Page 16 of Rebel

“No,” I said, the word tearing from my throat.“Don’t leave me alone.”

Rebel’s eyes softened for a fraction of a second before his cocky demeanor slipped back into place.“All right, sweetheart.You can come with me.But let me do the talking, yeah?”

I nodded again, letting him pull me to my feet.My legs felt steadier now, but the fear remained, coiled in my gut like a venomous snake.As we moved toward the door, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a window -- pale, disheveled, but standing.Still standing.

They hadn’t broken me.

I wouldn’t let them break me now.

“Um.Maybe I should change.And shower,” I murmured.

He nodded.“I’ll wait.Take your time.”

I turned and went back to the guest room, grabbing clean clothes, before heading for the hall bathroom.

* * *

The club’s common area was more like a war zone this early in the morning.The aftermath of last night’s party lay scattered everywhere.I even saw a thong hanging off the back of a chair.

I clutched my phone in my hand as Rebel guided me through the narrow space, his body a buffer between me and the few club members who were already up.Their gazes followed us -- curious, assessing, and in a few cases, suspicious.I wasn’t one of them.I was an outsider allowed here on Charming’s orders, nothing more.

“Wait here,” Rebel said, depositing me on a battered leather couch that had seen better days.

My hand shot out, grabbing his wrist.“No.”

His eyebrows rose, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before his usual cocky expression returned.“You got a death grip there, darlin’.Something you want to say?”

“I’m coming with you.”My voice sounded stronger than I felt, the words clipped and certain despite the chaos inside my head.

Rebel studied me for a long moment, his gaze unreadable.“Fine.But you stay quiet while I handle this.”

I nodded, releasing his wrist.

I followed him down a hall to some rooms at the back.We stopped outside what looked like an office.Rebel didn’t knock.He pushed the door open wider, revealing a cramped space dominated by a corkboard covered in photos, newspaper clippings, and handwritten notes connected by red string, as well as a desk with a computer and overflowing with papers.Charming sat behind the desk and another man, one I didn’t recognize, stood beside him.

“Got a situation,” Rebel announced without preamble.

Both men focused on us.The stranger -- tall, with a neck tattoo peeking above his collar -- gave me a once-over that made my skin crawl.Not lecherous, but calculating, like he was assessing a potential threat.I lifted my chin, refusing to be cowed.

“This is a private meeting,” the stranger said, his voice carrying the faint hint of an accent I couldn’t place.

“It’ll keep,” Charming responded, his eyes shifting between Rebel and me.“What’s the problem?”

Rebel jerked his head in my direction.“Show him.”

My hands trembled as I unlocked my phone and held it out to Charming, the damning message displayed on the screen.“I got this twenty minutes ago.”

Charming took the phone.His brow furrowed.“And what’s this about?”

I swallowed hard.“I was medically discharged from the Army, after two of the men in my unit drugged and raped me.”

His expression hardened as he read the text again.“Who sent this?”

“My old supervisor.He’s been keeping tabs on the case.”

“And you trust his information?”The stranger had moved closer, reading over Charming’s shoulder.

“Yes.”The response was automatic.He wouldn’t have warned me if he didn’t think they posed a real threat to me.

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