Chapter Thirty-Seven
Bella
“You’re not pregnant anymore, so admit that you’re just obsessed with pickles,” I say to Julianna, when I find her eating them for breakfast.
She grins and shrugs. “Yeah, okay, fine, I got used to them, and now they’re my comfort food. By the way, I had another message from Rosalind, asking if she can meet Julian, and I told her no and blocked her number. The audacity.”
“I don’t understand why she’d think you would be okay with that after everything she did. She sounds batshit crazy. What is she doing with her life?” I ask.
Julianna shrugs once more. “I don’t know, it sounds like she’s doing nothing. My parents put her in therapy, which is probably for the best, especially after what happened to Mark. And I think they spend most of their time with her. I know Veronica is in college now and has moved out of home, so it’s just Rosalind there.”
“What do they say about her meeting Julian?” I ask, serving myself some cereal and milk.
“They think I should let her, because what can go wrong if we are all there?” she imitates, scowling. “I am not letting my child near her. Knowing what she is capable of makes me sick. And over a guy she casually slept with? I know his dick is good, but come on, there’s plenty others out there.”
I choke on my mouthful, and Julianna has to get up and slap me on the back. “Don’t die on me, Bella. I need you.”
“They say good penis turns women crazy. I think she is exhibit A,” I manage to get out.
“Actually, though,” she replies, finishing her last bite of her pickle, then picking up her coffee, “look at the time, and Julian is still asleep. This is the first breakfast I’ve had to myself since he was born.”
“He’s such a good baby.”
“He is, isn’t he? I read somewhere that the first one is always good, so you want another, but then the second one is a little demon. It’s Mother Nature playing a trick,” she says, an absent smile playing on her lips. “I’d totally have another, though.”
I laugh. “Mother Nature won, then. You know, River asked me when I would want to have a child.”
“And what did you say?”
“Maybe next year? After we’re married. But every time I see him with Julian, I want to change my mind and get pregnant right now,” I admit, lowering my voice. “Hot, muscled men holding babies. Who knew?”
We spend more time talking shit until Julian wakes up, and Romeo comes out holding him. “I can look after him if there’s anything you want to do. Or you can go out with Bella and do something? I just have to be at Devil’s Play in the afternoon for a meeting with Echo.”
Julianna turns to me. “Do you want to go look at wedding dresses?”
“I’ll grab my bag,” I say instantly. River is outside helping Jag with his motorcycle. “I’m going shopping with Julianna. I’ll be back in an hour or three.”
“Okay, be careful,” he says, opening the door for me and closing it once I’m safe inside.
We check out three different stores and I try on several dresses. When I try on this beautiful mermaid dress, with a low neckline and sequin details, I know it’s the one. And when Julianna starts crying when she sees me in it, she confirms it for me.
“You look incredible, Bella. That style is so flattering for you,” she raves, doing a circle around me so she can see the whole dress. “River is going to have a heart attack. You honestly look absolutely stunning.”
Everyone needs a friend like Julianna. One who will be your biggest supporter and number one cheerleader.
The door opens at the bridal store, the chime garnering my attention. I do a double take as I see none other than Rosalind standing there, looking over at Julianna and me.
“What is she doing here?” I grit out, and Julianna looks over at her sister, instantly standing up.
I put my arm on her shoulder and move to stand in front of her. Julianna may be my president, but this is my fight.
Rosalind walks over with her arms up in the air. “I saw your car in the parking lot, and saw the car seat in there, so figured my nephew might be here...”
“So you thought you’d just show up and hope I’d let you see him?” Julianna asks, stepping to the side of me.
Rosalind crosses her arms against her chest. “He is my blood.”
“Yes, and we all know how you treat your blood,” Julianna fires back, eyes narrowing to slits.
Rosalind takes a step closer, and my hackles rise. I don’t trust this woman, and I don’t want her near me or Julianna.
And I definitely don’t want her near Julian.
When she’s only a few steps away, I, still dressed in my dream dress, step forward and stand toe to toe with her. “Leave, Rosalind. You’ve done enough. You are not entitled to anything unless Julianna decides it’s okay.”
“You can’t stop me—”
“Why don’t you go somewhere where you are wanted?” I fire back.
She winces and looks over to her sister. “Why won’t you let me see Julian? I am his aunty. Whatever we have going on between us has nothing to do with him.”
