Chapter Twenty
Cash
When we got back from the cemetery, Rose asked for the knife. I had told her she could have it back when she was ready to tell her brother everything. She said she was. We went up to our room, and I pulled it out of its hiding spot. When I handed it to her, I asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, it’s time he knew the truth.”
I wanted to be there with her, but she asked for privacy, and it was the hardest thing I’d ever done—letting her speak to him alone.
But I had to trust her.
I sent a text to Torment, giving him a heads-up to make sure he was in the clubhouse. She would need to talk to him when she was done. I should have insisted on being with her.
I wanted to protect her. I wasn’t sure what she would tell him, but if he reacted in any way other than complete and total support, I would kick his judgmental ass.
King’s office was just the distraction I needed to keep me busy while they talked. She wouldn’t be happy when I barged my way in if Mimic said something to upset her. And make no mistake, that was exactly what I would do if that punk-ass kid upset my woman in any way.
“You heard from Jonah?”
“Nothing important. He checks in with Brandy sporadically. He hasn’t been able to learn anything as of yet.
Though I think he might be a favored prospect.
He was giving Brandy some whining-ass spiel about always having to be available for the Prez and VP and that was why he couldn’t visit her more. ”
“That sounds promising.”
“It does. Hopefully, he’ll learn something that will give us a clue as to why they’re here. I’m worried about the kid.”
“You don’t think he’ll join the Death Dogs, do you?” I asked, wondering if his thoughts mirrored my own. Jonah seemed like a great kid, and I suspected he’d make a great brother. The idea of easy money and easy pussy could have a profound effect on how corruptible a young man could be.
“No, Blade said he’s solid. He knew Jonah’s mom, Clara, when he was a kid. Said that woman never let anyone get away with shit. She raised Jonah with a tight fist. I’m worried he’ll get himself into a situation he can’t get out of.”
Before I could respond, King and I turned toward the door when we heard Mimic yelling in the hallway.
“Rose, stop.”
“What the fuck?” I jumped out of the chair I was sitting in.
Mimic tried to run past me, and I grabbed his arm.
“What the fuck happened?”
“Rose and I were talking in the kitchen, and Amber overheard us.”
“What did Amber overhear?” King asked.
“Who the fuck cares? What happened to Rose?” This wasn’t about Amber right now. Jesus Christ. I was starting to understand what Rose’s issue was with her.
“She was telling me about Val, and I got upset with her because she gave me shit about calling Sam, Momma. She’s had Val as her mom a fuck of a lot longer than I’ve had Sam. When I told her she had Val to be her mom, she said Val was Amber’s mom, and that was what Amber overheard.”
“Fuck,” King hissed, pulling out his phone. He held it to his ear for a minute, then disconnected. “She won’t answer.”
Holding his phone back to his ear, he barked, “Sypher, has Amber called Dante? She knows about Val. She overheard Mimic and Kytten talking.” King glared at Mimic, and while it didn’t thrill me either, this wasn’t the kid’s fault.
We were to blame for keeping this shit from her.
She should have been told when she was told about Dante.
Ignoring King, I asked, “What else?”
“They yelled back and forth at each other, and then Amber said Val chose Rose and stormed off.”
“Where is Rose now?”
“She ran upstairs; I was following her when you stopped me.”
I looked up the stairs and then remembered the knife. Looking back at Mimic, I asked, “Did she give you the knife?”
“What knife?”
“FUCK!” I shoved Mimic out of the way and ran up the stairs, taking them three at a time. I had to get to Rose. “Call Torment,” I hollered over my shoulder, but I didn’t stop moving. I couldn’t. I had to get to her.
Before she hurt herself again.
Grabbing the knob in my hand, I twisted, but it didn’t move. This time I didn’t bother with my shoulder. I lifted my leg and slammed my boot into the doorknob, breaking both the lock and the door.
Fuck it, that’s what we had prospects for.
“ROSE!” I shouted as I rushed across the room to the open doorway of the bathroom. She looked up at me, tears streaming down her face, but her smile warmed my heart.
“I don’t want to be this person anymore,” she whispered.
I kneeled at her feet, my hands on her thighs. She held the open knife in her lap. I wanted to snatch it away from her, but I didn’t. She needed to give it up willingly. That much I knew.
“Cash?” Torment called from my room.
“Hang out there for a minute. My woman’s naked, and I’d hate to have to kill you and start a war.”
Rose chuckled, and I smiled. “Talk to me, Rosie.”
“I didn’t mean for her to hear me.” She shook her head, emphasizing her words.
“I wanted to tell Thorne everything. I wanted to give him the knife, so he knew. So he understood why I did it. But she heard me, and now I’ve ruined everything.
Val’s gonna be so mad. She’s going to hate me for hurting her daughter. ”
“She won’t be mad, baby. Val’s been wanting to tell Amber the truth for months. We wouldn’t let her. You did her a favor.”
