Rebel Soul: (Rebel Series Book 1) ((Rebel Series))

by J. C. Hannigan

  “Should have known I’d find you at the bar.” I turned my head at the sound of the voice, watching warily as Gordon and Tommy Armstrong approached.

  Tommy cracked his knuckles and Gordon looked every bit as pissed off as he’d been the day he found Tessa at my place.

  “I don’t have time for this right now,” I said through bared teeth. I opened the passenger side door, shoving Braden in.

  “Sorry, bud, but we can’t have this chat on your schedule. That’s not exactly how this kind of thing works.” Gordon laughed darkly, shaking his head.

  Rage bubbled just beneath the surface, threatening to consume me. I clenched my knuckles so tightly that they turned white and protested the strain. I fought to draw in each breath slowly, accenting my anger without speaking.

  “You need to back off, man,” I warned.

  Tommy stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. “Is that a threat?” he challenged. Almost every muscle in my body was tense with the need to unleash the anger I felt at these two idiots. I wanted to knock the smug look off Tommy’s face. I knew I could easily take both of them. But I also knew that if I so much as lifted a finger, I’d be back in jail and I didn’t want to risk my freedom over their prejudice.

  “No, I’m not threatening you,” I said with disgust. “I’m telling you to back off. If Tessa wants to be with me and I want to be with her, nothing you say or do is going to change that. You’re just going to push her further away. Do you want that? Do you want her to end up hating you guys? Because she’s close, man. She’s close.” I said this last part to Gordon, looking at him to drive home my words.

  He watched me as I spoke, his lips pressed into a thin line. Tommy took my words as an insult and attempted to lunge at me. Gordon’s arm shot out, stopping his brother. His brows furrowed and he shook his head.

  I relaxed, exhaling the breath I’d been holding.

  “If you’re serious about Tessa, you need to prove your worth,” Gordon said, looking back at me.

  “I know that,” I replied, scowling. “And I plan on doing just that. But like I said, now is not a good time.” I walked around the front of my truck, opening the door.

  * * *

  We arrived early at the funeral home for the wake. Becky thought it was important that we all get a little time alone with her before it began.

  Mom was lying in a beautiful, mahogany, open casket. Originally, she’d picked out the most basic one, the cheapest. The first thing I’d done upon seeing it was ask the funeral home if it was too late to upgrade. They’d willingly taken my money, of course.

  Someone had done her hair and makeup, giving false colour to her face, and they’d somehow managed to make her hair appear healthy and shiny. She looked almost like she had the last time I’d seen her, before the judge sentenced me and before she’d gotten sick.

  I couldn’t help but think that she looked a lot like a figure from a wax museum.

  A warm, slender hand found its way into mine and I turned, catching Tessa’s solemn eyes looking back at me. She didn’t say anything; she didn’t need to. The fact that she was here was enough.

  The wake passed in a blur. We stood near the front of the room, forming a receiving line to greet guests. Tessa was at the end of the line, holding my right hand. Becky stood beside me, with Aiden between us. Aiden grasped tightly to his mother’s hand as he solemnly watched the events around him with wide eyes. Braden stood beside Becky, sending dark, reproachful looks at everyone, likely feeling the same anger I felt, while Elle quietly stood beside him with her right arm linked in his.

  This was the part I hated. I hated talking to people I didn’t know, acting like they cared. Maybe they did, but none of my mother’s co-workers were there when she was sick, or even before. I doubted she had any meaningful relationships with any of them, and their words of practiced condolences pissed me off. I couldn’t help but feel like they were there to get the afternoon off work, as harsh as it was.

  My theory was hard to debunk as they sat on the couches in clusters, showing absolutely no remorse as they gossiped. Braden’s jaw was clenched tightly and he occasionally glowered at them, his blue eyes dark with rage. I knew he was hanging onto his temper by a sliver and likely the only thing stopping him from going overboard was Elle. I was thankful she was here, thankful that my brother had someone to lean on. He needed it. Out of all of us, he’d taken Mom’s death the hardest.

