Page 84 of Roses and Skulls

Maybe it was Lanie all along. Dude still needs to be punished for taking Bill out but maybe he was bamboozled by the crazy bitch and really didn’t know that Billie Rose was going to be with him that night.

Billie Rose told me that she had never heard Lanie talk that way. It was as if someone else had taken over her body. I asked Rosie if she knew who Lanie could have been talking to on the phone, but she didn’t. At least it sounds like whatever plan they might have; it doesn’t involve killing her.

“I saw Lanie at her new job.” She says unexpectedly, looking up at Draven.

He genuinely looks surprised. “You did?”

Billie Rose looks down. “Yep.”

Draven glances over his shoulder. “Hey, can you take a look at the jukebox? The things not working, and fuck knows I don’t want to buy a new one. Those things aren’t cheap. See what you can do, yeah?”

I’m really interested in what he’s going to say about Lanie working at a whorehouse, but I guess I’ll just have to hear it from Rosie later. I stand up slowly and stretch. “Sure thing, boss.”

“See you after a bit, baby.” I lean over the desk, pulling the sucker out of my mouth and then I hold it out to her.

I’ve never considered myself a jealous person. In school, I was always the first kid to speak up to share a toy, my lunch, whatever anyone needed. But all that changed when I saw her here that first day. I want to make it very clear to fuck face over here that she’s mine.

Her cheeks turn bright pink because she knows what I want from her. I can see the word “fine” hidden within her stormy gaze. She leans forward and oh sweet lord, she wraps her lips around my sucker.

Slowly, I back away from them with anI just won the lotterysmile on my face.

As I’m making my way down the hall to go take a look at the jukebox, I notice the trash needs taken out, so I grab it and head out back. When I get to the dumpster, I notice a painting face down amongst the bags. My curiosity gets the best of me, and I flip it over.

I tip my head back and laugh. Seems Draven didn’t like Jesse’s little welcome to the neighborhood gift.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Billie Rose

When the door shuts, I grab the sucker out of my mouth and toss it in the trash bin. Asshole. Could he make it any more obvious?

“So, I’m assuming I can officially call him your boyfriend now?” Draven asks, his arms folded lazily across his chest.

Rolling my eyes, I ignore him. “So, why didn’t you tell me she was working at a whorehouse?”

“Maybe because you wouldn’t have approved. And why wereyouthere?” he asks, leaning over, trying to catch my gaze.

“You’re right, I don’t approve.” I grab a folder and open it. “And it’s none of your business, why I was there.”

He gently slides it away from me. “You and I don’t keep secrets from each other.”

“Don’t we?” I ask a tad bit too angrily.

He searches my face. “Why don’t you just tell me why you were there. Let’s try that,” he suggests, ushering me to the couch.

Draven doesn’t even have to ask me another question before I spill my guts. I would make a terrible detective. No finesse. None. “I found Bill’s receipts. I know he was paying Bell to take care of you. Why?”

He chuckles angrily. “Could it be that he felt responsible for killing my uncle and then to top it off, his daughter killed my father?”

I glance away. He’s got me there. That is exactly why. My grandfather was a good man, Draven was an innocent child. He wouldn’t have wanted him to end up in the foster care system like my mom, no matter who his parents were. “Funny that you repay him by murdering him.”

“So, a few bucks are supposed to make up for the fact that I had no family because of the two of them?”

I ignore that comment. “Do you want me dead?”

His dark eyes widen, and his mouth falls open. He stutters, “Billie Rose, no.”

“Does Lanie?”

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