A Rebel Love (Black Rebel Riders' MC Book 7) (18 page)

Christa

I have to admit, when I came to the Roadhouse I wasn’t expecting to feel so at home. I was prepared to be skeeved out. The rooms are clean and the bathroom is cleaner than mine at my grandparent’s house.

Kurt knocks on the bathroom door to loan me some clothes. I am embarrassed to say I hold the articles of clothing up to my nose and inhale his scent. But
damn
if he doesn’t smell good. When he carried me on his back, I wanted to bury my nose into his neck. He smells of a summer rain, light and refreshing. I had to make myself ride with my little brother instead of hopping on the back of Kurt’s motorcycle.

I feel drawn to him and it freaks me the
hell
out. He is
everything
I swore I didn’t want in a man. But when push came to shove he was there for me, even if Tread sent him, he didn’t have to do what he did. He didn’t have to shoot Perry for me.

No one has ever had my back like that.

I slip the white tank over my head and pull the sweatpants as tight as I can. Seeing my appearance in the mirror, I look like I have been starring as an extra in a horror film. My nose is swollen and my eyes are circled in black rings. A split lip, busted knuckles, and a cracked rib complete my injuries. The doctor on call wrote me a prescription for painkillers but I can’t get them filled until the pharmacy opens.

My body aches and pains, but I have no choice other than to grin and bear it. The dose of pain medication I received at the hospital wore off hours ago.

When I walk out of the bathroom Kurt is waiting for me. His dark hair shags around his eyes. His large fingers shift the stray strands back and his eyes dart to my chest. I glance down and my nipples are showing through the shirt he gave me. Heat flushes my cheeks spreading down my neck to my chest.

Instinctively I cover my breasts with my arms.

“Don’t do that,” he says tugging on my hands. “I like what I see.”

“Kurt,” I say with a laugh and pull away.

“Hey,” he tells me, touching my chin softly. “Bruises and all, you’re beautiful and I like looking at you.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“Let’s go eat. I need to go over the rules with your brother before he does something stupid,” he deflects letting our awkward moment pass and I’m thankful.

Downstairs is extremely quiet. “I know it’s early morning but I was expecting naked women to be all over the place performing sexual acts,” I observe.

“Sounds about right, but it was a long night. Give it till noon, then you’ll see the action.” He laughs, pulling out my chair. What a gentleman.

My brother is already digging into his food. This Lulu chick is rubbing his shoulders. I want to tell her not to touch him, but I won’t embarrass him, and he’s eighteen now. I know he is becoming a man. It’s just hard to see him grow up.

I’m going to tell him everything today. It’s past time he knows who he is. And seeing him here, it somehow feels right, as if he belongs here. I’m not sure how my mom will feel about it, but it’s not like she will want to see me after what happened with Perry.

JT said she was hysterical when he told her. Said she left the hospital, saying she didn’t believe him. She’s probably realized by now, that he is really dead, if she’s been to the house.

“JT, I need to talk to you about something important after we eat, yeah?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he says shoveling in another bite of eggs.

JT

This place is
awesome
! I’m in the real deal—a biker clubhouse.
Fuck yeah
! That bastard Perry is dead and this Kurt dude says I won’t be selling for Lenny anymore. Says I’m gonna become a
Potential
. Whatever that means.

Right now, I’m upstairs getting a talk from my sister. I’d like to go find that Lulu chick and take her up on her offer to help me get some sleep.

“JT! Are you even listening to me?” Her eyes narrow in on me. She is such a mom sometimes. Well, what a mom should be. I’ve never had one. Mine is a bitch who only cares about getting high with Perry. She won’t be doing that anymore now that he’s dead.

“I’m sorry sis, what were you saying?”

“I said your brother, your half-brother is the Vice President of this club and you’re going to meet him today.”

“
Shit
, are you saying Rebel Black is my brother?” She nods chewing on her lip. “
Hell yeah
! But my dad, he’s dead right?”

“Yeah, but that isn’t known. They just say he disappeared
and
it’s important that you stick to their truth, ya hear me?”

“Yeah, yeah I got it.” I roll my eyes.

“
Damn it JT
! This is
serious
. These people don’t mess around. I can’t protect you anymore. This is as far as I get to go in the matter.”

“Get off my back, I don’t need you to protect me. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“I know,” she says softly touching my shoulder and walking out the door.

I grab a quick shower and throw on the clothes Lulu gave me. Downstairs people are stirring.  Kurt told me to keep my nose clean and keep my head down.
Whatever
. I’m going to have a good time.

I’m shooting a game of pool when a blonde honey walks in with an old man. He seats her at the bar and tells her to wait for Sunshine.
Whoever
that is. He leaves her and follows more patched members down the back stairs.

Kurt took my sister to town to get her script filled and run errands. I’m on my own. I put my pool cue back on the rack and head over to the bar where that fine piece is sitting.

“Sup?”

She flips her hair and turns in the other direction.
Damn.
  She’s one of those girls huh? Thinks she is too good for me.

“What’s your story? You with that old dude or something?”

“Ewww that’s my dad.
Gross
!” She shrieks.

“This boy bothering you?” An older looking, dark-haired hateful sounding bitch asks.

“No, he’s okay Foxie. I’m just waiting for Sunshine and Jamie.” The woman nods and goes back to wiping the counter.

“Is Jamie your man?” I persist.

“He’s my brother. I don’t have a man.” She smiles softening a little.

“You want to play a game of pool?”

“I’m not supposed to talk to anyone.”

“Honey, I’m not just anyone, my name’s JT. This was my dad’s club. My brother runs shit now.”

