Page 91 of Roses and Skulls

Me: She sent a friend in to make the moves on Elijah.

Draven: No way.

Me: Yes way.

Me: I thought you said you would handle her.

Draven: She’s a female, nuff said.

Me: Well, I’m just warning you that I’ll handle her myself if you don’t.

Draven: What’s that supposed to mean, little dove?

Me: Ask her friend.

Draven: Don’t know her friend. Tell me.

Me: I’ll give her and her friend matching face lifts.

Draven: …

Draven: …

Draven: Okay, I’ll try again.

Me: You do that.

Draven: I don’t really like the way you’re talking to me.

Me: I don’t give a fuck what you like. Keep her away from me and my family or I will.

I toss the phone down on my bed, feeling better than I have in a long time. If I’m not mistaken, I think my balls have finally dropped. I’m not going to be walked on ever again.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Billie Rose

"Ireally needed you to work this weekend,” Draven says, thoroughly annoyed that I’m off the next two days.

My feet shove off the floor, sending my chair sliding over to the filing cabinet. “Don’t care. I’ve been here every weekend for over a month. You can live without my help two days.”

“Where are you going?”

“Don’t know.” I shift the cherry sucker in my mouth to my cheek. “I’ll be back Monday.”

He flops down on the couch, the leather groaning beneath him. The intensity of his gaze on my back makes me spin around to face him. “What?”

“I can’t protect you if I don’t know where you’re at.”

“Protect me from what, Draven?” I roll my hands.

He crosses his arms across his chest and focusses his attention out the window. “Sometimes, I wish you were still afraid of me.”

A million swarming bees invade my stomach. I haven’t had this feeling in a long time. The wheels on my chair squeak as I slowly make my way back behind the desk. Draven’s mood is one I haven’t encountered before. I’m not sure what he’s feeling right now. “What do you mean?”

“It was easier when you were afraid of me.”

My hands begin to shake, so I tuck them under my legs. “You want me to be scared of you?”

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