Page 4 of Their Dark Rose

“She isn’t going anywhere.” Miss Jones’s words are a tiny cry.

I’m sure it hurts to have Finn squeeze her arm tight.

I keep hoping maybe, just maybe, Mommy and Daddy will magically appear.

They don’t.

I’m alone.

Alone.

Alone.

Swallowing down my sob, I jerk my chin up.

I’m confused and hurt. Like Daddy when he wakes up late in the morning.

And what does he do when he’s confused and mad? He yells until he gets what he wants.

Worth a try.

“This is my chair. I’m not moving!” My small voice isn’t as loud as Mason’s or Falk’s booming ones. I don’t care. It’s mine. It has to be enough.

“I won’t ask you again.” Mason breathes out fire.

I sit up straight, crossing my arms over my chest. “You can’t make me. Miss Jones said so.”

“Briar Rose Nightingale.” Falk shoves a table to the side. It crashes on the floor and Miss Jones cries again.

I don’t.

Even as I watch Falk get closer and closer, I refuse to cry.

“With God as my witness.” His black eyebrows furl. “If you don’t get up from that chair right this second…”

Fuck.

Yes, I said a bad word in my head. Mommy and Daddy do that all the time. Daddy even laughs when he hears me cussing.

So, I do that. His friends hate it when I do.

Just as they hate me now.

“Briar, I’m begging you…” A tear comes out of nowhere, running down Finn’s stubbled cheek. “It’s been a really long day. Please, let’s go home.”

My teeth graze my wobbly lip. I’m already sorry for screaming at Falk.

What’s going on?

Falk closes his fingers around my wrist. He doesn’t tug on it, though.

“We need to go,” he whispers cruelly.

I don’t want to, but he forces me. He pulls me to him. Demanding my attention.

“I don’t understand,” I sigh. I’m tired of acting strong. “Where’s Daddy? Where’s Mommy? Why are you here?”

Mason comes to stand next to us. His tall and wide frame casts a shadow over me, a cold one. I’m annoyed when two fat tears break free from my eyes.