Renegade Hearts (Rebels of Sandland 1)

“Kian’s covering the decks for me. He knows his stuff.” Zak shrugged and closed the door behind him, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. “So, what’s the deal? What’s going on?”

“Little Winters, that’s what’s going on,” Brandon said, smirking right at me as he answered Zak.

“Yeah, I spotted her and her friends earlier. How the fuck did they get in here? I thought we’d shut that shit down a long time ago. Do you think we’ve got a mole?”

“What, a mole giving away our coordinates? Nah, I think they got lucky. It’s her birthday today. She probably got the deets from someone else,” I said, and Brandon’s eyes bugged out of his head.

“And you know this how?” Brandon said, narrowing his eyes at me in an accusatory glare.

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“Danny. He told me. It’s just a date I remembered. It’s the same as my grandma’s birthday.” It wasn’t, but I wasn’t gonna tell him that. The less he knew, the better.

“Get her a card, did you?” Brandon laughed.

“Fuck you.”

“Are you pussy-whipped for this chick, Ry?” Brandon was really trying to push my buttons. He loved getting a rise out of me. Dude always had my back, but he’d fuck around with the best of them to get me riled up.

“Am I fuck. I wanna destroy her and her fucked-up family, probably more than any one of you. It’s about time the Winters house of shitty cards came tumbling the fuck down. He’s got away with it for far too long.”

“So, what do you suggest?” Zak looked between the two of us. I knew he’d be down with anything we decided to do. He always was. “Should I go get Finn, you know, group meeting and all?”

“We don’t need Finn to make this official. You wanna fuck shit up, Ry? She’s the key. Get in with the daughter and get the answers we need. We know what’s gone down, but we gotta get the evidence if we really wanna destroy him. Zak’s hacking has only gotten us so far. We need more. That’s where she comes in. Or are you too smitten to break her delicate, fragile little heart?” He fake pouted at me and sensing the change in the mood of the room, Zak pushed away from the wall and stood in-between us. He knew when shit was about to go off, and like a pro, he knew how to diffuse the bomb we were capable of setting off.

“Do I look like a pussy to you, Brandon? Do you think I can’t do this?”

Come at me, fucker. I dare ya.

“I think I’d do a better job than you.” He looked me up and down, but I shook my head and laughed. I wasn’t taking his bait. Not yet.

“Like fuck you will. I’m running this show. You’ll get your chance, mate. But not with Emily. Stay away from her and let me do my thing.”

“That’s a shame. I was looking forward to breaking in little Winters.” He grabbed his crotch and groaned, and that was my cue. I couldn’t stop myself. I flew across the room and grabbed Brandon up out of his chair. Zak stood to the side of us, ready to intervene, but he didn’t need to worry. I still had my shit together. Just.

“That pleasure will be all mine, mate.” I gave his cheek a playful, but not so friendly slap. “You just need to sit tight and wait for me to deliver the goods. I’ll leave the mother for you if you’re that desperate to tap some Winters’ ass though. Or maybe you can really fuck with Daddy Winters? If that’s your thing.” I shrugged, knowing my comment would get to him.

Brandon pushed me off, flaring his nostrils at my insinuating that he’d go anywhere near her fucked-up father. He was a depraved sod at times, but even he had a line he’d never cross.

Hoping to steer the conversation down a less confrontational path to stop us butting horns, Zak piped up, “Do you really think she’d go for you?”

We both turned to face him, giving him a ‘What the fuck, dude,’ expression.

“Of course she’ll go for him,” Brandon answered for me. “Girl could barely breathe when he was whispering to her earlier. She’s a woman, isn’t she?”

“Barely. She’s only just turned eighteen and she’s Danny’s sister. Don’t you think that’s kind of fucked-up?” I knew where Zak was coming from. Danny had been a friend to all of us. There was a time when I’d have called him one of my best friends. But he was part of the reason we were doing this. There was no room for sentiment or second guessing, not now. A job needed doing, and I was the best, damn it, the only man to do it.

“She’s collateral damage. She’ll get over it.” Brandon was good at staying focused. I knew I’d have to use some of his steadfast determination to keep my head in the game though. I had to bring Winters down. Whether that meant father and daughter remained to be seen, but I couldn’t lose sight of the end goal.

I couldn’t deny Emily Winters had always held a fascination for me. She was the ultimate forbidden fruit. The M.P’s daughter, friend’s little sister, always perfectly turned out and so fucking pretty you couldn’t help but stare if she came into a room. Worse thing was, she didn’t even know it. She was like bloody kryptonite to me, and sometimes, when no one was watching, I saw her. I mean, really saw her. The girl who hated the restrictions put upon her by her family. The rebel who wanted to break free. The little hellcat that I knew she could be. Nobody had ever intrigued me like she did. Nobody held my attention like Emily Winters, and that’s what made her dangerous.

“She might get over it, but will he?” Zak said, nodding to me. Guy could read me like a book sometimes.

“Oh, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.” I gave Zak a reassuring pat on the back. “I’ll worm my way in, get what I need and get out. No harm done. Not for me, anyway.”

“I hope you’re right about that,” Zak said, then shook his head at us both before walking out of the room.

Brandon and I looked at each other.