Page 119 of Savage Queen (Blood Empire 3)

Chapter 30

Harlow

“Mama, come on, we’regonna be late!” Rosie says, tugging on my arm.

“I’m coming,” I laugh, pulling my pant leg down to cover my daggers. Can’t go to a six year old’s party with weapons on display, but I refuse to ever go unarmed especially right now with those four fuckers locked up under my club.

Queenie was understanding enough to put D-Day off for a few days so that I could take Rosie to her best friend's birthday party. It was something that was planned months ago, and Rosie hasn’t made friends very easily.

A new little girl came to her school halfway through the year, and they hit it off the moment they met. All she could talk about was her new friend, Rachel. I’ve met her a few times. She was a very sweet kid, soft spoken and polite. But there’s something about her that Rosie is drawn to. I find her very protective of Rachel when she talks about the other kids at school even looking at Rachel the wrong way.

Rosie has grown into a strong, confident little girl. I can see a lot of myself in her, and that makes me proud, but also slightly terrified because... well, I kill people for a living. She’s sassy and feisty and would throw hands for the ones she cares about. Rachel is in good hands with this one.

The drive to the party was full of Rosie going on and on about the house she and Rachel made in school yesterday out of popsicle sticks and clay.

“Robbie tried to take the red clay, and said it was his. I told him he was a liar, and then I found his red clay in his cubby. Can you believe it? He was trying to steal the clay and take it home and then take mine!”

I grin as I watch the road, turning onto the street of the house we’re going to.

“What did you do about it?” I ask.

“I threw it in his face and told him never to lie to me again, or else,” she says proudly, jutting out her chin. “I hate liars and stealers.”

“Me too, baby girl, me too.” I laugh.Oh yeah, this one is gonna be a handful.I can’t wait to see how crazy she drives her dad and uncles when she’s a teenager.

When we get there, I find a place to park. Rosie gets out, and she’s already taking off down the walkway to the open door. Rachel stands there, looking a little uneasy, but when she sees Rosie, her face lights up. Rosie crashes into her, and they both burst out into giggles.

I smile, grabbing the gift and head over to the birthday girl.

“Happy Birthday, Rachel. This is for you,” I tell her and hold out the box carefully.

“You need to open it now, or it will die,” Rosie announces. Rachel’s mom huffs out a laugh, already knowing what’s inside.

Rachel’s eyes goes wide, and she rushes to open the box. She lets out a gasp as a little kitten’s head pops out. “A kitty?” she asks, looking up at me with big eyes.

“Yup. I told Mama you wanted a cat, and she talked to your mama. So, I picked out the best kitty. I’m an expert at picking pets you know,” Rosie says.

“Thank you,” she says, her face lighting up as she takes the cat out. It immediately cuddles with her, and I can’t wipe the smile off my face at how happy this made her.

“It’s a girl. You can name her whatever you want!” Rosie explains.

“Why don’t you take her up to the guest bathroom and put her in there sweetie. I’ll set up everything she will need, but not until after the party,” Rachel’s mom tells her.

The two girls take off into the house and Marie, Rachel’s mom, invites me in. No one is really here yet, so I stand off to the side playing on my phone while Marie finishes placing some cupcakes on a tray.

People start to show up, and the girls come back down the stairs.

The party is a typical kids party with games, gifts, and lots of screaming kids. It makes me wonder if I went overboard with Rosie’s birthday.Oh well, I’m over the top, sue me.

There is a bounce house, and that’s where the kids spend most of their time. They eat, play, then open gifts.

It feels like I’ve been here for hours. I probably have, but I keep to myself because other than Marie, I don’t like any of the other parents. They are snobby and look at me like I’m the gum on the bottom of their shoes. Sadly, I can’t stab them, kids around and all.

“No!” A scream has my head snapping up as I see Rachel run out of the bounce house. One of the dads pop their heads out of the bounce house looking horrified.

Rachel runs over to her mom and starts sobbing into her chest. I can’t hear what Rachel is saying, but Rosie goes up to her saying something, and then hugs her before the two of them run off into the house.

The dad is apologizing to Marie, unsure what he did wrong.

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