“Sure he does.” She mockingly laughs.

“You calling me a liar?” 
Fuck her
, she doesn’t know
shit
. I roll my eyes with a sigh and start to get up.

“Hey, I was just giving you a rough time. Let’s play that game.” She grabs my hand with the sweetest touch. “How old are you anyway? You don’t have a cut.”

“Haven’t earned one yet. I’m eighteen. You?”

“Old enough,” she teases.

“
Fuck
, you’re underage aren’t ye?”

“I’m sixteen, so you can flirt with me. But if ye touch me, my daddy will shove his boot up your ass.” She smirks and winks at me.

I yank her blonde hair and she smacks my chest.

“You live around here?”

“We were staying out West in California, but I think we’re moving back.”

“What’s your story?”

I go into my spill about finding out just this morning that I’m Rebel’s half-brother.

“I can see the resemblance,” she tells me and points to a picture on the wall. My brother and his dad—
our
dad are standing side by side in front of the Roadhouse. A sense of pride washes over me—I
belong
here.

The woman behind the bar hears our conversation and joins us. “So you’re Slim and Cherry’s boy. I wasn’t sure if you’d ever turn up. I knew your momma. Slim was my old man.”

Oh shit! She’s probably going to tell me to get the hell out. I don’t want to leave. I like it here.

“Welcome home.” She hugs me and tells me her and my mom were friends. That’s fuckin weird but
whatever
. “Now I’m gonna need some help in the kitchen. The men are holding choir and when they get out they’re gonna be hungry.”

She shoves me and the blonde chick, I’ll keep calling her Honey, to the kitchen.

Dawn

Maybe coming back to Kentucky won’t be as bad as my dad makes it sound. This JT guy is hot in a bad boy way. His dirty blond hair is darker than mine. He’s tall and skinny, looking like a younger version of Rebel. That brother is fine. Maybe JT will start looking more like him. Strong muscles, tattoos…mhmmm. 

He thinks he is all smooth, trying to flirt and sweet talk me. I find it cute and endearing. He doesn’t realize I don’t need his lines. He thinks he’s a player, but I’m in charge. I know his kind—I am his kind.

My dad thinks I am all sweet and innocent because I follow his rules. My step-mom, Sunshine, took me to have me put on birth control a few years ago, once I started having my period and showing interest in boys. I eat guys like JT for breakfast. All dudes are the same, they say a few nice things, like
oh you have great hair or beautiful eyes
. I don’t fall for it because I make my own rules.

Girl meets boy and girl swoons. Nope, not me. Boy meets girl and boy eats out of her hand, that’s more my pace.  I grin behind the veil of my hair as this guy does all the work in the kitchen for me. I have run him to the cooler and back four times. He hangs on my every word.

Foxie winks at me. “Seems Sunshine’s teaching you well. She knows her way around good-looking men, I’ll give her that.”

And that is all Foxie will give. I’ve not been around her much, but if I know anything, it’s that that woman isn’t to be taken lightly. She says what she means and means what she says. I envy her. I want to be just like Foxie when I grow up. Grim thinks he runs shit, but Foxie is the real shot caller. Everyone knows it’s true but is smart enough not to say it.

JT is making eyes at me and I wink, egging him on. It’s too
damn easy
.

Foxie had to run up front and change the keg that’s on tap, leaving me
alone
with my bad boy.

“So Honey, what’s it gonna take for me to get a kiss?”

“When I decide if I think you’re man enough for me.” I smirk and he laughs. 

“So that’s how you want to play? I’m up for the chase.” He smacks my butt with a dishrag and I squeal, running towards the storage room.

I’m out of breath as I lean against the doorframe. JT stops in front of me with a wicked grin. “How about that kiss now?” He licks his lips and leans in close.

I wait until I can feel his breath on my face and then I shove his head back with my palm. “I don’t come hither that easy.” I dart back to the kitchen.

I keep waiting for JT to pop up behind me with a new line but he hasn’t.

If he has given up this quickly he isn’t worth the effort. I sling my blonde hair over my shoulder and try to ignore the fact that he hasn’t come back.

I peer through the order window and see that Foxie is still busy. I am about ready to give in when I feel his hot breath on my ear. “Your dad has big boots,” he whispers.

“Big boots!” I spin around. “What kind of line is that? Your idea of flirting is pitiful.” I mock with a fake laugh and he shuts my mouth with his lips.

The boy can kiss.  I’ll give him that much. He draws back and says, “Ye told me if I touched ye, your dad would shove his boot up my ass. What size do you think they are?”

And with those words I know JT is my kind of trouble.

Chapter 23

Sunshine

Pulling in at the Roadhouse I don’t want to get out of the car. Jamie already has his seatbelt off, darting out of his seat.

“Go find your sister,” I call after him but he’s long gone.

I check my makeup twice before resolving to go inside. I don’t know why I am so nervous.  I walk into the place I used to call home. The place I first laid eyes on Grim. It seems like that was a lifetime ago now. We didn’t have what it took to make it.

I don’t
hate
him
anymore
. It took me a while to realize that he wanted better for me than he could give. I didn’t like it, but what’s done is done. I’m with Romeo now and I love him. But even so it doesn’t make seeing Grim again any easier.

And my sweet Patrick, Romeo told me he was hurt, but he didn’t go into detail. I’m scared to see what kind of shape he’s in. All I know is it’s bad. He’s in intensive care in the burn unit.  I never wanted this for him, any of it. I would have stayed with Paul if I could’ve prevented his pain.