Page 65 of Tempted to Rebel

Not just the four of us, but thefiveof us.

With both Rebel and Rage’s help, I stand up and wrap my arms around Thanatos’ shoulders, lifting up onto my tiptoes to press a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for the apology.”

Hesitantly, he returns the embrace, holding onto me as though I’m made of glass. Only after I don’t immediately let go does he relax, sighing into my hair as he engulfs my body in his.

I don’t know what the future holds for us, but no matter what happens next, we have one more fierce fighter willing to protect this family at all costs. I never imagined finding hope for the future within the bratva, of all places, especially after my father died, but I’m starting to realize that life with these battered, brutal men might be where I’ve always belonged.

Chapter 24

Rebel

Once Rageand Thanatos finally leave, I enlist Ruin’s help in cleaning up the broken glass in the entryway. Neither of us talk about where the vase came from or who brought it inside Celia’s house. But if I know my younger brother like I think I do, he’s thinking about it just as much as I am.

There was very little that survived the house fire that tore our family apart. My brothers and I made it, obviously, but not only did our mom perish in the flames, so did all of our belongings. Not that we had much to lose to begin with, but that stupid fucking vase—the one Dad filled with flowers any time he sobered up enough to suck up to our mom—somehow emerged unscathed.

It’s a sick fucking joke that it’s still covered in ash like the fire happened only yesterday, but what’s even more fucked up is that it reappeared at all.

Dad brought Mom flowers the day she died, and the sick fuck decided to do the same to Celia the day he tried to abduct her.

I can’t wait to gut the bastard.

Glancing over my shoulder at Celia, I find her perched on the couch watching me and Ruin clean up. She’s sipping on one of those sparkling waters bougie girls love and idly wiggling hertoes on the coffee table. “You good, baby?” I ask, handing Ruin the dust pan. She hasn’t said a word since Rage and Thanatos left, stuck in her head with whatever’s on her mind. Ruin, similarly, is quiet as a mouse, focusing on the task at hand.

Man,fuckthis.

I toss the broom to the floor and hop over the last pile of glass shards to get to Celia. She looks up only when I’m standing directly in front of her. “C’mon, let’s get out of here. Rage doesn’t have to know.”

Celia purses her lips. “He put a tracker in my phone, Rebel.”

“So leave it here.” I pluck the cell phone from her lap and toss it onto the couch beside her. “He’ll never know you’re gone. It’ll be just like last time.” Then, I snap the heart-shaped collar from her neck and drop it onto the coffee table.

Let’s see Rage find usnow.

Celia’s eyebrows knit together. “But the last time he followed us, he showed up right when we were—” Her pupils dilate as the tiniest, little breath catches in her throat.

I can’t help but grin at my horny girl. “That’s right, baby, you gave him quite a show.” Licking my lips, I rub my palms up her thighs. She has the softest skin. Warm and pliant and so fucking sexy?—

An ear-shattering ringtone, some kind of popular pop song, pierces the air as Celia’s cell phone comes to life. She jumps a solid inch off the couch, but I clamp down on her knees to keep her still. “Go out with me. On a real date this time.”

The little wrinkle on her forehead drives me crazy. She’s overthinking things again. “But Rage told me not to leave the house. He says it isn’t safe.”

I click my tongue against my teeth. Such a goody-two-shoes. It’s fucking adorable. I gesture for Ruin to come over and join the convo, hoping that he’ll say something to convince her to go out with me.

With us. Whatever. He can come, too, as long as he stays in the car.

“Pleaaase,” I beg, giving her my best pout. It’s been years since I’ve had to literally beg for a girl’s attention, but thankfully, I’m cute as fuck, and Celia loves me.

My heart kicks into overdrive, revving up every part of my body like an engine. Damn, damn, damn, do I like the sound of that.

Celia loves me.

I repeat the phrase in my head, going over how nice it will be to hear her say those words out loud, while she checks her phone.

I love you, Rebel.

Stay with me, baby.

Please fuck me.

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