we can argue all night, but your boys need to get home. Let’s agree that instead of fighting about a dinner check, we just make sure we have another one and you can pay that bill. Deal?”

I put my hand out, thinking he’d take it and shake. No, not him. Instead, he gently takes my hand and brings it to his mouth, placing a kiss on the top of it. When I feel the heat of his tongue, I flood my panties. Damn him. And he knows it because he lets go and tells the boys to get ready to go. Then he looks at me and with a deep gruff in his voice he tells me the two of us are going to dinner, I just need to pick a date. He tells me he’ll text his schedule over so I know when he’s available. Then he stands and starts to put his coat on. When I get up, he looks for my coat, I guess.

“I didn’t bring one, Atlas. Just this.” And I point to my kutte.

He takes his coat off and starts to fuss with it. When I see what he’s doing, I take a small step back. He’s separating his coat and when he’s done, he holds the fleece part. He puts the windbreaker on his chair. Then he motions for me to turn around. I do and he helps me into his coat. His smell and heat is surrounding me and, for some reason, I feel safe again. The boys come to me one by one, saying goodbye. Thanos gives me a young boy hug and tells me he’s definitely coming for movie night. Then he surprises me by asking what kind of flower Heartbreaker likes.Well, we have a crush,I think to myself. I think for a second then tell him not sure on her favorite flower but when I’ve seen her with flowers, they are always colorful. Stefanos stands a bit away and says goodbye, which makes me think he may be on the spectrum. I mean, we have Teddy in our lives and after all these years can recognize the signs. I’ve come to kind of understand the condition. Finally Konstantin is in front of me. For some reason he looks so innocent, I just have to pull him in for a hug. He returns it then pulls back. Not sure why, but I ask him for his phone, which he immediately gives me.

“Konstantin, if you ever need something or someone, here’s my number. I know your grown but with your dad and his schedule, don’t want you three to feel like you have no one. I enjoyed spending the night with y’all.”

I’ve never seen a teenage boy look so lost for a quick second before that wall comes up. Yeah, this kid has some issues. He looks me straight in the eye and softly tells me thanks. When he reaches down and squeezes my hand, I know it was the right thing to do. The boys start toward the front of the restaurant side. Atlas puts his hands on my shoulders and squeezes.

“Damn it, Rebel, with one meal you’ve captured three of the four Giannopoulos men’s hearts. And the only reason you didn’t get Stefanos is because my boy might not understand hisemotions. Thanks for tonight, it was very interesting. Now I’m gonna kiss you, Rebel, so tell me no before I do.”

I hold my tongue and, man, Atlas does kiss me. When he turns to catch up to his boys, I have to grab on to the chair to stay standing. Feeling someone behind me, I turn and almost scream when I see Shadow’s face right there. When she grins, it’s actually even scarier. Knowing it is coming, I just impatiently wait. She doesn’t disappoint.

“So what did I just walk in on? Rebel, you of all the sisters, I’m pleasantly surprised. From what I hear, a doctor and not just anyone, but the one who delivered our little Mickie. Not bad, sister, not bad at all. Even so, just so you know, I’ll make some time to have a conversation with the Greek stud muffin. That’s when I can get to know him. Sister, I will always have your back, never doubt that. If you two start this, don’t forget those three kids. You won’t just be dating the stud muffin, you’ll be taking on that entire family, and my gut is telling me there’s a story and it ain’t a pretty one. Oh, loved the video, though, sister, in front of the kiddos? Not cool. Gotta say, and don’t ever tell Panther I said this, but you did good. Real good.”

I can’t help it, before I know it, I’m laughing so hard I’m bent over. Shadow’s also sniggering but, by the look on her face I see this woman will protect me, no matter what. To her utter surprise and mine, I hug her, saying thanks softly in her ear. She then shocks me when her arms go around me and she tells me you’re welcome. My God, I think Shadow and I just had a moment. One for the books.

FIVE

‘REBEL’

MYA

My head is killing me but my responsibilities as S-a-A are knocking on my door, so to speak. So, after putting in a couple of hours at the Handmaidens Fitness & Holistic Center, instead of doing what I want, which is taking some Advil or Tylenol and lying down in bed with ice on my neck and head ’til the pounding stops, I’m at the clubhouse, at my desk, struggling to even look at emails, let alone the mail sitting on the edge of my desk. When I hear my cell phone ringing, I reach into my back pocket and pull it out.

“Hello.”

“Rebel, is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Who is this?”

As I wait for the person to identify themselves, I fight through my head pain and the light bulb goes off.

“Konstantin, what’s wrong?”

I hear what sounds like sniffling then a cough.

“I’m in the principal’s office and can’t get ahold of Dad. He might be in surgery or something, but his phone keeps going to voicemail. Can you come to the high school? Please?”

Hearing the desperation in his voice, I’m out of my chair before my brain neurons can even heat up. I grab my kutteand am moving quickly down the hall, not paying attention and plowing into someone big and hard. Looking way up, I see I’ve connected with Avalanche and Panther is behind him. It’s the man in front of me who keeps my attention, though gotta say Shadow’s man is definitely hawt. And not something I’ll ever be mentioning to her. Feeling big hands on my arms, my mind goes back to Avalanche.

“Rebel, you okay, little sister?”

That right there is why I finally accepted that no matter what kind of feelings I had for Avalanche, he would only see me as his kid sister. Trying to remember his question, it dawns on me that they are both staring at me, worry on each of their faces.

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