Page 105 of Roses and Skulls

Suddenly, Draven sits up, turning his head like he’s listening for something.

A woman pushes the door open. “What in the fuck are you doing?” she screeches when she sees what’s going on.

Renee. It’s the woman who drugged me.

“Get out,” he orders.

“Draven, you dumb shit, you can’t be serious. You fucked her?” she asks, putting her hand to her head. “Jesus Christ, why didn’t I abort you?”

This woman is his mother?I slowly slide back to the wall when Draven releases my wrist. He shifts in front of me, shielding me from her.

“It’s none of your business who I fuck, mother.”

“Didn’t Bell teach you anything, you idiot? You can’t have sex with someone you’re related to. Do I need to fucking spell it out for you?” she sneers, sending a look of disgust my way.

Family?

Oh. Oh no. He is… no… he can’t be grandpa’s son.

“I don’t fucking care,” Draven yells. “I’ve done everything you asked. This is the one thing I want. I want her.” He points at me.

“You can’t have her,” the woman says, shaking him. “You are a sick fuck. Just like your father.”

I’m just about to shout that grandpa wasn’t sick when Lanie pushes her way into the room.

“Tell him he’s lost his ever-loving mind,” the woman says to her.

Lanie looks at Draven before letting her gaze fall over me. A look of horror that must match my own, passes over her face, then she turns and glares at him. “The plan was to ruin her, turn her into an addict, not your ownpersonalwhore.”

“I’m not giving her up,” Draven says.

“Get the fuck out here,” the woman says, pulling the door wide open and pointing for him to exit the room with her.

Draven turns to me. “I’ll be right back, little dove. No worries.”

I’m pretty sure I’m losing my mind. I feel it fragmenting off into gigantic pieces. Nothing makes sense.

Lanie stares daggers at me.

“You just have to have everything, don’t you?” she shakes her head and sits down on the bed, shifting to face me. “Was it all worth it? Getting Draven into bed?”

“Lanie,youkidnapped me.Youtied me up,” I say, trying to scoot closer to her. I don’t care how mad I am. She may be the only person who can save me. “He… he…” I can’t even say it.

She looks at her bright red nails. “Do you know I’ve always wanted to be you,” she says quietly.

“Why? I’m so messed up and you, you’ve always been strong,” I try to smooth her hurt away.

I jump up from the bed and stand in front of her when she doesn’t respond. “Look at me, Lanie. Look. At. Me.”

She can’t. She turns her head away, but then sees something that catches her attention, her face lights up. Before I can stop her, she has the gun Draven must have left behind clenched tightly in her hand.

I back away, holding my hands up. “Lanie, please don’t do this. Please, you’re my best friend.”

Her head falls and she begins to cry. “They fucked with my head, Rosie. I was supposed to lure you away from your family, but you never strayed from them. Nor they from you. Never. Why couldn’t I have had a family like that?” she whispers.

“It’s okay. Help me get out of here and let’s go home. My family is yours too,” I promise, taking a step towards her.

She lifts her face to me. “I’ve never had a home. Not like you, Rosie. All I ever wanted was for someone to watch my back.”

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