Page 71 of Roses and Skulls

My Uncle Raffe clears his throat. Elijah shoves off the counter, his warmth leaving me. My uncle’s concerned expression makes tears burn in the corner of my eyes. I don’t know if I can do this.

“You got this, Billie Rose,” Elijah says, going out to join the others on the porch.

My fingers strangle each other as I stand there, contemplating an escape out the back door.

“Trust us, baby girl,” my uncle says, wrapping his hand around mine. “It’s time.”

There was a time I would have run to these men, spilling my guts if someone wronged me. Not one time did I not trust that they would take care of me. Nothing changed after the accident. I’ve always known they’ve had my best interest at heart. Maybe it wasn’t them I didn’t trust, maybe it was myself.

I felt weak. Unable to help myself let alone grandpa.

Elijah reminded me how brave I used to be. How I loved the thrill of trying something new, even if it was dangerous. But I don’t blame my parents from keeping me from him. I understand now. My mom was scared for me. Her whole life she has had to live with her childhood influencing how she parented me. I also understand why they couldn’t tell me. They wanted me to keep my innocence as long as possible.

I’m grateful for that. I would have never guessed the horrors she had gone through. Because of her, I had an amazing childhood. I owe it to her to take it from here.

Straightening my shoulders, I squeeze Raffe’s hand and let him lead me outside. A dozen pairs of eyes turn our way when we step out. He releases my hand, and I remind myself whose daughter I am. My mother is the one who keeps this club, this family together. She is the queen of the Skulls, and I’m their fucking princess.

I straighten my crown as I walk over and take the seat beside Elijah. My dad’s eyebrow raises a fraction, but he holds his tongue.

“I know I’ve apologized in person to all of you today, but I want to reiterate that apology. I’d forgotten who I was and who you all were.” My eyes roam across the highest-ranking members of the club.

This is the first time I’m speaking to them as a member. I’m sticking my white flag in the soil, at the same time claiming my position here.

So, I don’t beat around the bush. I handle this exactly how my father would.

“The accident wasn’t an accident. Someone hit Bill and I on purpose,” I say as calmly as my body will allow, a slight tremble in my voice. But hey, not even a week ago, did I have one.

Their non reaction has me tipping my head. No yelling, no gorilla like pounding on their chests, no racing for guns or bikes. What the actual fuck?

My dad levels his gaze on me. “We know.”

“You know?” I repeat. Elijah and I exchange a confused look.

Dan taps around on his phone and then holds it out to me. “We did a little police work of our own and came across some video footage of a man driving the truck that hit you that night. The guy was a nobody. A known drug user who probably stole it to flip the thing. These types will do anything to feed their addiction.”

Elijah takes the phone for me, noticing how bad my hands are shaking. He holds it so I can see an old mug shot of the man.

“It was easy to put together,” Jackson says, running his knuckles over his jacket. “A little computer work and I was able to find the fuckers mug shot on some old drug charges. Dirk found him over in Trap and the rest is history.”

The man that smiled at my broken grandpa stares back at me. I remember the shocked look on his face when he saw me in the passenger seat. And how he and Draven had yelled at each other. I wish I could remember what they said.

I push Elijah’s hand away, dropping my head between my shoulders. This is the reason they never asked me what happened, they knew. Jesus, you’re an idiot. Did you really think these men would let it go that easy? At the word of a police report that deemed it an accident.

Elijah hands the phone back to Dan as his other rests against the back of my neck.

“Did you see him?” my dad asks.

I nod, keeping my head hanging. Elijah’s fingers gently brush over my skin, keeping me grounded.

“You don’t have to be afraid of him. He no longer exists.”

I suck in a huge amount of air at the implication of his words. He crouches down in front of me, gently drawing my face upwards. “He’s never going to hurt you again, baby.”

My bottom lip rolls between my teeth as a tear slips down my cheek. Elijah’s hand falls from my back and he braces himself for what is about to go down.

My father blurs as water pools in my eyes. I’m about to break his heart and it kills me. It’s one more reason that Draven is going to pay.

“He wasn’t the only one I saw that night.” My heart slows as I stare into my dad’s eyes. The clear blue is getting muddier by the second as understanding settles in and he realizes he missed something. That someone is walking this earth who hurt me.

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