Revolt (Legends and Love)

“But I want nuggets,” I whine, pouting.

“No.” Raff sighs, his arms crossed as he stands before the car door.

I lean into a smirking Dal, his hand gripping my ass. He said it’s to catch me if I fall. He’s such a sweetie. Astro is in the passenger seat, smirking, and Cillian is waiting to see who wins.

“Raffy,” I whine.

I see him relax a little. “You don’t need nuggets. You need water and sleep.”

“You are so boring, isn’t he, Dal?” I blink up at him. “You’d let me have nuggets, right?”

“Absolutely.” He nods, making me point at Raff.

“See? It’s just you!” I shout, stumbling with a laugh.

The sun is coming up, and the party is still in full swing, but Raff declared that I had enough when I tried to ride an inflatable unicorn down the stairs. How boring. He flung me over his shoulder and set me down in front of the car. My head spun like a son of a bitch, and it’s his own fault that I threw up on his fancy, clean shoes—not that he seemed to care. He held my hair and rubbed my back, being all sweet, but now he’s denying me the golden goodness of chicken nuggets.

How dare he!

He smirks. “In the car, Miss Harrow.”

Groaning, I stumble past with Dal’s help.

“And to think I thought I was falling in love with you,” I slur as I smack his side. “I can’t love a nugget denier.”

“What?” he whispers, his eyes widening and his arms falling.

“You heard me.” I nod. “Nugget denier.” I hiccup and laugh. I’ll probably regret this tomorrow.

“You’re falling in love with me?” His whisper is quiet, and he stares at me for a moment before clearing his throat. “Astro, you drive. Take us to the nugget place.”

I’m barely in the back when Raff reaches over and buckles me in, his hand dragging along my chest. I gasp as desire hammers through me, but he seems oblivious as he commands Astro to drive. I almost fall into Cil’s lap with how fast he speeds away, and when I close my eyes, I must fall asleep because I wake up to a rough shake.

“Reign, you want nuggets, right? How many?” Grumbling, I open my eyes to see Raff staring at me. The bright lights of a drive-through shine into the back as he lowers his window. “Never mind.” He grins as he turns to face the menu.

“What can I get for you?” the tired voice asks through the speaker.

“Nuggets,” Raff replies.

“How many, sir?” the man asks in a monotone.

“We’ll have them all.”

“Uh, what?”

“All the nuggets you have. Baby, do you want anything else? A drink? A toy?” Raff questions, watching me hopefully.

“Ask for ice cream,” Cil whispers.

I grin. “Ice cream.”

“You got it, baby,” Raff says seriously. “And all your ice cream too.”

“Sir, it’s a machine, and the machine is broken,” the man comments.

“No, it’s not. Do not lie to me. My woman wants ice cream.”

“We don’t have any. Please come around to the window to pay.”

Grumbling, Astro pulls up to the window, and I watch as Raff leans out to the man.

“How much is it going to take to get an ice cream?” Raff growls.

The man’s eyes widen as Raff pulls out a stack of bills and starts handing them over. “Uh, that should do it. Do you want any sauce? You can have whatever you want,” the man squeaks, his eyes still on the bills.

“Baby?” Raff asks softly.

“Chocolate.” Cil coughs in my ear.

“Chocolate please.” I grin happily as Raff points at the man.

“You heard the woman, chocolate, and as many nuggets as you have. Here.” He hands over more bills. “If you have it done in under two minutes, you can have the rest.” Raff grins at me. “There we go.”

“You’re the best,” I say dreamily, snuggling into his side.

“So pussy whipped.” Astro grins, and I poke my tongue out at him. He returns the favor as we wait.

Not two minutes later, boxes and boxes of nuggets are handed over until they fill the back seat, and then an ice cream, dripping with chocolate sauce. Raff nods in approval and hands over the cash.

“I want one of those too.” Raff points at an advertisement for their kid’s meal that has a pink bracelet in it.

“You got it.” A moment later, the worker hands that over, and Raff grins, turning to me.

“Here you go, baby.”

Giggling, I rip open the packet and slide the cheap bracelet on.

“I love it. I’ll never take it off.” I hand the ice cream to Cil, and Astro pulls out of the drive-through.

“You little bastard,” Raff grumbles but watches me worriedly as I kick my feet happily, doing a little dance as I stuff nuggets into my mouth.

“Now you can fall in love with me,” Raff states as he hands me another sauce.

“Too late,” I mumble around a nugget, but I get distracted as Cil grabs one. “Hey, mine.”

“Babe, there are over thirty boxes here.”

Growling, I grab it from his hand and shove it into my mouth.

“Get your own, I don’t share food.” I huff, ignoring his laugh.

Once I’ve eaten all I can, I cuddle into Raff’s side, resting my head on his shoulder. His lips come down on my hair, and I hum happily in pure bliss—not too drunk and not too sober.

“Do you really love me, Reign Harrow?” he whispers, his heart racing. “If you do, tell me when you’re sober. Tell me every day because I love you too, a whole fucking lot. I know you’re super drunk right now, so first thing tomorrow morning, I will tell you. You can’t deny it or ignore it like we know you will. I love you, Reign, and I refuse to let another day go by without you knowing.”

“You’re a softie.” I giggle. “I knew it from the first moment I saw you. All big and brooding on the outside, but a softie inside, like an Oreo.”

Raff sighs. “I am not like an Oreo.”

“Oreo.” I nod. “It’s okay. I love Oreos.”

“And we are home.” Astro grins. “As amusing as this is—wait.”

“What is it?” Raff demands, on high alert. He pushes me back into the seat, buckling me up as Cil turns to block the door with his back, and Raff does the same to his. What the hell do they think is going to happen?

“The front guard is flagging us down. Shall I proceed or fall back and allow you to speak to them?” Astro asks, his voice the calmest I’ve ever heard it. It sobers me up quickly as I scan them.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

“Nothing, you’re safe,” Cil promises as Dal looks at Raff, and with a nod, he climbs out. The car locks immediately after he’s gone.

“He shouldn’t go alone!” I exclaim, leaning forward to see Dal approaching the guard. Cil tries to push me back but I ignore him, watching as Dal frowns at something and talks before heading back to the car.

The door opens and Dal grimaces. “You need to see this, boss.”

“Stay,” Raff commands. “First sign of trouble—”

“We get her out of here and fall back to the safe house, we know.” Astro nods, his hands on the wheel.

Raff gives me a searching look before kissing me hard. “Stay,” he commands, and then he gets out as well, meeting Dal around the front of the car. I watch them as they grow more agitated, and I can’t take it anymore.

I know they want to protect me, but there’s a sick feeling in my stomach that I can’t ignore.

I push the door open. Cil reaches for me but I’m faster, and I make it around the hood when I hear them running after me. A hand catches my arm, but I wrench it free and don’t stop until I’m by Raff. He hears me coming and turns to block my view.

“Get back in the car,” he orders. “Now, Miss Harrow.”

“Move.” I meet his eyes. “I said, move.”

He frowns, watching me carefully. “Please get back in the car, baby,” he pleads. “I can handle this.” The guard glances from me to him, but judging by the angry expression on Raff’s face, I know this is bad and I need to know. I won’t be able to let it go.

Whatever has him worried is scaring me shitless.

“Move,” I demand, and he sighs, so I push past him, freezing at the sight before me.

Perched on a boulder next to the gate house is an open cardboard box addressed to me, and nestled inside is a bloody heart with a note stapled to the top.

Until I get yours, here is mine.