Page 45 of Rebel

That didn’t stop me from wanting revenge. If Rebel was right and River had been behind this, we couldn’t let him get away with it. My brother was not a pawn to be used in his sick game. Chase had nothing to do with the Kings or Venom. It wasn’t fair that someone had used him this way.

When my mom finally ran out of tears, she popped a couple painkillers for a headache and went to take a bath. Since tea wasn’t going to cut it for me, I went to Larry’s wine cabinet and helped myself.

I poured a large amount of white rum into a cup and drank it straight. The liquor scorched a fiery path down my esophagus, reminding me that I was alive. Reminding me that my brother wasn’t.

Larry stood outside in the yard with his phone pressed to his ear. Probably making arrangements for my brother’s funeral or talking to the cops about the case. Would they find anything helpful? Somehow, I doubted it.

As the evening went on, I continued to use alcohol as a way to numb out. Mom came back from her bath and eyed my drink like she wanted to tell me to go easy but ultimately decided there was no point. We all needed to find our own ways to cope with this.

“Should we order in for dinner tonight?” Mom asked. “I really don’t feel like cooking. Or eating.”

“No, Mom, don’t cook. Don’t make yourself do anything you’re not up to doing. You have to take care of yourself right now. Takeout is fine, although I’m not all that hungry either.” Since I was starting to feel more than a little drunk, I decided to cool it on the alcohol. I didn’t really know what to do with myself.

We agreed to order a family sized lasagna from one of our favorite restaurants. However, when it arrived, nobody had much of an appetite. All three of us picked at our lasagna, shoving it around our plates, not eating much.

Finally, I excused myself to my bedroom. I needed to be alone for a while. Mom gave me an especially tight hug before I headed upstairs, holding me like she didn’t want to ever let go. It broke my heart for her. As hard as this was for me, I knew it had to be so much worse for a mother to handle this kind of loss.

Upstairs in my bedroom, I went through the motions of taking a shower and removing my makeup before tying my hair in a loose braid. Unable to even consider sleep, I scrolled my phone absently, seeing nothing but random images that made no sense to the chaos in my brain.

After placing a box of tissue on my nightstand, I crawled under the blankets and tried to get comfortable. I glanced over at the balcony door, finding it unlocked. Just as I’d left it.

Would Rebel come tonight? I genuinely hoped so.

Burrowing under the blankets, I watched a show on my iPad. I couldn’t handle the silence right now. It was a sad attempt to occupy my thoughts that didn’t work.

At some point, I must have started to doze off. The sensation of strong arms sliding around me pulled me from sleep. Rebel tucked himself against me, pressing our bodies tight together.

“You came,” I said. “I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Did you want me to?” His voice was a soft murmur in my ear.

“I left the door unlocked, didn’t I?”

“I thought maybe you could use the company.” Rebel was quiet for a moment before whispering, “I’m so sorry, Storm. This is all my fault.”

Rolling over in his arms to face him, I studied him in the lamplight. “What are you talking about? How is it your fault?”

“It’s because of me that River targeted you. He knew that I’d laid some claim on you, and it encouraged him to make a move. If I hadn’t confronted him, if I hadn’t told him to stay away from you, he would’ve had no reason to go after Chase.”

I sucked in a shuddery breath. That may have been true. Rebel’s actions most likely did encourage River to make his move.

“River made his own decisions. What he did to Chase isn’t on you, Rebel. Someone else hurt my brother. You can’t blame yourself for that.” I stroked a hand through his hair, twisting a piece of the blonde streak between my fingertips.

Being there with him in such a moment of calm and reflection felt nice. It was a strange new dynamic between the two of us. I could get used to this, although I knew that might be incredibly dangerous. I worried that in the light of day, Rebel would change. He would go back to being the asshole he used to hide who he really was inside.

“I wouldn’t blame you if you held this against me. You have every right.” Rebel momentarily closed his eyes, enjoying my gentle touch.

Had he ever experienced genuine affection from someone outside his family? I somehow doubted it. Sliding my hand from his hair, I caressed his cheek. Then I pressed my lips to his.

“I don’t want to talk about this right now,” I said. “I just want to enjoy being with you.”

I kissed him again, needing the human contact. Needing him. He seemed to understand exactly what I desired. Kissing me back, he deepened the connection between us by sliding a hand into my hair, clutching the back of my head as he passionately devoured my mouth.

I didn’t want a wild animalistic encounter. I wanted something tender and meaningful. Could Rebel handle that?

He read my emotions, proving that he could be what I needed right then. His touch was firm and possessive, yet affectionate and inviting. Sliding a hand up my side, he cupped my breast, teasing the nipple into a taut point. I moaned softly into his mouth while treating myself to an exploration of his inked body.

Over the curves and planes of his chest, down to his perfectly defined abs. Then lower to the hard on I found in his shorts. Wrapping my hand around his shaft, I stroked him in slow but steady motions.

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