Rose sat there, staring at the knife in her hands.
“Look at me, baby.” I lifted her chin with my finger. “Let me help you.”
Rose smiled at me. “She said you wanted to.”
“Who, baby?”
“Rachel. I heard her voice as if she were in the room with me. She told me to tell you the truth. Not to hide it from you like she did.” Her eyes dropped to the knife again as her fingers caressed the blade in a manner that seemed almost loving. “I met her.”
“What?” I asked as I sat back on my feet. “When?”
“Two years ago, when I got Aspen settled here.” Her eyes danced between mine when she paused. I knew she was waiting for me to say something, but I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t form thoughts, let alone words.
“I didn’t realize it was her until I saw her picture in your room.
She came into the flower shop on the first day Aspen opened.
Rachel spent more time talking to me than she did Aspen.
” She took a deep breath and then knocked me on my ass, my back hitting the wall, when she said, “She left me a letter. It was in the pocket of my cut. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. I haven’t read it yet.”
“Why not?”
“I’m scared,” she confessed.
“What are you scared of, Rose?”
“It has my name on it.”
I pressed my head against the wall behind me. My eyes closed, shutting out the world as it spun. She knew. She fucking knew. “God damn you, Rach.”
“Please don’t be mad. We only talked that one day.”
“I’m not mad, baby. I don’t know what I am, but I’m not mad. You should read her letter. When you’re ready. But right now, you need to talk to Torment.”
“I know.” She closed the knife and held it out to me. “Keep it, baby.” I curled her hand around it. “When you’re done talking to Torment, if you want me to take it, I will. Let me get you some clothes.”
Torment was sitting on the bed, listening to everything. When I caught his eyes, he asked, “Did she cut?”
“No.”
He exhaled and dropped his elbows to his knees and held his head in his hands. “Thank fuck.”
“She’s ready to talk to you.” He looked up at me, his eyebrows near his hairline.
“I’ll meet her downstairs.”
He left the room, and I handed Rose her clothes so she could dress. She came out of the bathroom and gasped when she saw the door.
“The prospects will have it fixed before we go to bed.” She nodded, and I took her hand as we walked into the hallway.
“Will you come with me?” she asked, her voice holding a tinge of fear. “When I talk to Dr. Dunaway? I’d like you to be there.”
“Are you sure, baby?”
She nodded, and her eyes held mine as something washed over her. I wouldn’t call it peace. More like resignation.
“I’ll hold your hand, or you can sit in my lap. Whatever you need from me.” My hand held the back of her head as I leaned down and kissed her.
“I’m scared, Cash. I’m afraid once you hear everything, you won’t want me.”
“Never gonna happen,” I said before I kissed her again. “Come on.” I led her downstairs. The main room was busy as King called everyone in. Haizley was frantic in the corner, trying to reach Amber.
“This is my fault,” she whispered.
“It’s not. Amber is responsible for her own actions. She’s hurting, and she ran off instead of talking to someone. She knew there wasn’t a man or woman in this clubhouse that wouldn’t drop what they were doing to talk with her. Not to mention her brother.”
Rose nodded. I knew she didn’t agree with me about her part, but she knew what I said about Amber was true.
“Come on, baby. Torment is waiting.”
We stepped into church, and he stood from his seat and met Rose just inside the door. “I am so proud of you.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“Kytten, you took the most important step. Not only did you not make that cut, but you asked for help. I know you don’t see it, but that was the hardest part,” Torment said, and I fucking loved that he was so gentle with her.
“You haven’t heard what I’m going to say yet.”
“No, but once I do, a weight will be lifted and you’ll feel the difference.”
She looked at him skeptically. Torment was right.
Once I opened up to Haizley, and told her what I was feeling, it was just like he said.
A huge fucking weight lifted off me, and I felt lighter, freer.
Rose would too. Once she knew nothing she told me would change the way I felt for her.
The monsters would lose their hold on her.
“Cash, if you’ll excuse us,” Torment said.
“I’d like him to stay.”
“Are you sure, Kytten?” Torment asked, looking at me.
“I can’t do this without him.”
“Okay. Where would you like to start?
She looked at me, and I squeezed her hand. “I’ve got you, baby. You can do this.”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Nothing, and I mean fucking nothing could have prepared me for what I learned. It took every ounce of strength I had not to let go of her hand, but also not to hurt her. My body was tense, strung out tight with every word she said.
My jaw ached from the way I clenched my teeth, trying not to let Rose see my rage.
I could hear her monsters now.
I could feel them clawing their way out of her body and climbing into mine.
They wanted to scream? I would let them fucking scream. They wanted to rage? I would let them fucking rage. And when the time was right, I would release those fucking monsters and let them get justice for what she had endured.
Because there was nowhere that fucking bitch could hide.