Page 93 of Roses Are Dead
Big surprise, right?
An even bigger surprise for them would be to find out I’ve had one all along.
There was barely time during my pit stop at home for me to dump my plain jacket and shove on my colors. Rose had her hair up again. That left her pretty neck wide open to give her a peck and rub my beard against it as I inhaled the fragrance of the week. She changed up between flowers and the vanilla blends I preferred. Today’s was a light lemon with an undertone of something richer. If I asked, she’d probably say something like dragon’s blood or wormwood. I stopped asking and just buried my face in it. It was the best part of my day.
“Church tonight. I’ll be late. Set the alarm for me, will ya?”
“Bear.”
Her tone was serious. I quickly checked the clock. “I got five minutes before I’m late. Can it wait?”
That’s when I noticed the red around her eyes. The puffy state of the skin. “What made you cry?”
“John called.”
Called… my phone. I’d loaned Rose a burner. I tried to soften my tone as much as I could before asking, “And?”
“Beth’s running a fever.”
“She’s still in the hospital, right?”
Rose nodded.
I shrugged. “She’s in good hands then.” I needed to go, but the pallor of Rose’s face made me hesitate. “Rose?”
“She’s supposed to be getting better, not worse. The stem cells aren’t growing and reproducing.”
My mouth shot its load before my brain could flag it. “Ha. Carl shot blanks.”
Her face went even paler. Then it turned red as she got angry with me. “It’s not a joking matter.”
I was going to have to pay a fine for showing up late. “Babe, I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry your girl is in a bad way but, I can’t. I’ve got to leave.”
“I need to find Carl.”
“Oh, fuck no.”
“You don’t own me.”
What a wrong thing to say. “No? Because of you, I owe twenty K to pay off Carl because you stole his shit. I’ve paid for the clothes on your back, the food you’ve eaten, and put a fucking roof over your head.” I grabbed hold of my temper and used it like a club. “Get your coat and boots on, you’re coming with me. Because while I may not own you, you owe me two more weeks of your time.” I pulled the shorter leather coat off the hook and tossed it at her. “Now!”
Her mutinous face told me what she wasn’t saying. But I was too worked up to care. She was coming with me to the club.
Once we were there, I would be able to breathe easier and come up with a plan that wouldn’t involve her getting within a thousand feet of Carl Wingren. Because going back to that asshole was not an option. Ever.
I intended to keep her.
23
Roishin
Like earlier, Bear gave me a warning before we walked in the doors of the club. “We’re in public.” A not-so-subtle reminder I’d made a vow.
He wrapped an arm over my shoulder and pulled me over the threshold. Once inside, he made a beeline for the bar area. On route, he spotted Kate and Zoe at one of the tables. He grabbed a chair and dumped it beside theirs. Then he snapped his fingers at Hammer, the same prospect who had been in charge of watching me previously.
“This time, don’t fucking screw up.”
As far as acting went, he sucked. His foul mood definitely didn’t scream “happy.” Nor did the way he stomped off to the meeting room. At the door, he stopped and dug out his wallet. A bill went into one hand and then he disappeared into the Destroyers bastardization of church.
