Page 26 of Roses and Skulls

I’m tired. I’m going to bed.I shove past him, but he reaches out and wraps his arms around me.

He whispers into my ear. “I’m not good at this. I’m not the father you deserve.” And then he lets me go and walks away, down towards the lake.

I stare after him until Raffe gets up and follows.

My heart has sunk to a new level tonight. The pain is only getting worse, not better. I feel like I’m losing everything. My innocence, my friend, my dad. A few cuts might take some of it away.

Quickly, I make my way to my bathroom. As the blood drips on the floor, I think about how right Raffe is. I have so many hidden truths. They may have kept things from me but I’m doing the same. I could just tell them about Draven and the accident. I’m not sure why I keep calling it an accident. It clearly wasn’t. But anyway, I can’t share any of that with them. They would hate me. I know because I hate myself.

I glance at my phone to see Draven’s response to our earlier conversation.

Draven: You’re right. I’m not sorry. You see, Billie Rose, you and I are tied together by the past. Not even Lanie can break that bond.

I don’t respond. I just delete the message.

After I clean up the blood, I sit down on my bed and hit play on the movie I’ve decided to watch. I knew I’d heard his name somewhere. Eric Draven, the main character in the movie The Crow.

Whoever named him is hilarious, or maybe just as crazy as he is.

He thinks he’s avenging his father’s death.

I don’t know why my family doesn’t realize who Draven really is, that he’s Crow’s son. But it doesn’t matter. He’s after my family, I feel it.

And while I might only be the Skull’s MC princess, one fact remains, I’m still a Skull.

My mom’s father was a good man, Draven’s was a rapist. Maybe he doesn’t know this, but my gut tells me he does, and he just doesn’t care. If tonight was any indicator, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

I’m going to protect what’s mine and in the process, I’ll be doing society a favor.

Chapter Six

Billie Rose

I’ve been waiting to sneak out for over an hour. Usually, my parents are in bed by now, but mom’s been cleaning all fucking night. I suppose for their stupid little party but whatever, I’m finally on my way and almost there.

When I walk up to the parking lot, a bright red, blinking sign tells me The Black Rose is definitely open for business. Unfortunately, his grand opening looks to be going well.

I decide to opt for the backdoor. I’m not ready to face a bar full of Devils. The minute I open the door, loud music, and the smell of weed greets me. I cover my nose as I push through. I’m going to have to shower when I get home, or my family is going to smell the smoke on me.

As I’m heading to the office, the door to the main part of the bar swings open. I pause when a man steps through, the door swinging closed behind him. He pulls something out of his pocket. It’s a sucker. He rips the wrapper off and sticks it in his mouth.

Holy shit, he’s hot. I wish Lanie was here to see him.

He pushes it to the side of his mouth and then cracks his neck back and forth. An evil smile spreads across his beautiful face.

I swallow hard when he notices me, making me shrink back into the shadows. Our eyes lock and his smile widens. I take a deep breath as he walks towards me.

Shit, two seconds in and I’m already in a bad situation.

I push myself up against the wall to let him pass, but he stops when he reaches me. My eyes drop to the floor.

When he presses his body against mine, my gaze snaps up to meet his. The audacity. Who the fuck does this guy think he is?

Oh, he has the warmest brown eyes I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t seem as scary if I just focus on them and ignore the rest of him.

He places one hand on the wall beside my face. The other pulls the sucker out of his mouth.

My heart is beating so hard, surely he can feel it thumping against him.

---