Page 15 of Rebel (The Royal Harlots MC #7)

He cleared his throat, stepping out onto the porch. “Jace,” he almost whispered.

His friend glanced over his shoulder, lips quirking like he already knew something was coming. “What’s up?” Jace asked.

“That’s part of the reason why we want to go back to Huntsville,” Rebel admitted. “I need to give a statement, and when the time comes, I want to testify against him to make sure that he stays in prison.”

Jace set his mug down on the railing, his jaw tightening. “And you think it’s safe?”

“No,” Bolt admitted. “But I think it’s time. I can’t keep Rebel locked up out here, waiting for the world to burn down around us. She deserves better. I want to give her a better life, Jace.”

Rebel touched her brother’s arm gently. “We both want that for each other, Jace,” she said. For a long stretch, Jace didn’t say anything. He just stared at them, then out at the trees again. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and rough. “I’m staying up here.”

Rebel’s eyes widened. “Jace, you can’t just hide away here forever. Take it from someone who thought that was a possibility, it’s not. Come back with us, please.”

“No.” He shook his head, meeting her gaze.

“You two go back. Do what you need to do. As for me, my head’s not clear yet.

There’s still work to be done, and I can’t drag you back into that mess.

I’d just put you both in more danger. The Dead Rabbits might have taken a loss, but they aren’t gone.

They’re going to come back swinging, and I’m the person that they’ll want to hurt the most.” Bolt studied him, that stubborn streak he’d seen a hundred times before flashing in Jace’s eyes.

There was no moving him once he’d made up his mind.

Then Jace’s expression softened. He looked between them, something unreadable in his eyes.

“And about you two,” he started, letting out a long breath, a crooked grin tugging at his lip.

“You’re right,” he breathed, “I’m not going to stand in your way to be together.

If you’re both happy, then I’m happy for you. ”

Rebel swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. “Jace—”

He held up a hand. “Don’t. You don’t need to say anything.

You’ve both had my back more times than I can count.

If Bolt’s the one who makes you feel safe and happy, then I’d be a real asshole to stand in the way of that.

” His grin grew, weak but genuine. “So, you’ve got my blessing.

Just don’t rub it in too much when I come around, yeah?

And try to keep all that mushy crap to a minimum around me, please. ”

The knot in Bolt’s chest loosened. He had no idea how badly he needed to hear those words from his best friend. He gave Jace a firm nod, words heavy in his throat. “Thank you, brother.”

Jace smirked, picking his coffee back up. “Don’t thank me. Just don’t fuck it up. Either of you.” Rebel laughed softly, leaning into Bolt’s side.

“I give you my word,” Bolt said. “I won’t fuck this up. But I need a promise from you,” he said.

“Name it,” Jace agreed.

“I’ll need you to come back to Huntsville when I marry your sister, to be my best man,” Bolt said.

He loved his friend’s instant smile. “I think that I can make you that promise,” Jace agreed.

“And I was hoping that you’d give me away,” Rebel added.

“Double duty,” Jace said. “Well, I'd better get a nephew named after me or something big like that,” he teased. Rebel rolled her eyes at her brother and giggled. And for the first time since they’d holed up in that cabin, Bolt felt like maybe, just maybe, they weren’t stealing moments anymore.

Maybe they were building something real.

Bolt’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary, the hum of the truck engine filling the quiet cab.

He kept one eye on the road, the other sneaking glances at Rebel beside him.

She stared out the window, jaw tight, fingers tapping restlessly against the glass.

He could feel the worry in her. It was the same worry that he felt about going back to Huntsville, back into a world that didn’t forgive mistakes.

Hell, mistakes would be what got them killed, and he couldn’t let that happen. He had too much at stake now.

He exhaled slowly. “We’ll be fine,” he muttered, not just to her but also to himself.

Even with Kirk behind bars, even with the FBI finally taking action against the Dead Rabbits, Bolt knew better than anyone that danger didn’t just disappear overnight.

And once he went back to work, he’d possibly be bringing danger home with him every night.

He had to be more careful now than ever.

Rebel pressed her forehead to the glass, silent. He could sense the storm inside her—the conflict between wanting safety and wanting to take back control of their lives. His phone buzzed, and Bolt answered immediately, keeping one hand on the wheel.

“Rebel,” Jace’s voice was tense, sharp, the protective edge that always surfaced when his sister was involved cutting through the static.

“I’ve been thinking. Kirk might be behind bars, but that doesn’t mean the threat’s over.

I’m not sure that it’s a good idea for you guys to go back to Huntsville.

We don’t know if the main guy’s been caught from the Dead Rabbits either.

” Bolt could tell that Jace was spiraling.

He was alone and thinking way too much about keeping them all safe when he should be concentrating on himself and his own safety.

