Page 154 of Ice Princess

The line connects.

“What?” Uncle Stewart grunts.

“Where are you?” I growl. “We need to talk.Now.”

CHAPTER

FORTY-FIVE

GUNNER

The Present

The moment RebelHart bursts into my uncle’s office in her pink mechanic jumper, an unsettled feeling lands in my stomach.

I rushed over here to protect her.

But the optics…

Will she jump to conclusions and assume I’ve been plotting with Uncle Stewart against her and the garage?

The fire in Rebel’s eyes blazes brighter when she looks at me and the knot in my gut twists even more.

“Rebel.” Uncle Stewart’s lips curl up in a menacing smile. “I heard there was trouble today. Everything alright?”

I press my lips together as my gaze sweeps to the floor.

“You know…” Uncle Stewart hisses, “the inspector is a really close friend of mine. Icouldbe convinced to talk to him on your behalf.”

Rebel makes a disgusted sound. “I doubt you’d be so generous as to offer that for free.”

“My terms are simple. Call off Chance McLanely’s lawyers and I’ll make all the bad things…” Uncle Stewart waves both hands, “poof. Go away.”

The old man looks back at me, his smile tinged with victory.

Bad things will happen…

I realize that whatever he’s doing to attack The Pink Garage isn’t only to put Rebel and April in their places. It’s also a warning for me.

And it’s a warning I hear loud and clear.

Rebel advances, nostrils flaring. “Listen here, Stewart Kinsey, because I’m only going to say this once.” Her hair bounces against her back and the sparkly clip she keeps at the front slides down to her ears. “You made a big mistake going after my garage and my people. I planned to leave you alone because I thought you were pathetic enough without any help from us…”

Uncle Stewart’s mouth slacks. “Pathetic?”

“… but now I don’t have a shred of care left.” Rebel points at him. “I’m coming for you, Kinsey. So sit back and enjoy. I’ll show you why you were right to be scared of us.”

Uncle Stewart charges to his feet and lurches forward threateningly.

I’m on the move in the blink of an eye. Standing so fast the chair I was sitting in topples over, I take big strides until I’m standing in front of Rebel. My expression darkens with a menacing scowl. I silently dare my uncle to take a step toward her.

He comes to a screeching halt, amusement glinting in his eyes.

I hope he’s not assuming that I wouldn’t hurt him.

I wouldn’twantto.

But I also won’t allow one hair on Rebel’s head to be harmed. Not on my watch.

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