Page 59 of Hell on Wheels
Archie doesn’t know shit because he’s too busy being the big star.
My lips curve up as I let the cleaners in. Rebel hired this crew of pixies when we all moved in and it keeps us from having fights over who loaded the dishwasher. I think it’s a bit lazy, but none of the others seem bothered by it. Pausing to tell them thepreviously empty master bedroom is being used now, I head to the kitchen to get a coffee.
Rogue is standing next to the island in tiny boy shorts and a tank, her hair piled on her head in a messy set of space buns. “There you are. Angelo went to meet with your dad for lunch, Archie went to practice, and Reb said he had ‘things’ to do.”
I arch a brow. “And Javier?”
She chuckles as she hands me a coffee as well. “He said we need supplies, so he’s gone to the grocery.”
“They left us to our devices while they went out to handle shit, huh?” She grins at me, and I chuckle softly.
Rogue is getting ready to test me; I feel it coming.
“They did. What did you have in mind?”
Our girl pretends to look offended for a few seconds, then gives up the ghost. “Aw, shit. I can’t evenpretendto be innocent to get what I want. Look, D, I want to go to the rink and stretch my legs.”
“But we have?—”
“I know we do, Damon. But I want to be inmyspace for a little bit. You guys can’t keep me locked up here until the Apalachin. I won’t let the Stuhlls and Mina force me to be a prisoner.” Rogue sits her cup down, walking over to me with pleading eyes. “You can come with me and I’ll make sure the rink is clear before we go in. Please.”
Fuck. How am I supposed to argue with that?
Giving her a stern expression, I reach out and run my fingers along her jaw. “Promise to listen. Angelo and Rebel will skin me alive if you get hurt again and Javier will watch with glee.”
Her face lights up as she throws her arms around me and squeezes tightly. “Thank you.”
As much as I love her gratitude, I hope I will not regret this.
***
She didn’t go full gear, but watching Rogue glide around the circle, I realize how cathartic this is for her. The past few days have taken away her control—something Rebel’s sister values more than anything since she moved out of her parents’ house a few years ago. Graciella and Odhran were tough on her… much tougher than they ever were on him. Her mother demanded perfection in every aspect of her life, and Rogue did her best to give the woman the middle finger constantly.
But on the boards, she’s graceful and fierce—in control of every movement.
“Looking good, Kelly,” I call out as she skates past me backwards, blowing kisses as she goes. “I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave.”
“Cheesy asshole,” she calls over her shoulder as she spins around to face forward before picking up speed. As she gains momentum, she uses a crossover to turn backwards again, then rexes her way around the outside loop.
“Maybe, but you skate better than most of the people on your team,zuccherino. You could do solo dance or jam skating if you wanted.”
Sue me, I studied up on this shit when she joined the team. I told you we were obsessed.
“No thanks. I enjoy kicking people’s asses more than getting gussied up and making graceful arm positions,” she snorts as she comes closer. Her eyes dance as she does a quick, one leg twist, then jumps to land on the other foot in a salchow. “Doesn’t mean I don’t learn to do anything and everything that might give me an advantage when we play.”
“What the goddamnhellare you two doing here?!”
I blink, my head whipping around to glare at the person who interrupted our quiet moment. My hands clench and I grit my jaw when I see the woman who helped beat down Rogue sneaking in from the back exit. Fury flares in my veins, creating a deep need to unleash my brand of hellfire on her. My eyes cut to Rogue, watching her spin around and use a T-stop to skid over to me.
“Mina, you’re no longer welcome at this rink. Get the fuck out of here before I call the cops,” Rogue says as she squares her shoulders.
“Like you’re going to stop me? My followers willburyyou. They’ll destroy your reputation, paint you as a psycho, and then ruin your career—all because I say so.” Mina smirks at me, her expression ugly in a way she never lets the public see. “I made sure people knew you were using me and my fame, so I left our team to keep you from sponging off of me forever. You’re a talentless peon, Kelly.”
A low growl echoes in my throat as I stand, my tail whipping behind me. “Careful, Mina. If you’re truly spreading those lies far and wide, my father’s legal team will dine on your bones foran appetizer. I don’t care if you show the world a pretty face and look like a ghoul inside—but your fans will.”
She laughs, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re not even the scary Gemini, little D. My reputation online is so perfectly crafted that you cantryto expose me, but it won’t work. I’m too good at what I do and the girl you have no chance with over there is a chubby, unpopular loser who was only good at pumping up my platform. Now that I’m a headliner, she’s just dead weight.”
This chick is so delusional that I have no clue where to begin.