Page 154 of Restless
Rebel tossed a swath of hair over her shoulder, drawing the attention of more than a few of the younger Dwellers. Still grown ass men. Not that she paid attention. She was focused on their little brother. “I haven’t done anything, Axel,” she said, frowning.
“We strike you before you get us,” he said.
Drawn into a conversation with Zephyr and Billy, Dad kept one eye on CJ, Rebel, and Axel.
Considering the words, Rebel pursed her lips, then nodded. “If I drag you out of your bed and hang you by your toes out of the window, remember your logic.”
“Yeah?” Axel yelled. “If I die, I will haunt you to death!”
“To bring me in the afterlife with you?” she asked. “You know I’d fuck you up for the rest of eternity?”
Axel’s lower lip trembled, and he glanced at CJ.
He shrugged. “Fuck with her at your own risk, big head,” he said.
“Dad?” Rule called, walking back into the hallway.
All Dad’s animation fled, and he turned to Rule, staring at him with a mixture of panic and expectation. “What, son? Your ma okay?”
CJ knew his father wasn’t completely back to normal and added that to the list of shit flung today.
“Mom’s fine,” Rule said gently. “I’ve prayed, and I was told she’ll be fine.”
CJ exchanged a frown with Rebel. Seeing Axel’s sudden fear, he placed his hands on his little brother’s skinny shoulders and gave him a reassuring squeeze.
“She isn’t ready to leave yet,” Rule continued. “There was an error with her paperwork. She said it’ll be at least another hour.”
“I want to see Mom,” Axel said.
Rule held out his hand. “Come on. I’ll take you.”
“Uh—”
Ignoring Axel’s hesitation, Rebel shoved him toward Rule. “He won’t burn you at the stake unless he finds just cause.”
Axel burst into tears.
At Rule and Dad’s combined glare, Rebel shrugged.
“Youlook like Joan of Arc,” Rule said with a sniff.
CJ frowned at him. “Are you implying Rebel should be burned at the fucking stake?” he asked, appalled.
Rebel lifted a brow. “And you, my twin, remind me of Rasputin. Ya wanna know what happened to him?”
“Bothof you shut the fuck up,” Dad warned, hoisting Axel into his arms since the little motherfucker continued to wail. “Ain’t interested in hearin’ about Medieval martyrs and mad monks.”
“Oh my god, Axel,” Rebel groaned. “Shut the fuck up. Your little bitch screams are giving me a major fucking headache.”
“Don’t ever have children, Reb,” CJ grumbled.
Snickers arose amongst the guys. Considering there were at least twenty Dwellers there, the silence didn’t help CJ’s mood. Half the guys staring at him, Dad, Rule, Axel, andespeciallyRebel, were between five and ten years older than CJ.
“I want to check on Molly, Dad. Is that okay while we wait for Mom’s discharge papers?”
Rebel held up her phone. “Lolly’s downstairs in the ER with Harley.”
“Mort on the way,” Dad announced. He’d called Uncle Mort before they left the school. “You can go and check on Molly, son.”
