Page 73 of Roses and Skulls

My bottom lip sneaks into my mouth and I bite down on it, my cheeks staining crimson. “Well, my dad caught Elijah, um, he caught him with his face between my legs.”

I can see my dad balling his hands into fists at his sides.

Draven’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline. “Damn, Elijah is really asking for it, isn’t he?”

I plop down dramatically on the ground. “Yeah, wait till you see his face,” I pout.

“So, I take it your dad saw your other little secret.”

My heart jumps to my throat. Great, now I’m going to have to explain how he knows about my scars. I don’t risk a look at my dad, but I do manage to push a couple tears out. I rub my eyes with my free hand. “Yeah,” I whisper.

Draven stops walking. “Did your parents happen to learn aboutoursecret?” he asks, tension tightening his voice.

My brows pull together at his sudden change. “No. Why?”

He shifts the phone so that I can see what is hanging behind him on the wall in the bar. Oh fuck. It takes everything in me not to react. “That’s cool,” I simply say.

Draven stares at me through the glass on my phone.

“What? You said they remind you of your dad. Where did you get it?”

“Where did I get it?” he repeats. “Well, let’s see. I think you may know the artist. She’s still here.” He flips the camera and there at the bar sits my mother and Aunt Lily.

My eyes widen in surprise as he turns the camera back on himself.

“Care to explain?”

My eyes go back to the painting of the black crow behind him, his wings engulfed in flames, a panicked look in his beady little eyes.

I shrug. “You fucking tell me.”

He storms back to his office, slamming the door shut.

“Don’t play games with me, little girl,” he shouts, making me flinch.

I notice from the corner of my eye, a few club men rising to their feet on the porch.

I jump off the ground. “Fuck off. If you think I told her about you then you’re sadly mistaken. I don’t have time for this shit. My dad just saw Elijah’s face shoved in my fucking cunt, Draven. Just fuck off,” I yell again.

He takes a deep breath, grinding his teeth. “Then what the fuck is up with her and her little welcome to the neighborhood gift?”

My head tips back and I laugh. “You’re kidding me, right? Helloooo. I toted a fucking live crow home, dumbass. She thinks you’re fucking with the club. They’re pissed. They think you and your club are selling drugs here. This is Skull territory. How did you think she would fucking react?”

Draven releases a long-drawn-out sigh, running his fingers through his hair. “You’re probably right. You think it’s just a warning?”

“Yeah, I mean, come on, Draven,” I say with a little less anger. “She doesn’t like your club. That’s not private information. And then you add the fact her daughter is working there. She’s letting you know that she’s watching you.”

He settles back in his chair. “Well, what the fuck should I do?” he asks.

I shake my head and chuckle. “My advice, stay away from her and if you do go near her, watch your nuts. Oh, and if you see her with anything flammable, run.” I give him my best smile and then end the call.

When my attention finally goes back to the men in front of me, Jackson stands up and starts clapping. He whistles. “Damn, Rosie, didn’t know you were such an actress.”

I flip him off not taking my eyes off my dad. He doesn’t like any part of this. Draven is a dangerous man.

“What’s the point?” he asks. “I can go over there right now and end him.”

I’ve thought about this myself. What is the point? What do I want out of this? If I’m being honest, I want him to feel comfortable. Like I did, sitting in the truck with my grandpa and then I want his world to come crashing down around him. I want, no scratch that, I need to watch him suffocate with the realization that I’m the judge, jury, and executioner.

---