Page 38 of Roses and Skulls

I chuckle low, the goddamn nerve of him. If he told Jackson and Brody my secrets, I’ll skin him alive. I run my hand over the 60’s floral print of the couch. Brody’s place is like stepping into a time warp. Not because he’s making a fashion statement. It’s just because he bought the place off an older couple who hadn’t updated in 60 years and Brody could give two shits less about home décor.

“Where is Lanie?” Brody asks me.

My first response is the mean one. “She’s your niece. You tell me.”

Elijah’s hand snaps out and his fingers wrap around my neck, dragging my ass to the edge of the couch. He gets in my face. “Not the time, Billie Rose.”

I wait for Jackson or Brody to step in but neither do. What in the fuck? Elijah literally has me by the throat.

“Answer,” he orders. His brown eyes pierce mine, letting me know he isn’t messing around.

“I… I don’t know. I thought she was at culinary school in New York,” I say when he loosens his grip.

His fingers squeeze gently this time, letting me know he’s happy with my response.

I close my eyes when my lady bits signal just how much power this man has over me. Not good. Not good at all. I’m tired of people controlling me. But with him…

“She’s not there, Rosie,” Brody groans, running his fingers through his hair.

I try to turn my face towards him, but Elijah keeps me in a firm grip, forcing me to look at him and only him.

“Her boyfriend gave her the money to go. She has to be there. Are you sure she isn’t just ignoring your calls?”

Brody plops down beside me on the couch. “I called the school and they said they didn’t have any Lanie registered there. Will you try to call her?”

Elijah’s eyes bounce over mine.

“I… I can’t, she blocked me.”

“Why? What happened?” Jackson asks.

“It… we just had a falling out, okay? She wanted me to go with her and you all know I couldn’t do that. Did you call the police? The hospitals? Did you try her mom?”

I reach for my back pocket and remember I don’t have a phone anymore. “Goddammit!”

Elijah rips a wrapper off a sucker and leans over and pushes it in my mouth. I stare at him, dumbfounded by the audacity. It’s the same flavor as last night. Was that just last night? It seems ions ago.

“Shut up and listen. Jesus, you don’t talk for three years and now you won’t shut up,” he says, resting his forearms on his knees, pushing himself in my space.

I lean back and rip the sucker out of my mouth, drawing the flavor across my tongue. It prompts me to cross my legs and scoot back, resting against the cushions.

An evil smile spreads over his face, the dimple I remember adorning the twelve-year-old version of him makes an appearance.

“That’s better,” he says, pleased with my visceral response to him. “Let’s not jump hurdles here. Let’s get right to the finish line.” I stare at the ink on his hand as he runs the tips of his fingers over the stubble on his chin. My eyes roam over his neck, caressing the dragon tattooed there. They follow a strand of ivy until it stops at the collar of his shirt. “Focus.” He taps me under my chin, drawing my eyes back to his.

“Brody here is wondering why Draven would send Lanie away when he just moved in with her. Seems a little strange, don’t you think?”

I roll my head towards Brody. Brody is about ten years older than Lanie and I’ve always felt safe with him. “Brody, I don’t know,” I answer honestly. I glance around, looking for an escape. I don’t want anyone to know what I know. If they figure out who Draven is, they’ll ruin all my plans for him. I stand up and try to slide past him.

Brody snags me around the waist and pulls me down onto his lap, wrapping an ankle over his knee to keep me locked in place. His big arm wraps over my chest, holding me firmly against him.

“Lanie hasn’t talked to me much since she got her own place. Please help me, Rosie. Elijah told me that you are working for Draven. Maybe you can find out where she went.”

I glare at Elijah.

He bites the ball on the end of his tongue piercing, shrugging.

“You said you would keep my secrets,” I accuse.

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