Page 31 of Rebel Revenge

In the doorway, War growled in Fang’s direction. “That better not have been at your hands, brother.”

Fang gave his prez a look that should have withered him on the spot.

It didn’t, but War put his hands up and backed right off. “Sorry, sorry. I had to ask. She’s my girl’s bestie. So there’s an unwritten rule that I watch out for her in the same way. They’re a package deal.”

Every muscle across Fang’s back was clenched tight beneath his pale, tattooed skin. “I’d never fucking hurt her. You ever say that to me again, and prez or not, you’ll wish you hadn’t.”

I gawked at Bliss. War was no slouch in the scary bad-boy department. I knew Fang respected War as a man, as well as his position. I’d never seen him be anything but one-hundred-percent loyal and respectful to War.

Yet now he was facing off with him.

Over me.

I didn’t know whether to be completely turned on or terrified.

“Should we get some Jell-O out for wrestling?” I joked, trying to lighten the mood. “Sorry, War, I got my money on Fang.”

No one laughed.

Bliss reached out and traced a featherlight stroke over the worst of the bruising on my cheek. “Oh, Rebel.” A tear rolled down her cheek, eventually dripping onto her shirt.

I shook my head violently. “Don’t do that. Please.”

“Okay. War told me about your mom…”

I pressed my fingernails into the palm of my hand, concentrating on that sting instead of the emotion welling inside me. “Shit happens, right?”

What else was there to say? If I said how I truly felt, I’d break down crying again and maybe never stop. I turned away, swinging my legs out of the bed only to realize I was still wearing Fang’s shirt and nothing else. I could practically feel Fang’s gaze on me, completely unrelenting.

“Can you take me home?” I whispered to Bliss.

“I can take you,” Fang said quickly.

I stared at Bliss, imploring her to understand without me having to spell it out.

That was the beauty of having a best friend. She got me without me even having to say anything.

“Of course I can.”

I stood, and she put her arm around my shoulders, guiding me out of the room.

“Pix…”

It was short for Pixie. Bliss had once described me as a coked-out fairy, and I’d kind of always enjoyed that description. It was accurate. I was a tiny woman who had ADHD, a loud voice, a big personality, and did everything impulsively at a million miles an hour. She was wrong about the coke, though. I never touched the stuff, because I didn’t need to. I lived in a permanently buzzed state naturally.

Nothing about me felt buzzed right now. He would have to change my nickname to swamp troll or something of the like. “Let me go, Fang.”

I saw the way my words affected him. He didn’t want to step aside, but he did, clearly hating every minute.

At the last second, I threw him a bone and linked my pinkie finger with his as I passed. “Thank you. For being there for me last night. When I needed you.”

He squeezed my finger but let me go.

At least for now.

Bliss guided me through the clubhouse, and I tried to ignore the shocked gasp that came from Queenie’s mouth when she saw my face.

She mouthed, “Are you okay?”

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