Page 28 of Roses and Skulls

“Billie Rose.” Draven snaps his fingers, pulling me from my thoughts.

My gaze goes to the man hiding himself in the shadows. Maybe he’ll wait for me.

Maybe it would be better if he didn’t.

I walk slowly towards Draven. When I get within arm’s reach, he places a hand around my elbow, speeding up the process of dragging me into his lair.

“I thought you might have chickened out.”

Shaking my head no, I make my way to the far side of the room.

He closes the door and leans against it, crossing his arms across his chest.

I bite my lip and pull my phone out of my pocket.Do you want me to go out and start serving?I ask.

The sooner I get out of this office, the better.

Draven laughs and makes his way around the desk. “You’re what, eighteen?”

I straighten to my full height, pulling my shoulders back.I’m nineteen and I can tell you right now, I can work circles around any bartender or server out there.

“Of that I have no doubt,” he says, leaning back in his chair. I look around and notice nothing much has changed. He’s kept the bar just the same as grandpa had it. “But I have something better in store for you. I want you to help me run the place.”

I raise an eyebrow in question, moving to sit down on the couch.What’s your deal? Why are you really here?

He rubs his hands together as he thinks about it. “I’m here to make amends.”

I run my finger over the letters of my phone as I think about what to say next.

“Don’t believe me?” He stands and comes to sit by me. I scoot to the end of the couch away from him. “I’m trying my best to clean up my life. I wanted to do something nice for Lanie, so I’m sending her to her dream school and for you… for you I bought this place.”

That’s a lie, you bought this place for her. You told her you were turning it into a restaurant when she graduates, remember? And then you ruined that by taking advantage of her best friend.

He laughs, running his fingers through his beard. “She’ll get over it. I explained how I was only trying to help you, with you know, your little problem.” He motions towards my thighs.

I squeeze my legs together and glance away from him, typing as I do.It’s not a problem.

The leather squeaks as he leans back, laying an arm on the back of the couch behind me. “Why didn’t you tell on me, Billie Rose?”

Because my dad would kill us both if he knew you touched me.

“You know what I mean, little dove.” His fingers wrap around the hair at the nape of my neck, and he pulls back, forcing my face towards the ceiling. He slides close and stares down at me. “Why did you keep the accident a secret?”

I’m angry. I don’t like being held down by him. Thoughts of sticking a knife into his throat pop into my head.

He wants me to talk to him. He knows I can, because I told him to stop when he was assaulting me at Lanie’s. He wants me to do it again but I’m not giving him my voice this time, so I spit in his face in response.

Draven wipes it away, running a hand over his face. “I think you like defying them.”

I don’t say anything.

“You’re angry they let it happen. Aren’t you? You thought they were these untouchable figures that could shield you from everything, but they can’t, can they?”

I focus on the ceiling.

“Parents are human too. Look at my dad, he let a woman kill him. Pretty pathetic if you think about it. He died before I was even born, and he left me surrounded by women. Women are weak. Your mom is weak too. She hides behind that bad ass persona, but it’s all a facade.”

My silence keeps him going.

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