Page 110 of Roses and Skulls

My mouth falls open, but I recover quickly. “I thought you had recovered from your pyromania.” I shake my head, taking in the skull makeup on her face.

She chuckles sadly and walks over to the kitchen sink. Jesse continues her tale as she scrubs the paint away from her skin. “Me too, but Bell called me a few weeks ago. She told me quite the story about Crow and my aunt… and the spawn they left behind. The spawn that bought dad’s bar. He also bought Bell’s House of Tail. Bell was only a week away from leaving it all behind and retiring to the beach when Billie Rose paid her a visit. Renee arrived shortly after. Bell put two and two together and began to worry that Rosie might be in danger, so thank god she did the right thing and called me. After we spoke, I knew what had to be done. So, I left with William and then ditched him along the way. I was just going to pay my aunt a visit. When she wasn’t there, I decided to torch the place.”

She shakes the water from her hands and wipes her face on the bottom of her shirt. “Logically, I thought this should be my next stop. And then, even though I hate to do it, I’m going to burn down the bar.”

I shake my head, this fucking girl. I nod for her to follow me to her old room. We should have known Jesse would figure out who Draven was.

She takes in Lanie’s body, then her eyes slowly roam around the room. Her gaze catching on the two scarves still tied to the posts on the headboard. “What happened here?”

“I don’t know but Billie Rose was here. Someone, we’re assuming Lanie, took her from the bar. It wasn’t Draven because he was with Elijah. They were helping one of the liquor distributors who broke down on the road. I was supposed to give her a ride home but when I got to the bar it was dark. The boys and I have been looking for her all night. We got our break when Samuel called, he found her outside the hardware store. She’s there right now with him and Raffe.”

Jesse wraps her arms around herself, her face falling. I continue telling her what I know. “Samuel said he heard a man calling for her from this direction. I headed straight over here and found Draven and a clean-up crew. He’s alive, he’s in the back of Raffe’s truck. Don’t know where the old hag is. After what you just told me, I’m sure she isn’t far.”

We’re both silent as we stare at the wall in Jesse’s old bedroom. She was just a kid when she first started showing me her drawings. Her art was the only thing that kept her sane. She suffered tremendously in this shithole. It was supposed to have been her home.

“Take care of my baby, Dan. I’m going to find Renee.” And then she’s off before I even get a chance to stop her.

My fist slams into the mirror, shattering it. Blood runs down my hand, I wipe it on my jeans and make a call.

“Brody, I’ve got some bad news for you, man, are you sitting down?”

After the call, I carefully wrap Lanie and carry her outside. I’ll send one of our own crew out to burn the place down. I’m sure they’ll be happy to do so. We haven’t had much business for them lately but that’s all about to change.

And then I call Dirk...

Chapter Thirty-One

Billie Rose

My uncles are here. Well, one of them is here. Uncle Dan stormed out and said he would be back. I wonder where he went. Raffe is talking with Samuel in the corner, both of them look over at me from time to time.

I wish Uncle Dan would come back. I’m tired.

You know, I think all I need is a good night sleep and then I’ll feel good as new.

And a shower.

Definitely a shower.

Uncle Raffe crouches down in front of me. “Are you hurt, sweetheart?”

Hurt?

I glance down at my body, dropping my feet to the floor. There’s blood all over my arms and my hands and my bare feet. Did I cut too deep? My head tips to the side in confusion. I start to scratch at my arms, the dried blood suddenly itching my skin.

Raffe grabs my hands in his. He dips his head, trying to catch my attention. Wait. This isn’t my blood. Is it?

“Do you hurt anywhere?” he asks again, saying each word at a snail’s place.

No. Yes. No, I’m not hurt. No.

I shake my head answering his question, not really believing my own conclusion.

He sighs and stares deep into my eyes.

“Have you taken any drugs?”

Again, I shake my head because I don’t do drugs. My family has a zero-tolerance policy.

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