Page 37 of Roses and Skulls

“He offered me a job. He’s Lanie’s boyfriend. Do you really think he would cross a line with me?” I ask, knowing full well the answer is yes, yes he would. Will. Has.

She doesn’t hesitate. “Yes. Yes, I do. Billie Rose, trust me, I know all about men like him.”

Well, me too, mom. Me too.

“I understand that you and dad aren’t going to give me your approval on this, so I’ll be getting out of your hair soon. I just need a few paychecks and then I’ll move out.”

She runs her finger over the rose tattoo that is hidden behind her ear. I can’t see it because her hair is covering it, but I know it’s there. “This isn’t how I envisioned this.” She says, walking over to stand in front of the mural she painted on my wall. “But do what you have to do.”

I pause with my hand on the doorknob, wanting to get this over with. I’m openly defying my parents. I know there is no coming back from this.

“I know you don’t listen to me very much anymore but listen to this.” She looks over her shoulder at me. “Trust your gut.”

“Mom,” I breathe out. I already see the worry dragging her tired shoulders down.

She faces me fully and points her finger towards me. “You remember who the fuck you are. You are a Skull. We won’t forget. Don’t you.” She locks her hands behind her head, struggling to get the rest of her speech out. “When you feel it, you’ll know. Don’t make the same mistake I did. You have a whole club behind you. I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. You’re smarter than I am. I hope you prove it.”

Part of me is doing this for her. I believe her story. I do. And I know that she would beat herself up if she thought I got hurt because of the choices she made all those years ago. It would destroy her to know that those decisions played a part in her dad’s death.

I can’t let her take the fall for that. Only one person deserves the blame, and he is waiting for me at The Black Rose.

“I need you to trust me for once,” I say quietly, catching her nod before I leave the room.

Chapter Eight

Billie Rose

Jackson and Elijah are waiting for me when I get outside.

“Forget it. I’m out of here. Go away.” I shoo them with an exaggerated wave of my hands.

Elijah wraps his arm around my waist. The dark scruff on his face, brushes against my cheek as he picks me up off my feet and dumps me on the back of Jackson’s bike. He shoves a helmet on my head before I even get a chance to complain.

Jackson’s bike roars to life and Elijah heads over and starts his. Oh my god, are they fucking kidnapping me?

I have no idea where we are headed until we pull up in front of Brody’s house.

“What are we doing here?”

“I think you know,” Jackson says, taking the helmet away from me.

I stomp my foot. “I have no idea what you two jackasses are up to. I’m leaving. I need to get to the bar.”

“Not tonight you aren’t.” Jackson says. He bends over, wrapping his arms around the backs of my knees and heaves me over his shoulder.

My feet kick out, trying to catch him in the nuts. Who does this oaf think he is?

He tightens his grip with one hand while his other slaps my ass. Hard.

“Oh my god. I’m going to murder you in your sleep,” I scream at him.

Jackson laughs. “God, I’ve missed hearing you chew my ass.”

Elijah chuckles too and raises his hand to knock on Brody’s door. It opens before his fist connects. Brody holds the door open wide. He runs a hand through his dirty blond hair. “I’m sorry, Rosie,” he says as Jackson and I pass by him.

Jackson tosses me onto the middle of Brody’s couch.

Elijah sits down on the coffee table in front of me. “This is an intervention.”

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