AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hoe-leader,” Rose mumbled. She could hear them talking, but it sounded like they were all underwater, so far away. Reaching out, she tried to swim toward the sound of their voices.
“What Petal?”
Warren was by her side in an instant. His hand on her thigh brought a contented sigh and a smile to her face.
“If there ever was a question if she loved you, there is the answer,” Brooks said.
“Thorn called the free pussy hoe-leaders,” Tank clarified.
“Her combination of whore and cheerleader,” Vulture grinned. “They have no problem being passed around, and they love club life.”
“Birdy, are you smiling at me?”
“Never, Thorn,” he squeezed her hand. “But if you ever do this again, I will join the line to redden your ass.”
“Birdy, you’re so sweet. I’ll just let them shoot me next time so you can feel all macho when you swoop in to rescue the helpless women.”
Rose fought to keep her eyes open. All she wanted was to sleep. The bed was soft. Her head wasn’t pounding when it was on a pillow plucked from clouds. The relief was overwhelming.
“Franny?”
“Going to be good as new in a few weeks,” Tank assured her.
Rose yawned.
“Go to sleep, baby. Nothing is going to harm you.”
She let out a contented hum as she snuggled deeper into the covers and quit fighting the pull. A warm glow filled her when Warren slipped her ring back on her finger.
Chapter 21
It was dark outside the next time Rose opened her eyes. She grimaced as she stretched. There wasn’t a part of her body that didn’t hurt.
“How are you feeling?”
Warren was right beside her. He didn’t leave. The phone hadn’t called him away while she slept.
Rose thought for a minute before answering. Today had been one for the record books. She was abducted and assaulted by her brother. Shortly after that, she watched another man shoot him. Her only blood relation was gone. Her heart hurt for the boy he had once been. The cute little boy with hair that matched hers who loved cookies and anything with wheels. That boy had been gone for years. Today was the day the rest of him left her.
“Just dandy,” Rose whispered to the dark.
“I’m sorry about Lucas.”
“It was a long time coming,” she said truthfully. “If it wasn’t this guy, it would have been the next one he crossed.”
Warren didn’t have the heart to confirm what they both knew was the unfortunate truth. Pulling her closer, he wrapped his arms around her. Silence surrounded them as he held her.
“I guess I need to plan a funeral.”
“Can’t do that,” he said softly as he dropped a kiss on her forehead.
“Why?”
Warren tensed.
“No secrets, remember?”
“We put them in a pile and I doused them with gasoline before I tossed a match on it. Fire destroys evidence. With all those batteries, it was hot enough to dispose of the bodies.”
