Chapter Fourteen Rose
“When are you coming back? Brynley and Sutton have your place ready for you to move in. I want to move in. It looks fantastic. Super cozy. Plus if we move, I won’t have to deal with fucking bikers coming by all the time. Also, isn’t Liza getting close to popping?
I thought you were going to be one of her birthing buddies.”
“I don’t know right now Abby. If you want to move into the house go ahead. You know what room was designed for you.”
“The girls also put together a nursery for the baby. Did you go to the doctor at least? To find out how far along you are? I also want to say again, I am so sorry I outed you with Rage. The words slipped out before I knew what I was doing and I was so fucking pissed at what I heard.
I honestly didn’t know you left either and thought you were still there. That really, isn’t even a fucking excuse, I feel like shit about it. Sick to my stomach really, I’m so fucking sorry.
I’ve been your ride or die for so long and I just fucked that all up by slipping when you needed me to shut the hell up.”
“Abby, we talked about this, no it wasn’t cool that you slipped. You really are supposed to be able to keep my secrets. I get that you were pissed about what he was saying, but at some point these aren’t things that are for you to share.
I know you didn’t mean to say it and you can’t take it back now. I’m upset, but I know you’re sorry. So we can just move past that and maybe we can talk more about it when I get back. As for the doctor, I've not yet gotten in touch with anyone. I just want to pretend it is not real right now.
I think I’m a little further along than I thought. I looked back it's been a few months without a period and honestly, I never thought anything of it because I’m on the pill and I never had a period every month. So right now I’m going to just ignore all the serious shit.”
“Have you told your family?”
“Yeah, they know. I told them when I got here.”
“Everything?”
I sigh and look out at the ranch. I’m sitting on the porch swing with Bandit, my five year old Australian Shepherd, resting his head on my lap.
“No. They don’t know everything and they aren’t going to.”
“You can’t keep hiding all of this shit from your family Rose. They deserve to know. You need to have other people to lean on, you just keep so much shit to yourself. You also really need to let people protect you, especially now that you’ve got a baby on the way. Have you talked to Rage?”
“He has called and texted, I haven’t gotten back to him.”
“You’ve been gone for two weeks. You probably should at least talk to him.”
“I don’t really have anything to say to him.”
“Well unfortunately you need to say something to him. You’re having his baby.”
“Yeah well, I don’t really think I care if it is his baby.”
“Okay, well go to the doctor, or I am calling Dr. Hansen myself and scheduling you something. I want to know how far along you are and also talk to your baby daddy. At least to tell him to leave me the fuck alone. He has a right to know you are at least healthy and okay Rose.
That is his baby in your belly.”
With that she ends the call and I open it to the messages. There has been a flood of them from Rage.
Rage: Can you please call me.
Rage: I need to know you’re okay.
Rage: I know I fucked up. I know I’ve done shit, I’ve said shit and I’m so sorry.
Rage: We need to talk. Call me, please.
Rage, he’s not one to beg. I know this. I’ve known him for over a year and a half and the man never begs. I know that I need to do this, but I don’t want to do this. I need to get this over with. So I hit the call button and wait for him to answer.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three.
“Rose?”
“Yeah, um. Hi.”
“Fuck, Rose. Thank you for calling.”
“Yeah, well I thought we should talk.”
“Listen, Rose,” I hear him take a breath before he continues, “I know you overheard some fucked up shit and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of it. I was drunk and talking a big game because all these feelings scare me. So I wanted to make it seem like it meant nothing,
I’m so fucking sorry you had to hear all of that. I’m so fucking sorry—”
“Were you sleeping with other people while we were sleeping together?” I interrupt him because honestly, I don’t give a fuck to hear about any of his excuses or explanations right now.
“Rose–”
“NO! Don’t Rose me, answer the question. It is a yes or no answer. Give it to me straight. Do something honest for once in the entire time I’ve known you. You owe me that.”
“I slept with some of the club girls, it only happened a couple of times and it only happened recently.”
I nod my head knowing that he can’t see me, but I’m so infuriated.
“So were you at least wearing protection with your whores or were they just as special as I was? I mean I already plan on going and getting tested for everything and its fucking mother, but I just want to know how much of a fucking asshole you are.”