  Tessa still stood by my side, mostly because I hadn’t let go of her hand the entire time. Her hand grounded me. Her hand kept me from focusing on the complicated emotions roaring through my mind, from the anger that surged over the amount of faceless people proclaiming to be sorry for our loss.

  “Are you okay?” Tessa whispered, squeezing my hand gently.

  I looked down at her, forcing a smile. “I’m fine,” I said, and I found it was true when I looked into those amber eyes. She gave me a small smile.

  “Becky, I’m so sorry for your loss,” a woman’s voice said, drawing both of our attention to the left where my sister stood. Becky hugged the speaker, a massively pregnant woman with auburn hair and sad, gentle brown eyes. The woman stood beside a tall man that I immediately recognized as Tessa’s oldest brother, Ben. He’d changed a lot since the last time I’d seen him, but it was still obvious that he was an Armstrong.

  “Thanks, Katie,” Becky said, releasing the woman. Her eyes drifted down to her pregnant belly. “May I?” she asked with a smile.

  “Of course!” Katie said, gently taking Becky’s hand and placing it on her swollen stomach. Becky closed her eyes, the smallest of smiles lifting her lips upwards. When she opened them again, they were watery with unshed tears.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, drawing in a shaky breath. “It’s so nice to have this reminder of new life.” She swallowed hard. “Congratulations. You two will be remarkable parents.”

  “Thank you.” Katie smiled, moving on to me, Ben trailing alongside of her after shaking Becky’s hand briefly. Katie’s eyes drifted to Tessa’s hand in mine before she raised them again. “Brock, I’m sorry to be meeting you under such circumstances,” she said before she reached out and hugged me too.

  I’d never hugged a pregnant woman before. It was rather awkward and I was completely shocked that she even made the move. When she released me, all I could do was blink at her while Tessa smiled gently at my side. “I’m sorry for your loss,” Katie told me with a sad smile. “But I hope you’ll come around soon for dinner. You’re welcome at our home any time.” She looked at her husband.

  Ben nodded, extending a large hand to me. “Good seeing you again, Brock. Treat her good,” he added as I shook his hand, bewildered.

  “Of course,” I said, my brows slightly furrowing at their reaction.

  Katie and Ben moved on to hug Tessa and exchange words with Braden and Elle before they left. I loved that they didn’t linger. They paid their respects and they left to allow room for others to do the same.

  I thought that would be the most surprising event of the night, but I was corrected several moments later when Gordon, Tommy, Grady and Travis walked in through the doors. They made their way over to us, solemn looks on their faces.

  The younger Armstrong brothers didn’t have a flicker of the anger and contempt their expressions held two nights ago outside of O’Rileys. In fact, they looked apologetic and ashamed.

  Gordon extended his hand to me and then pulled me to him for a hug, causing Tessa’s hand to fall free of mine. He clapped my back and pulled away. “I’m sorry about your loss, man. I wish you’d told me…”

  “It’s fine,” I brushed off his apology, not wanting to make a scene or have Tessa realize what had almost transpired outside of the local bar. Grady, Tommy, and Travis all shook my hand and gave me what Becky had affectionately nicknamed “bro hugs”. It was the same gesture that Gordon had done; the handshake turned hug with a firm clap on the back.

  “Feel like coming out for drinks tonight?” Gordon asked, h
is eyes drifting to Tessa briefly as I reached for her hand again. He looked at Becky and Braden, nodding to extend his invitation to them too.

  “I’m game,” Braden said, earning a pinched look from Elle, which he promptly ignored. I knew I’d be going now regardless to keep an eye on my self-destructive brother.

  Travis was eyeing Becky appreciatively as if he really wanted her to say yes, earning a narrow glare from me. He grinned, raising his hands in apology. My sister seemed oblivious to his attention, though. “I can’t,” she said, glancing down at Aiden, who was peering out around her leg at the people gathered around him. The charming smile fell from Travis’s lips and a look of disappointment crossed his features.

  “I’ll watch him if you want to go, Becky,” Tessa offered, smiling gently. “You need to get out of the house for a bit.”

