Page 61 of Rebel

“Chaos might come,” I said.“Possibly Azrael.”

I stood, and moved to the closet, pulling out my go-bag.Always packed.Always ready.Another habit learned young: be prepared to run at a moment’s notice.

Rio watched me.“We’re really doing this?”

I unzipped the bag, checked its contents.Extra ammo.First aid kit.Cash.Burner phones.“Like you said, Java would do the same for me.Yeah.We’re doing this.”

She nodded once, decision made.Moved toward the door, then paused with her hand on the knob.Turned back to me.“I’m with you until the end.No matter what happens.”

I crossed to her in three strides, stood close enough that she had to tilt her head to maintain eye contact.“You know if Charming finds out, I’m in not only for one hell of a monetary punishment, but possibly a beating.”

“Some risks are worth taking.”She reached up to touch my cheek, and I couldn’t hold back.

Leaning down, my lips brushed against hers.It was like striking a match in a room full of gasoline.One moment, just a simple touch of lips.The next, we were burning alive.

Rio’s hands were in my hair, gripping hard enough to hurt.I backed her against the wall, my body pressing into hers.She tasted like coffee and mint.Like salvation.

I broke away first.Rested my forehead against hers, breathing hard.“This is a bad idea.”

“Yeah.”Her voice was rough.“The worst.”

But neither of us moved.Her heart hammered against mine, our pulses racing in tandem.This wasn’t supposed to happen.Not right now anyway.Not with everything at stake.

“Java needs us,” I said, stepping back.The space between us felt like miles.“We can’t --”

“I know.”She straightened her shirt, cleared her throat.“We should call Chaos.See if he’s in.”

I nodded, grateful for the change of subject.“I should reach out to Azrael too.”

“Right.”

And yet neither of us moved.As much as I wanted to rush off to save Java, I had to wonder, could I really do any better than the entire club and the Bratva?I stared at Rio, my beautiful, fierce woman.Even though she was mine, we hadn’t done more than kiss.Java would give me shit if he knew.

“What if we’re making a mistake?”she asked.

I nodded.“Thinking the same thing.For one, we don’t know for sure that’s where he is.For another, how the hell are we supposed to pull off something the club and the Brava couldn’t?But we can let Charming know about our idea.”

She licked her lips.“So, text him.He’ll need time to look into it, right?”

“Yeah.Most likely have Shade check it out or send a recon team.”

She came closer, pressing against me.“Then, we have the rest of the night to ourselves.”

I swallowed hard.“Are you saying what I think you are?”

“I think I am.I know you won’t hurt me, Rebel.It’s time.”

I pressed my forehead to hers.“Call me Dixon.But only when we’re alone.”

She smiled a little.“Nice to meet you, Dixon.”

I picked up my phone and shot off a message to Charming about the old mill, then I took Rio by the hand and led her to the bedroom.

The bedroom was dark, just a sliver of moonlight cutting through a gap in the curtains.I fumbled for the lamp, but Rio caught my wrist.

“Leave it off,” she whispered.

I understood.Sometimes darkness made it easier to be vulnerable.I’d lived enough years to know that.

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