“I used protection. You are the only person I have ever gone bare with.”
“Well, you will have to forgive me for not believing you. I’m not all that special. I’m sure you’ve got fucking a million women that you stick your dick into. As far as you saying that it only happened a couple of times, I don’t believe you. But whatever. It’s in the past,
we are nothing to each other and I’m not planning on letting you put your dick anywhere near me again. So as far as the baby is concerned, I will keep you updated on what is going on. I do not want you at appointments. The only time I will be in a room with you is after this baby is born.
We can communicate more than about custody and visits. Other than that, I do not want to talk to you. I am having this baby whether you like it or not. I don’t need your support, emotional or financial. If you want to be there for your baby then fine. I’m not going to stop you,
but I want you to know that whatever we were, is over.”
I don’t let him talk, I just hang up the phone and lean my head back against the back of the swing. Bandit perks his head up and before I open my eyes I hear a voice I haven’t heard in a while.
“Hey there pretty flower, how is my favorite cousin doing?”
“Lizzy?”
“Hey beautiful.”
I get up off the swing and run to hug my older cousin.
“What are you doing here?”
“Uncle Beau called me. Said some things about you getting wrapped up in a big bad biker.”
“That doesn’t explain why he would call you. I mean, don’t get me wrong I am glad you’re here. I’ve missed you, but I don’t understand why they called you.”
“I want to tell you a story and I want you to know that you are stronger than you think and even stronger than I am.”
“Um, okay, come sit down with me.”
She sits down on the porch swing with me and Bandit, the loyal loving dog that he squeezes in next to us and puts himself close to me.
“Do you remember those years when daddy had to send me away because someone tried to kill me after they got mama?”
“Yeah, I mean I don’t know them well because we never lived close, but I know whenever we visited or your family visited I was so sad you weren’t with them. Being surrounded by your brothers and mine was gross. Teenage boys are nasty.”
She laughs at that, “Yeah, they are. Well I was sent to Richmond, Virginia to live with my mom’s sister. Dad thought it was the safest option. He had ties with Devil’s Chaos and knew there was a chapter down in Virginia that if something happened he could call on. But he never did that,
instead he let me pretend to be someone I wasn’t someone that wasn’t being targeted by other mafia families. It was really nice, I missed all my family, but I made a life for myself down there.”
I watch her and she is fidgeting with her hands and finally she takes a deep breath before she continues.
“I met a boy. That boy became my entire world.
He was someone that I saw coming, someone I knew my daddy probably wouldn’t like, but I couldn’t help but fall.
I still love him, I wish I didn’t, but even after all these years, I still do.
He was a member of Devil’s Chaos MC. Such a small world we live in that you would find yourself someone from the very same place I ran from.
Tanner and I were together throughout high school and even after.
We had gotten a place and I know that he was working on building a home on the property that the club owns.
There was so much about our relationship and I never doubted him until one girl that he had been friends with for so long started providing me with proof that they were together.
I wanted to confront him, but I was so scared and I never fucking did.
I regret it so much. I wanted to see his face when I said that I knew him and this bitch were messing around.
She still to this day sends me videos and pictures.
It really is horrible, I’ve been gone for years.
She threatened me at one point, threatened to tell people who I am and where to find me.
I don’t know how she knew the truth because even the boy that I loved more than anything never knew who I really was.
I had found out I was pregnant and she kept coming with all the threats.
She got worse because somehow she found out I was pregnant.
It was like this bitch was living in my head.
I did what I had to do to save my baby. So I left when he was on a run.
I pretended everything was fine until that day he left to go to some club business.
I packed up everything I could in my car and grabbed my aunt and got out of there.
Finn did his thing and hid me. Made sure there was no trace of me anywhere.
I went home, I became the mafia princess that I was supposed to be.
Helping with the family business, just without the marriage alliance that would have been required of me.
I told dad that I would not marry anyone for any type of gain and he followed my wishes.
But with all that being said, I never told the father of my baby he had a daughter.
I was afraid of what would happen to her and myself if he found out.
He hurt me and I ran, you may have come home, but you plan on going back and living your life the way you always wanted.
