Page 39 of Rebel

“Showtime,” I muttered, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline flooding my system.

“Still time to turn back,” Rio said, though her tone made it clear she didn’t expect me to.“You could let me handle this alone.Less risk to the club.”

I shifted the SUV into drive, easing toward the exit.“Two years before I joined the Devil’s Boneyard, I was in a similar situation.Someone was gunning for me.A random stranger stood up for me when they didn’t have to.I’m just paying it forward.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t press for details.Instead, she checked her weapon one more time, the motion fluid and practiced.

“Then let’s make sure we’re both alive tomorrow to talk about it,” she said.

I nodded, pressing the accelerator as the back gate opened.The night swallowed us, the compound’s lights fading in the rearview mirror.Ahead, the road stretched dark and empty, but I knew better than to trust the apparent calm.

Behind us, I heard the first pop of gunfire, followed by shouts.The diversion had begun.

I pressed harder on the gas.“Hold on.This is where it gets interesting.”

Rio braced herself against the dashboard.For a moment, she looked young -- too young for the hell she’d been through.Then her expression hardened again, and I saw the fighter beneath the trauma.

“Just drive,” she said.“I’ve got your six.”

And just like that, we were committed, racing through the night with nothing but determination, weapons, and the distant backup of a motorcycle club who’d decided this was a battle worth fighting.

Sometimes, that was all you needed.

Chapter Nine

Rebel

The road stretched ahead, my hands steady on the wheel as the SUV ate up the miles.Nothing but darkness surrounded us.Rio sat beside me, her fingers tapping an impatient rhythm against the door handle.We were making good time to the safe house, until the comm crackled to life with news that changed everything.

“-- repeat, Viper and Phantom are down.”The voice broke through static, urgent and tight.“Hostiles have pulled back, but we need medical now.”

I adjusted the volume, keeping one eye on the winding road.Trees crowded in from both sides.

“Status on the wounded?”I asked.

“Alive.”The response was clipped.“Viper took a blade to the shoulder.Phantom caught a bullet in the thigh.We’ve got pressure on both, but it’s messy.”

Rio leaned forward, her blue eyes narrowed in the darkness.“Military or Moretti’s?”

“Not your guys,” came the quick response.

“Shit,” I muttered, easing off the gas as we approached a sharp curve.

“We’re securing the compound.Get to the safe house and stay put until we send the all-clear,” Charming said.

The comm went silent.I glanced at Rio, who was already shaking her head.

“No fucking way,” she said, her Georgia drawl thickening the way it always did when she was pissed.“We’re not running to safety while our people are bleeding.I knew injuries were likely to happen, and we could possibly have even lost people, but they need us.”

I didn’t answer right away.The safe house was the smart play.But the thought of Viper and Phantom wounded while we sat on our asses didn’t sit right.

“Rebel.”Rio’s voice cut through my thoughts.“They need us.”

I’d known Rio for such a short time, but in this life, I’d learned it didn’t matter how long you knew someone.Her presence had made me take immediate notice of her.But it was her loyalty that’d held my attention since then.It was evident in the way she talked to the club and the women, the way she seamlessly fit in, that she had our backs every bit as much as we had hers.That, and the fact that she didn’t take shit from anyone.Just like now.She’d rather head back and face the danger head on than run and hide.

“President’s orders were clear,” I said, testing her.“Safe house.”

“Fuck that noise.”She crossed her arms over her chest.“Since when do you follow orders without question?I’m assuming you got the name Rebel for a reason.Those are your brothers back there.”

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