Page 179 of Remorseless

“Yep.” She smacked her lips and threw a smirk over her shoulder. She looked at CJ again and raised her cell phone. “I didn’t answer him. Before I call him back, I want to make sure he isn’t calling me because you ordered him to.”

“He’s a fucking emo fuckhead,” Diesel said flatly.

Rory took a drag of the cigarette he’d just lit and released the smoke. “Not a real one. More of an eboy.”

“He still isn’t good enough for Rebel,” Diesel said.

“Oho, famous last words, huh, fuck face?” she said.

Diesel glared at the back of her head. “We agreed to be friends.”

“That comes with caveats.”

“Too late. Negotiations are closed, Rebel.”

“Fuck you. You can’t fucking disparage my boyfriends or dates.”

“That goes against the rules of friendship and big brothering.”

“You know what else goes against the rules of friendship andlittle sistering?You. You can’t fucking dictate my life when you’d never listen to a thing I have to say aboutyours.”

“You’re so fucking frustrating.”

“Quid pro quo,” she replied.

Diesel wasn’t winning this one and he knew it judging by the putrid look on his face.

“Are you two fucking finished?”

“I’m going fuck my night away,” Diesel said viciously, “so, yes, I’m done.”

Ryan was going fucking soft because healmostfelt sorry for the way Rebel’s eyes brimmed with tears.

“I’m going to call Kaia,” she said shakily. “See what’s up with him. I’ve signed up forMyLOLand gotten some matches.”

“What?”

Although CJ looked ready to kick Diesel’s ass when Rebel looked ready to cry, his outrage joined Diesel’s to chorus the question.

“Does Dad know you’ve joined a dating app?” CJ demanded.

“No,” she said defiantly. “Neither does Momma.”

“It’s for thirteen- to nineteen year olds, Reb,” Rory said, finished with his cigarette.

Ryan didn’t notice where he’d put it out at.

“That, uh, what’s wrong with Kaia again?”

“Rebel thinks I’ve interfered in some way,” CJ said.

“He hasn’t called me in days. He ghosted me.”

“Why don’t you just call and hear him out, Reb?”CJ suggested.

Grant nodded. “If you like him as much as you say, just listen to his explanation.”

“He promised to take me out.”