“Are we in the fucking Middle Ages, Rebel?” he yelled, losing his patience. “We’re very much in the modern era and in our time, grown fucking men don’t marry children.”
 
 “I’m not a child!”
 
 “You’re not a fucking woman.FUCK!You’re not even sixteen. That would be a little better. Slightly more palatable. I’d still go to fucking jail if Uncle Christopher didn’t kill me first, but at fucking least you wouldn’t be…you wouldn’t be…” He didn’t even know what to say anymore.
 
 She shoved him. “I don’t want Jana to move in here. Or in the treehouse. And the only reason Kaia was allowed to move in was to block him from getting to know me. You’re all playing with my life—”
 
 “What fucking life? Shopping and school and make-up?”
 
 “I hate you,” she cried. “Whose fault is it that I don’t have friends outside of my cousins? Whose fault is it that I don’t go to the movies or to get a hamburger or to a festival oranywherewith Kaia?”
 
 “Why Kaia?”
 
 “That should be obvious, genius. I like him. We’re supposed to be going steady.”
 
 Diesel clenched his jaw so he wouldn’t tell Rebel about Fia and Kaia. “You can’t go fucking steady with anyone. You’re too young.”
 
 “Fuck you, hypocrite. You’re just like that man.I’mtoo young? What about Devon, Rory, and Rule? Yet, you motherfuckers encouraged them to sleep with the club girls. What about Ryan and Fia? CJ and Ember LeBan…?”
 
 Diesel clapped a hand over Rebel’s mouth, afraid Aunt Meggie would overhear. “Shut your fucking mouth,” he warned, low.
 
 She stomped his foot. Thankfully, he wore boots, and she was in her bare feet. Angry with her, he grabbed her and shook her.
 
 “Behave,” he warned through gritted teeth, concerned at the mutinous look in her eyes. “You’re too fucking spoiled for your own fucking good, Rebel.Behave, goddamn you.”
 
 Slowly, her muscles relaxed and she nodded.
 
 “I’m releasing you. Step aside so I can pass by. Do you understand me?”
 
 Her eyes glittering, she licked her lips and ran her finger down his chest. If he released her arms, he wasn’t sure what the fuck she’d do. She cocked her head to the side.
 
 “Do you know I’ve paid attention to how the club girls talk to the bikers?”
 
 He shoved her away, then stooped to get his bag. By the time he stood, she’d blocked him. The hallway was much bigger thanthe space in her room when she’d cornered him there. But each time he moved, she did as well.
 
 “For all that’s fucking holy, Rebel,stop.”
 
 Instead, she pressed herself against him. Cursing under his breath, he turned his head.
 
 “You’re trying to get me fucking killed. You know there are cameras.”
 
 “Yeah, because that man’s as much a misogynist as you.”
 
 “Stop calling him that!”
 
 “He isn’t a woman, so what do you want me to call him?”
 
 “Your father. Daddy.”
 
 “Can I call you ‘daddy’? Won’t that mean you have to spank me since I’m being such a bad girl? I promise I’ll just bend over so you’ll only see my bare bottom.”
 
 Images of her body, so perfect and beautiful, rose in Diesel’s head and his cock roared to life. His nuts throbbed and he felt a little dizzy.
 
 Breathing heavily, he met her triumphant gaze, and he fucking hated her.
 
 “Are you proud of yourself?” he demanded, unable to keep the fury out of his voice.
 
 “Exceedingly.”