Page 20 of Roses and Skulls

But I’m not giving up. My job isn’t done. She has many years ahead of her and I need to make sure she doesn’t get hurt again.

“Should we go look for Lanie?” I ask.

She shakes her head no, turning away from me to stare out the window.

“Do you want to go with her?” I ask, praying she shakes her head in the right direction.

That damn Australian answers instead.

No. You wouldn’t let me go even if I wanted to.

She’s right. No way in hell would I let her move across the country. The glow from her phone lights up her face and I notice the tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry.” It’s all I know to say.

Did you know him?She asks.

Oh yeah, that was the whole reason for me storming over there.

“He’s the fucker who bought the bar. I should have paid better attention when Candice sold it. He’s a Devil. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”

Why?

Her big eyes swirl with a color I’m not used to seeing. Sometimes, it’s like staring into my own. We’ve both been cursed with eyes that change color with our mood. And right now, I can’t read hers.

“He’s trying to start up a chapter of the Devil’s here. That fucker is nothing but a low life drug dealer. I’m not having it here and I’m not having you hanging around him. He isn’t here for Lanie. He’s here to line his pockets and to make trouble.”

I glance away from the road, catching her confused expression. “What’s wrong?”

She runs her hand down her face, wiping it off on her jeans.Nothing.

“I mean it. You stay away from him, yeah?”

My daughter sucks her bottom lip between her teeth, nodding in understanding.

“Why don’t you invite Lanie to the party Saturday? Maybe you two can work things out before she leaves. She has to understand your place is here.”

Is it?she asks, pulling her shoulder up to her cheek.You know she was the only person brave enough to be my friend.

I press my hand over my heart, dammit she’s just like her mother. She knows exactly where to put the knife. She’s so innocent, she probably doesn’t even realize it.

It’s okay though. Who wants to be friends with a freak who doesn’t speak and spends her time making windchimes?

And now she’s going in for the kill, twisting the knife just right.

“Billie Rose,” I breathe out.

She holds up her hand.It’s fine. I’m fine.

When we get home, she bounds up the stairs for her room. The slam of her door echoes through the entire warehouse.

Jesse comes out from the kitchen, her eyes going to the top of the stairs. “Is she okay?”

I grab my beautiful wife and pull her close to me. “She’s upset. Lanie is moving to New York.”

“What? Oh, no. First the bar and now Lanie. This is too much for her, Dirk. We should look at finding someone she can talk to.” Jesse lays her head on my chest. “And I’m sorry about letting her go over there tonight. I didn’t realize Lanie was dating one of the Devils.”

“It’s fine. I warned her about him. Now she knows. It won’t be long, and the boys and I will have him and the rest of his crew moving on down the road.”

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