Bolt felt her hand brush against his light but steady, and he intertwined his fingers with hers. “We’re not being reckless,” he said, voice low. “We’ll stay smart and keep a low profile. Rebel and I will be careful, and I won’t let anything or anyone touch her, man. We’ve gone over this before.”

There was a pause. Jace’s frustration was palpable, his worry radiating through the line.

“You don’t understand. Up here, it’s safe.

You don’t know what could happen if you go back.

The Bastards, and anyone connected with them, are all vulnerable.

” He was right, but between the Bastards and the Harlots, they had protection that they didn’t have while hiding away up at the cabin.

Bolt kept his eyes on the road, jaw tight. He’d heard it all before, the warnings, the worries, the overprotective fear—but this was different. Rebel had earned the right to choose what she wanted to do, and Bolt had earned the right to back her up, no matter what.

“We’ll take precautions,” he said firmly. “We’ll be smart. No unnecessary risks. And I’ve got her back, Jace. Every step of the way.” The silence that followed felt as thick as fog. He could hear Jace’s heavy breathing, the tension coiling tight in his chest even through the phone.

Finally, Jace muttered, “I don’t like it, but I’ll have to be okay with this. Just promise me you’ll be careful. And Bolt—”

Bolt’s eyes hardened, his voice low and steady.

“We know. We won’t fuck this up.” He ended the call, exhaling a long breath.

Rebel’s hand was still in his, warm and steady, a reminder that whatever chaos waited in Huntsville, they weren’t facing it alone.

He stole a glance at her, chest tightening at the worry in her eyes.

“You ready for this?” he asked quietly, almost more to himself than to her.

She nodded, just barely, and he could feel the determination beneath the nervous energy.

She was so much like her brother. Bolt tightened his grip on the wheel again, his body taut and alert.

Huntsville was waiting, and danger wasn’t done with them yet—but this time, they’d face it together.

The truck rolled down the familiar roads of Huntsville, and Bolt’s knuckles whitened around the steering wheel.

Even with Kirk behind bars and the Dead Rabbits’ organization crippled for the time being, every passing mile felt like walking into a hornet’s nest. His gaze flicked to Rebel beside him.

She was quieter than usual, chin resting on her hand, eyes distant.

“Talk to me,” he said quietly, though his tone carried an edge of warning. He didn’t like silence when it felt like tension coiled tight in the air.

She met his gaze. “I’ve been thinking,” she said slowly. “About what we can do about keeping Jace and the Bastards safe while we’re here.”

Bolt’s jaw tightened. “And?”

“I’ll join the Harlots,” she said, voice firm. His hands froze on the wheel.

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll be one of them,” she clarified. “It’s not just about me anymore. It’s about being part of the family, part of the protection, part of keeping us all safe. I can’t go back and hide in Minnesota forever, Bolt. If I’m going to be here, I might as well do something that helps.”

He exhaled slowly, trying to keep his head clear.

The Harlots were more than a club—they were influence, they were a network, they were women who understood survival in a world that had tried to break them.

But having Rebel in that mix, well, that was something else entirely.

It felt like something dangerous, something he couldn’t fully control.

“You know what that means,” he muttered, voice low. “More exposure. More risk. You’re putting yourself on the line every time you step inside their doors.”

“I know,” she said, resolute. “And I’m ready for it. I’m tired of hiding. If I’m going to be part of this life, I need to own it. And if it helps protect Jace and you, then it’s worth it.”

Bolt’s chest tightened at the conviction in her voice. He wanted to argue, to pull her back, to remind her that danger followed them like a shadow. But he also knew she was right. Hiding hadn’t saved anyone. Not him, not her, not Jace.

“Fine,” he muttered finally, jaw tight. “You do it on one condition.”

“Which is?” she asked.

“You stay close to me. I’m not letting anything happen to you,” Bolt growled.

Her lips curved into that stubborn, fiery little smirk he loved so much. “Deal.”

By the time they pulled into the parking lot at Savage Hell, the tension hadn’t left, but it had shifted.

It was no longer just pure fear. It was mixed with purpose.

Rebel was stepping fully into the world she’d been skirting around for months, and Bolt was going to be right there with her, every step, every risk.

He caught her glance as they walked toward the club, the streets already humming with life around them.

The Harlots waited inside, eyes curious, and looking her over as though they were measuring her, but she walked with her chin high.

Bolt knew she was already claiming her place in the club, and as much as he wanted to shield her from everything, he also knew there was no stopping her.

And as they stepped through those doors together, he made a silent promise to them both.

No matter what came next—stalkers, rival clubs, or the shadows still lingering, he’d keep her safe.

Even if it meant standing in the fire with her—he’d find a way to be by her side every step of the way.

He’d finally found the woman he was meant to be with—his Rebel, and he’d never let her go.

The End

What’s coming next from K.L. Ramsey? You won’t want to miss Ho-Ho Hell (Royal Harlots MC book 8-Not Your Typical Feel-Good Christmas Story!) is coming in December 2025!