All Chapters of REBEL IN MY HEART : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CHAPTER 12‎‎For a second, I honestly forgot how to breathe.‎‎The figure across the street didn’t move. He didn’t wave, didn’t call my name, didn’t turn away. Just stood there like a shadow glued to the pavement. A silhouette. Still. Watching.‎‎My pulse kicked up so hard I felt it in my teeth.‎‎“Nope,” I whispered to myself. “Nope nope nope.”‎‎I turned away from the street, gripping my phone so tight my fingers ached. The cold air bit into my arms. I didn’t know if the shaking was because of fear or the cheap wine or just… everything.‎‎I needed to get inside. Somewhere with people. Somewhere loud. Somewhere NOT in the open with creepy messages popping up like horror movie scripts.‎‎I rushed back into the bar, pushing through the heavy door. The music slammed into me like a slap too loud, too messy, too everything but right now, it was better than silence. Better than that street. Better than being alone.‎‎My mind buzzed with panic and adrenaline. I kept replaying the mes

‎CHAPTER 14‎‎For a moment I couldn’t move.‎I couldn’t talk.‎I couldn’t even blink properly.‎‎The shadow across the parking lot slid back behind a car like it had never been there. Like I imagined it. Like my mind was making up monsters because the night wasn’t dramatic enough already.‎‎But I wasn’t imagining it.‎‎I knew it.‎Zayden knew it.‎‎His entire body shifted the second he saw my expression the tightness in his shoulders sharpening, eyes narrowing like the whole world was a puzzle he needed to solve right now.‎‎“Vivienne,” he said, stepping closer. “What did they say?”‎‎I backed up without meaning to. Just one step. But enough for him to notice.‎‎“They said I picked the wrong protector,” I whispered.‎‎His jaw clenched hard. A flash of something raw crossed his face anger, maybe. Fear, maybe. Concern he would never admit to in a million years.‎‎“They’re watching,” I added quietly. “Right now.”‎‎His head turned fast, scanning the parking lot again, eyes slic

‎‎For a moment, my brain did that static thing like it just unplugged itself because it couldn’t handle one more plot twist tonight.‎‎Derek outside my window.‎My father’s head of security behind him.‎Both of them looking like they were expecting bullets to rain from the sky.‎‎And me?‎Sitting in a stupid car with a dying engine and mascara smudged like I’d wrestled a raccoon.‎‎Perfect.‎Absolutely perfect.‎‎“Vivienne, open the door!” Derek hissed, banging once, too loud. “Please.”‎‎The man behind him,Marco, my father’s chief of security stood rigid, scanning the street like a sniper was about to jump out from a trash can.‎‎“Miss Hart,” Marco said, voice calm in a way that wasn’t calming at all. “We need you out of the car.”‎‎“No,” I said automatically, shaking my head. “Nope. Absolutely not. I don’t trust anybody right now. Not even myself.”‎‎Marco stepped closer. “Miss”‎‎“Don’t you ‘Miss’ me!” I snapped. “Why are YOU here? Why are you with HIM? Why does everybody

‎‎I didn’t scream.‎I didn’t cry.‎I didn’t even curse, which honestly shocked me because right then I deserved a full orchestra of swear words.‎‎I just stood there.‎‎Staring at the glove like it was a snake that might strike if I blinked wrong.‎My breath sat locked under my ribs, refusing to move.‎‎“You chose the wrong side.”‎‎My fingers tingled.‎My chest felt too tight.‎My mind felt like a balloon about to pop.‎‎I dropped the glove into the trunk and slammed it shut so hard the entire car shook.‎‎Nope.‎Nope.‎No more.‎If life wanted to play horror movie with me, it needed to pick someone else.‎‎I dragged my suitcase to the back seat, shoved it in, and got into the driver’s seat. My hands were shaking so badly I had to grip the steering wheel with both hands just to keep myself from falling apart.‎‎I didn’t even look back at the house.‎I just drove.‎‎The gate opened automatically, which made me wonder if someone was watching from inside Dad, security, maybe e

‎‎For a moment, nobody in the warehouse breathed.‎‎Not Zayden.‎Not the club members.‎Not even the neon lights buzzing overhead.‎‎It was like the entire building froze the second the words left the boss’s mouth:‎‎“They know who her father is.”‎‎Zayden’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle in his cheek twitched barely, but enough for Diego and Kris to exchange a look.‎‎Because that twitch?‎That was the closest thing to panic Zayden ever showed.‎‎“Who sent the picture?” Zayden asked, voice low and steady. Too steady. The kind of steady that only comes when someone is one second away from doing something reckless.‎‎The boss tucked the phone away. “Not them directly. Through a third party.”‎‎“Which third party?” Kris asked, leaning forward like gossip was oxygen.‎‎The boss ignored him. His eyes stayed glued on Zayden.‎‎“They’re playing games now,” he said. “And they’re not subtle about it. They want you to know they’re watching you… and her.”‎‎Zayden’s fingers curled ar