Page 41 of Rebel
“Youtold them?” Raven’s brow lifts.
She didn’t know. Well, maybe I can play that to my advantage. No, I can’t, it isn’t right using Raven for information. And she is far too astute. I explain to her what happened last night, and her face grows more concerned with every piece of information.
“I’m pretty sure you know I can’t talk about it. All I can say is, if Rebel was concerned, it’s genuine. Walking you back across the street drives that home even harder.”
“I was the one who told them, and then I was…” I trail off. Through the reflection in the mirror behind the bar, I notice two men enter the room through the rear hallway.
“Don’t ask questions,” Raven says, leaving no room for argument.
Rebel gives me a cursory once over, which makes me feel about two inches tall, then indicates for his sister to move down the bar. I try not to, I do, but it’s hard when Raven is whisper-arguing with her brother, who is growing more exasperated with every sentence they exchange.
The guy behind Rebel is on his phone. He’s tall with black hair and a serious face. There are dark circles under his eyes, as if he hasn’t slept. I wonder if any of them did.
“Fine.”
“Raven.”
Rebel’s voice is loud enough to carry down the bar, but not so loud he is yelling at her. He may as well have been from the tone.
“Just do it.”
“I said fine, but this can’t go on too long.”
“It goes on as long as it needs to.”
Rebel glances in the mirror, and our eyes meet in the reflection. He also looks tired and very pissed off. It’s not at his sister. Whatever is going on, it’s got them all on edge.
“What am I supposed to do?” Raven draws his attention away from me.
He walks toward me, stopping right beside me, too close to be normal, that smell envelops me, bringing back memories I’d rather not remember.
Raven is watching until the other man diverts her attention, and she glares at him too, then walks out from behind the bar and heads over to a table of patrons. I watch her, ignoring Rebel as the people get up to leave.
I have to tilt my head to look up at Rebel, he is so tall, even with me sitting on this high stool.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“The bar is closing, go home.”
“You have a bad habit of telling me what to do, River.”
His jaw twitches at my use of his real name, I should thank Raven for that. It’s kind of nice getting one over on him when he’s being all high and mighty.
And bossy. Which doesn’t sit well with me.
“Maybe I’ll hang around, I can’t paint because of the weather. Raven is at a loss with the bar closing, we could get to know one another better.”
“If you want to get anything out of my sister, you’re gonna be disappointed.”
“Who says I need to get anything out of your sister that I can’t get out of you?”
It’s all bravado, but he doesn’t need to know that. As much as he will never admit it, his eyes darken, and not angrily, in a way that makes me want to fan my face.
“I can do research myself,” I tip up my glass and swallow the last of the tequila.
“Stay out of this,” he leans in closer, his breath warm against my cheek, because I’ve yet to turn back and look at him.
“Has Nero spoken to my cousin yet?”