“You think I’d trust you with my son?” Julianna replies, exasperation in her tone. “Rosalind, please just leave me alone. You have done enough. I will never forgive what you did to Corey. Never.”
“I am your sister. And no matter what happens, I am always your sister.”
“And that is the only reason you are still alive,” Julianna snaps, glancing around the store, but luckily the staff members have all disappeared. I can’t imagine how hard this situation is for her, because I know how much family means to Julianna. But unfortunately you can’t choose your family. And Rosalind never cares about anyone but herself. Julianna is right to keep this boundary, because I wouldn’t trust her with Julian either.
“So that’s it? I never get to see my nephew?” she asks, anger flashing in her eyes. “You’re a selfish bitch—”
My hands flash out before I know. I push her, causing her to stumble backward. “Leave. Now.”
“I’m going to fucking kill you!” She sneers, pulling out a knife from her jeans and holding it out at me. My eyes widen as I stare at it. “Everyone only thinks about Julianna! What about me?”
I step back and reach for my handbag, which has my gun inside.
“Don’t move!” she yells at me, her eyes going back to her sister. “Even Mom and Dad think you are being unreasonable.”
Julianna makes a sound of disbelief. “Says you, with a fucking knife in your hands! What the hell, Rosalind?”
I take the distraction and grab the gun out in one smooth move, lifting it up and pointing it at her. If one of us has to die today, it’s not going to be me, or my best friend.
Her eyes widen, and she takes a step back, retreating.
And so she should.
She has no care for her sister, for any of us.
She’s not a part of our world anymore.
And frankly, I’m so done with dealing with her. First Corey, and now this. Julianna’s right—if Rosalind weren’t her sister, she’d be dead by now for everything that she has pulled. She is a horrible person, and the world would likely be a better place without her.
“You wouldn’t,” she whispers, swallowing hard. “Or have you turned into a monster just like River? You know what they say, you are the company you keep.”
“The only monster here is you, Rosalind. Now get out of here!”
A customer walks in, a lady who maybe has a decade on us, and Rosalind grabs the woman, dragging her to face us, and holds the knife to her neck.
Fucking hell.
This just went from bad to worse, and I share a look with Julianna, who looks horrified that an innocent woman has now been brought into this. I look over to the manager, who peeps out from the back room, and mouth for her to call the police. She mouths back that she already has.
“Let the lady go,” Julianna says in a softer tone. “You don’t want to end up in prison, do you?”
The woman looks terrified, eyes wide, silently begging for our help.
“Put the gun down, and I’ll let her go,” Rosalind says, eyes narrowed to slits. For a moment I consider taking a shot, but I don’t want to hurt the woman, and I don’t trust my aim right now.
I slowly put the gun down on the floor and push it away with my foot.
Rosalind smirks and opens her mouth to say something when she hears the police sirens. Realizing she’s about to get arrested if she’s caught, she lets go of the woman and steps back. She then runs out without another word.
“Are you okay?” I ask the woman, who is trembling. The store manager rushes out to help her.
And I hug my best friend, who starts crying, as the two of us calm ourselves. “Holy shit,” I say to her, rubbing her back. “Rosalind has lost the plot.”
“Put that gun away,” she replies, and I quickly pick it up and slide it back into my purse. The police enter, and we all give our statements. I get changed, and we’re about to leave when the manager comes out with my dress.
“It’s yours,” she says, smiling sadly. “Don’t let what happened ruin that fact.”
She tries to give it to me for free, but I pay for it, not wanting her to lose out on money. I don’t deserve a free dress for what happened today. It’s our mess that put innocent people in danger, and I don’t like that. I feel guilty as hell about it.
I don’t let what happened taint the dress, though, just knowing that I won’t find another one that makes me look like that.
Even if I’ve already had to aim a gun at someone while wearing it.
We try to forget Rosalind and all her bullshit, but it’s hard. We’re both still a bit shaken.
“Thanks for having my back today,” Julianna says suddenly, tucking her hair back behind her ear.
“Always,” I reply. I love our time together, and I love that Romeo knew that she would need a little break from motherhood, but I know that after today we might not get another one without someone guarding us.
But today we did a damn good job of looking after ourselves, if I do say so myself.
“This is my first time leaving Julian,” she admits, checking her phone. “And after what happened, I just want him in my arms. Should we go?”
I nod. “Yeah, let’s.”