You are so strong, Rose. You are going to be a wonderful mama.
You are already giving this man hell, if anything I heard on that phone call is part of it.
Don’t let that man take any more of your peace.
I know you came here to clear your head, but don’t let him keep you here longer than that.
Go to the doctor, find out when your baby is going to be here.
Pack up your dogs and your horses and go home.
Don’t be like me. Don’t be afraid of everything, go back there and fight.
Fight for what is yours and make that man understand who the hell he lost.
You are a bad ass. You are perfect and you are enough.
NO man should ever make you feel like you're less than enough.
Maybe one day this boy will wake up and realize what he lost.
Maybe he won’t, but you fight and don’t let him take away all the happiness you were building there.”
There was so much information in that, I mean I want to know the whole fucking story, but I don’t think I am going to get it. I also don’t know which one of those men is Tanner.
“Do you want to meet my daughter?”
“You brought her here?”
“Of course I did. I want her to meet her cousin. Plus some of the family wanted to see you, it’s not often that we are able to visit you. We try to stay out of Moretti territory if we don’t have to be there. My father and Salvatore have a decent enough relationship,
but I think the lot of us showing up in his territory would stress him out.”
“You’re probably right, the whole slew of Callahans in Virginia sounds like a lot for anyone. So which one of the brothers is Tanner? I must know?”
She laughs as she stands up.
“Come on, they are in the barn. My girl really wanted to see your collection of horses.”
“Aw, come on, you’re not going to tell me what brother fathered your baby?”
“How many of the brothers are you familiar with?”
“Well I spent a lot of time there, plus I’m friends with Peyton and Parker Jacobson.”
Something flashes across her face and she smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Well then, you’ll see.”
I huff and stand up, “Fine, keep your secrets.”
“Let’s go, Rose. I want to see all your beautiful horses.”
“What, you don’t have any horses up there in your big mansion in Maine?”
“I mean we do, but not like you guys have.”
“Yeah, well we live on a ranch in Texas. Horses are a must.”
“Dogs too apparently, you’ve got like fifty million of them.”
“Don’t be jealous because my home is cooler than yours. Maybe one day you’ll get yourself a nice big house where you can fill it up with all fifty million of the dogs you want.”
“Are they in the family barn or are they in the other barns?”
She looks at me like I am crazy when I ask that as we start walking.
“You have more than one barn?”
“Well, yeah, we need to have barns for all the different horses.”
“Do you know how many horses you really have?”
“Yeah we have a lot. Maybe almost one hundred. But we have horses for show, working horses, breeding horses, just a bunch of them. Plus you know all the horses that are just mine, I do plan on taking them back to Virginia.
I will also be looking into trying to find more horses that are geared towards therapy.”
“Wow, you are a fantastic woman Rose. What was that man thinking?”
“I could say the same thing about your mystery man.”
I look at her and her eyes look sad, but she is trying to put on a brave face.
“You miss him don’t you?”
She looks at me and gives me a sad smile.
“Every single day.”
We get up to the private family barn where I am assuming her daughter is and this is where I have been spending a good amount of time since I have been here. It is a cream limestone with dark wood stall doors and a black metal roof. I notice the door is open and know that we came to the right place.
“So who all did you bring with you?”
Walking inside I am hit with a whole army of my family, my large beautiful family.
“Dia duit, mo Rós milis. Hello there my sweet Rose. ” My Uncle Declan was the first to come up to me and pull me in for a hug. “Tá tú caillte againn. We have missed you.”
“Uncail, tá mé caillte agat freisin. Uncle, I have missed you too.” I sigh into his hug.
Now with all of them here I feel at peace for the first time in a long time.
I have felt so out of control these last few months, but seeing all my family makes me remember where I came from.
Where my strong Irish roots came from. My daddy might have left the family business, but that did not take away that I was Rose Callahan, my uncle was the head of the Callahan Irish Family.
Badass runs in our family, no biker boy or stupid whores can take away who I am.
“Mamaí, cé hé seo? Mama, who is this?” I hear a tiny little voice ask and I look down standing next to Lizzy is a beautiful little girl. As I look at her my eyes widen because I know what family this girl is from and who her daddy is.