  I squeezed her hand, thanking her silently for her offer. She was right, Becky did need to get out of the house. Since I’d been back, I hadn’t seen her leave the house once for fun. Any time she was gone, it was to work or attend a class. The last few days had been hard on her. She’d been dealing with Aiden’s emotions over losing his grandma as well as her own grief. She could use a break.

  “I don’t know.” Becky frowned, uncertain.

  “No need to decide now,” Gordon assured her. “We’ll be at O’Riley’s at nine. If we see you, we see you. If not, we get it.”

  * * *

  “This is a bad idea,” Becky murmured later on that night as we walked into O’Riley’s pub. It was crowded, full of familiar faces. I spotted Gordon, Grady, and Travis hanging out at the bar along with Tommy, Ezra, and Peter. Braden made a beeline for his friends without a single glance at either of us. Becky’s brow furrowed with concern as she watched him go. “I’m worried about him,” she told me, nodding at our younger brother.

  I watched as Braden ordered a beer, a small bubble of relief blossoming to see that he hadn’t headed straight for the hard liquor. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”

  Becky sent me a disbelieving glance. “I’m worried about you too.”

  “Don’t.” I frowned. My friends caught sight of us and waved. Gordon and Travis walked up to meet us in the middle of the room.

  “Glad you could make it.” Gordon said, his words sincere.

  “What’s your poison?” Travis spoke to both of us, but his eyes were mostly focused on Becky. He gave her his classic flirtatious smile, the same one I’d seen him wearing when he was dancing with Tessa a few weeks back.

  “Oh, I don’t know…” Becky blushed, looking away. “I haven’t had anything to drink in a long time.”

  “You look like a Sex on the Beach kind of girl.” Travis grinned. I smacked him upside the head and he laughed. “I’m just saying, something fruity and tasty. I didn’t name the damn drink,” he added, shrugging at me apologetically.

  Becky gave me a warning look before she turned her attention back to Travis. “That sounds good actually. I’d love to have Sex on the Beach,” she said, driving her point home as she accepted his outstretched arm. He led her over to the bar so they could order her drink.

  “Not so fun when your buddy hits on your sister, huh?” Gordon joked, seeing the look on my face.

  “Considering that buddy was all up on Tessa a couple weeks ago, yeah. Not so fun,” I replied with a frown. “Becky doesn’t need a player right now.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Gordon waved away my concern with a tight smile. “You never know, he might be good for her.”

  “This coming from you?” I arched a brow pointedly, referring to his dislike over me being with Tessa.

  “Hey, at least he’s a loaded country singer.” Gordon winked and shoved my shoulder to show he was joking. “I’m sorry, man. I was just looking out for Tessa.”

  “I know.” I said, relating to Gordon more than I cared to admit as I watched Travis hit on Becky.

  “How about that drink, then? Looks like your brother’s already started the fun,” he remarked, looking back at the bar where Braden was currently doing shots with two girls I recognized as friends of Elle and Tessa. Both Elle and Tessa were back at the house, babysitting Aiden.

  I got the sense that Becky was right; this was a bad idea.

  “Fine.” I sighed, heading to the bar.

  I nursed my first beer for the next three hours, keeping a wary eye on my siblings. Becky was busy talking to Travis in a booth. She sat across from him and he never made a move on her aside from giving her his full attention, so I let it be, my eyes focused mainly on my younger brother. Braden had taken so many shots that I’d lost count. He was hitting on the blonde girl, playing with a strand of her hair with one hand while the other rested on her upper thigh. She bit her lip, looking at him through thick lashes as she said something.

  I frowned, thinking about Elle and wondering what in the hell my brother was thinking. I set my beer down just as his lips grazed against hers. By the time I reached them, they were heavily making out. I yanked on Braden’s arm, pulling him away from the girl. “Alright, you’ve had enough. Time to go,” I told him sternly.

  Braden looked at me with disgust, red lipstick on his lips. “What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not ready to go. ‘Least not with you,” he slurred, glancing back at the girl. “Hey, Joanna, wanna go back to your place?”