When we walk back into the clubhouse we see River gently rocking Julian, Hades snuggled up on his left side, obviously supervising, and Romeo coming out of the kitchen with a fresh bottle of pumped breast milk. They both seem to have it all under control between the two of them.
“You’re back,” Romeo says, smiling widely. His smile drops when he sees our faces. “What’s wrong?”
Julianna takes her son in her arms and holds him close. “Rosalind showed up, she pulled a knife, Bella pulled a gun. And then Rosalind took a hostage—”
“But no one got hurt, and we handled ourselves,” I add, wincing at the rage I see flash in River’s eyes.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Romeo demands, frowning. “I’m going to fucking kill—”
Julianna scowls. “Not in front of Julian.”
River comes closer to me and pulls me against him. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “I’m fine now.”
He looks to Romeo. “I know she is Julianna’s sister, but the next time she does something, I’m not going to care.”
Romeo looks at Julianna but nods in agreement.
“You can’t kill my sister,” Julianna says to River, as she takes a deep breath. “I know how crazy that sounds considering everything she does, but I just couldn’t live with myself—”
“Just pretend she went on a long vacation,” River helpfully remarks.
I elbow him.
“I don’t know why she wants to see Julian so bad, but it makes me feel uneasy,” Julianna admits. “I hope that she just leaves it alone. I need to tell my parents what happened today. What if we had Julian with us? It’s so scary to think he could have been around during all this.”
Romeo comforts her, promising that nothing will happen.
“How was Julian?”
“He cried, but we handled it, didn’t we, River?” Romeo replies, still watching Julianna with concern etched into his furrowed brow.
River looks over at me with narrowed eyes and says, “Yes, we did. And, Bella, we are waiting a year before we have one of our own like we agreed. Don’t look at me like I’m a piece of meat.”
I roll my eyes.
He then picks me up, throws me over his shoulder and carries me out. “What are you doing? I have things to do,” I call out, squeezing his ass cheeks. He has a really nice ass.
He throws me on the bed, jumps on it and just hugs me, and loves me, kissing my face and holding me tight. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” he whispers, kissing me. “I would have been over there as soon as I could.”
“It all happened so fast,” I admit, swallowing hard. “And then it was over. We had a quick drink, because I needed one, and then we came home. Rosalind ran off when the cops came. We had it under control,” I say, touching his cheek. I mean, as much as we could have. “I may have lost my temper and pushed her, and then as you heard pulled my gun out on her.”
“My sweet, gentle Bella? You’ve been hanging around me too long.”
“That’s exactly what she said. But I have to protect the queen,” I say, shrugging.
“Well, you are my queen, so next time call me if anything happens,” he replies, kissing my nose. “Although after this, I doubt the two of you will be going anywhere without an escort.”
I thought as much.
“You know, I think I truly understand you and your need to protect your family and loved ones. There’s nothing I wouldn’t have done to protect Julianna today. And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you.”
He stills, and gives me a long look. “And that’s why you are perfect for me.”
“And I kind of bought my wedding dress,” I blurt out.
He rolls me over onto my back and looks me in my eyes. “Really? That was fast. Fuck, I can’t wait to see you in it. And then take it off you.”
“I know, I wasn’t going to buy anything, just try a few on, but when I wore it I just knew it was the one,” I say, smiling. “It’s stunning.”
“Then I’m glad you got it,” he says, kissing my nose. “Anything that makes you smile like that, I want you to have it.”
I really do love this man.
I’ve never felt so loved and so taken care of before. I’ve never felt more appreciated and more understood.
I’ve never felt so wanted, and so beautiful.
And that’s how I know this is where I’m meant to be.
A few weeks go by with no news from the police, which makes me think that they couldn’t come up with enough evidence to take River back in, and I, for one, am thrilled. I don’t know what he did to get away with it, and I don’t want to know, but I’m just grateful. Maybe I should be scared of him, or concerned about the type of man that he is and what he’s capable of, but I’m not. I know that he just does what needs to be done.
Someone once said that the difference between a hero and a villain is that villains will do anything for the people they love. A hero wouldn’t hurt anyone, or kill for someone else.
A villain would.
So maybe he’s my villain, and maybe I’m more than okay with that.
He’s the most loyal man I’ve ever known, and he will do what needs to be done for the best of the MC.
For his family.
And I respect that, and him.
And I’d do anything to protect him right back.
So although I come off as sweet and innocent, maybe the truth is that I’m a villain, too.