Roses and Skulls (Rebel Skulls MC #3)

by L.M. Terry

“Do you hear the wind chimes?” he asks. I shake my head no. “Wind chimes are whispers from Heaven.” He smiles and closes his eyes. I reach over and shake him. He blinks at me. “I can’t hear them, grandpa,” I say as carefully as I can, afraid of the sound of my own voice. “I hear them, baby. They’re calling me home.”

“There are hundreds of crows out there. Jesus, Rosie, it’s creeping me the fuck out.”

Grief isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. One you will be on the rest of your life.”

Anyhow, I’ve been waiting for Billie Rose to grow up my whole life. This girl is going to make all my dreams come true.

The truth. That they are right and I’m just a worthless princess who needs everyone to keep her safe. Someone who needs others to slay her dragons.

He blinks, his gaze scanning me from head to toe. When he sees I’m fully intact, he lets out a harsh breath. I continue to rock back and forth. “I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it,” I cry, tears streaming down my face. Elijah sits down in front of me and pulls me into his arms. “I know, baby. I know. You did so good. So good.” He kisses me on top of my head, and I whisper a little thank you to grandpa. I don’t know how much longer I would have been able to hold on.

She may forever be daddy’s little girl, but she will always be my little rebel warrior.

I shake my head back and forth. “Oh, no way. I’m not going to betray her.” “Not even for my blessing?” he asks. Shoving my hands in my pocket, I turn to walk away. “No. Whatever she said to me, she said in confidence. Jesus, I just got her to start talking again. Kick me out. Do what you gotta do but I’m not divulging her secrets.” “Stop,” he says as I reach out to open the door to the warehouse. “Don’t fuck up, cause with her… well, I won’t do second chances.” “I don’t plan on it.” Without looking at him, I head inside with the biggest fucking smile I’ve had on my face in some time.

“Someday, a boy is going to come into your life, and he isn’t going to be afraid of your dad. Nothing will stop him from stealing your heart. Not even Dirk.”

My five-year-old self doesn’t recognize that in this moment, my mother decides it will be my last trip to visit William and his family. A decision made with the best of intentions. She was only protecting what was hers. At all costs. Even from threats that only existed in her mind.

There’s just something about knowing I’m Elijah’s girl that makes me stand taller. Gone is the girl that hid her voice from the world. I feel powerful… I feel like a woman.

“I love you, Billie Rose. And I know you may not be able to say it back right now, but I felt it. Your soul wasn’t able to hide the truth.”

“It took me months to put it back together, but it was worth it. It taught me patience. And I needed that. I knew I had to wait a few more years to be near you.” I run my finger over the tiny gold cracks. “It’s called Kintsugi, it’s the Japanese art of fixing broken pottery with gold. It can also be used on glass. It’s based on the idea of embracing one’s imperfections, the gold making it stronger and more beautiful.”

“Do you want to jump out of a plane?” “Ab-so-fuck-ing-lutely,” I say without hesitation, the adrenaline already kicking in. He flashes me a brilliant smile. “We never tell your dad about this.” I draw a cross over my chest before linking my pinky around his. Elijah is helping me find that spark that grandpa made me promise never to lose.

“Don’t ever feel ashamed in my presence again. What you felt downstairs when you felt me enter the room, it ends right there. When we walk out of this shower you will straighten that fucking crown. Your revenge awaits. There will be time to break down later. Do you understand?” His chest rises and falls, his nostrils flaring. Elijah is right. This is not the end.

My heart breaks for my family. But I have to protect what’s mine. My sanity, my flesh, my life, my soul, they are all on the line here. And maybe one tiny other thing.

“Baby, our kid is going to want to go fast. Trust me.” She laughs again, finally looking at me. Her face is red and blotchy and fucking beautiful.