  “How about you go home to your girlfriend, Braden?” I suggested. The girl, Joanna, ducked her head shamefully.

  “I ain’t married to her,” Braden spat, angry. “I’ll do what I want.”

  Becky had watched the altercation happening by the bar. Judging by the pissed off look on her face when she approached, she’d seen Braden’s antics with the blonde girl. “Brock is right. We’re going. Now.” She grabbed one of Braden’s arms and tried to tug him away.

  Braden shoved her hard and she stumbled, almost falling. She would have landed on the floor if Travis didn’t catch her. “I’m not a kid. You can’t fucking tell me what to do,” he spat.

  Mick O’Riley limped around the bar. “Hit the road, Miller. You’re cut off,” he said gruffly, speaking to Braden.

  “Oh, you know how to cut people off, huh? Coulda fooled me,” Braden shot back. “Maybe you should have tried cutting my old man off so he wouldn’t come home and beat his family. But then how would your shitty bar stay open without his wallet, eh?”

  “Braden, you’re making no sense. Let’s just go,” Becky pleaded, sending an apologetic and embarrassed look to Mick. I didn’t wait for my brother to reply; I grabbed him by his shirt collar and dragged him out. I let him go once we were on the street.

  “Get in the fucking truck,” I growled when he went to argue with me. Although he was completely blitzed, Braden recognized something dangerous in my expression. I was livid and he knew not to push. Obediently, he crawled into the back seat of the cab. “And wipe the goddamn lipstick off your face,” I added once I climbed into the truck. I slammed the door hard. Becky climbed into the front passenger seat, shaking her head. She tossed me a look that said, I told you so. I said nothing as I stomped on the gas and tore down the street.

  Tessa

  “Why didn’t you just go with them?” I asked Elle. “You have a fake ID.” We were sitting on the couch watching some romantic comedy on television. Aiden had been sleeping for the past three hours; even Hunter was curled up at my feet fast asleep. There wasn’t any need for Elle to remain here, yet she did.

  She gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I figured you’d want some company,” she answered, bumping her shoulder into mine gently. “Besides, it seemed like something the three of them needed to do alone.”

  My eyebrows rose in disbelief. There was more to it; there were things that Elle wasn’t sharing. She stared at the television screen, avoiding meeting my eyes.

  “Elle…” I said, about to push her a little more. Hunter sat up abruptly, staring at the door. The sound of footfall on the front porch made his ears turn back. A moment later, the door
swung open and Becky walked in, holding it for Brock. He was half-carrying Braden.

  Elle and I stood up, making room so Brock could dump Braden’s almost unconscious body on the sofa.

  “Rough night?” Elle joked weakly, her shoulders slumping at the sight of him.

  Braden opened one eye and stared at her. “The fuck you doing here?” he slurred.

  “Is that…lipstick?” Elle leaned forward, spotting the smear of red against Braden’s lips. He brought his hand up, wiping his lips in a half assed attempt at removing the proof. I looked towards Brock and Becky for an explanation. The matching dismal expressions on their faces said it all. Elle saw too and tears welled up in her eyes. She took a shaky breath.

  The heartbreak was etched onto her face. Becky took a step towards her, but Elle backed away. “I’m just…I’m just going to go,” she said, her voice wavering with broken emotion. She wordlessly left, her eyes downcast and her shoulders trembling.

  “I’m going to go too,” I said, nodding to Elle’s retreating back. Brock nodded with understanding. His hand gripped mine as I passed and he gave it a gentle squeeze. The expression in his eyes was heavy with apology.

  “He’s hurting right now,” he said lowly. “It doesn’t make it right and I’m not saying it does. Elle deserves better than that,” he added, catching the furious look that passed across my face. It was clear that Brock didn’t agree with his brother’s actions either.

  “I know.” I sighed, biting my lip. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow, at the funeral.”

  Brock nodded and gently pressed his lips against my forehead, then he released my hand so I could follow my broken-hearted friend.