Roses & Thorns: Conquer Read online

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  I’m literally cringing as she raps on the door with her hand wrapped around my wrist. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a worse sound. Except perhaps the sound of a gunshot.

  “Lacey? Lacey?” She calls when no one opens the door. She turns to me with annoyed expression on her face. “I literally hear them in there.”

  “Maria,” I whisper, voice shaking. Seriously, there are unspoken rules here. “We need to—”

  “What the hell?”

  Cut. I slink back, but Maria stiffens and holds my hands so tightly that I actually think she’s gonna break my wrist.

  “Maria? Rose?”

  That’s Lacey’s small voice, popping up from behind Cut. She’s sweaty, but fully dressed. Of course. I’m sure that was the delay in answering the door.

  “What the hell are you two doing here?”

  Cut’s eyes are only boring into Maria, like he knows she’s the reason for this intrusion.

  “Sorry, I really wouldn’t interrupt your teaching if it wasn’t important.”

  Maria doesn’t sound at all afraid of him. Cut inhales a deep breath, clearly fighting for control. His heated gaze roams once over her navy blue halter top dress before meeting her eyes.

  “Well then, who’s dying?”

  “Cut, I got it,” Lacey says quietly, looking confused, but also protective of the intense anger washing off Cut. When Maria and him get together, an unmistakable tension fills the room.

  “You’re an asshole. You know that?” Maria shouts over her shoulder as Lacey pulls her off to the side. Maria sounds actually pissed off, which is rare for her. Hmm… I’ll have to ask her about it later.

  “Lacey, you have to tell Rose she’s a crazy person.”

  “Um, why?” Lacey is still trying to catch her breath, she’s covered head to toe in sweat and her face is beet red. Both of us can hear her panting, but Maria looks desperate and is not gathering how intrusive she is being right now.

  “Rose wants to go with your husband and her boyfriend—” He’s not my boyfriend. “—to meet with her father! You have to convince her to… to… not do it. I can’t… she can’t. We all can’t lose Rose, am I right?”

  Both Lacey and I glance at each other. I’ve never seen Maria like this. I see that facade fall over Lacey’s reddened face. Like all of a sudden, Maria is one of those people she puts under her thumb and protects.

  “Sven would never let anything happen to Rose. I know you’re scared to lose a friend, but it may be good for her to—”

  “I’m not scared of losing her! I’m just saying. You’re her friend, too.”

  Since this conversation no longer involves me, ironically enough, I take the opportunity to look around the room. Anywhere but at my crazy best friends. My head makes its way all the around to room, ‘til it lands on Cut. His body language is one of a man on the verge of lashing out, but his eyes are trained on Maria and her clearly-panicking form.

  “Hey, gorgeous…”

  I turn to see Frances smirking at Maria. Clarity washes over Maria’s face, washing out the distress that was clearly once there.

  “I trust your decision, Lacey,” Maria says with a light tap on the shoulder. With a planted smile on her face, one I’ve seen so many times and never thought twice about, Maria spins on her heel.

  “Hey, who might you be?”

  She leans her curvaceous body into his stiff form.

  “Frances. I think the real question is: who are you? You seem to have come out of nowhere. You with anyone, sexy?”

  Maria scoffs loudly. “No way.”

  She glances around, and I see the debate in her eyes.

  “Lacey,” Cut snaps. “Are we done?”

  He wants to leave, and I’m beginning to suspect Maria has something to do with that. Lacey looks at the ground, and inhales deeply. Her shoulders fall forward and instantly some of the strength fizzles from her eyes.

  “Yeah. Um, sure.”

  Her voice is unbelievably quiet, like it always is when she’s mustering up strength she doesn’t have. Cut softens slightly.

  “Just hurry,” he says in a gruff voice.

  He has a soft spot for Lacey. In the little time I’ve known him, I’ve gathered that.

  “So, wanna get out of here?” Frances asks Maria.

  “Um…” Her eyes flicker around the room, “Yeah, sounds great.”

  She runs her hand through her long, thick hair and cocks her hip to the side, indicating for him to take the lead. We all look away awkwardly. It’s an uncomfortable moment. I’m used to this shit with Maria, but I don’t want her getting involved with any of these men. More than that, it seems so forced it’s cringy. Which is not at all her. She oozes sexuality, and, although some would deem her behavior ‘slutty,’ it usually just makes sense with her. It’s her, and no one can judge her for it. But right now, I almost want to step in. I’m not sure if I should. This feels wrong. Like a mistake. I should step in. I should…

  “Maria!” We all swivel around to stare at Cut. Her eyes meet his. Something passes between the two of them. It’s like we all fall away.

  “What, big guy?”

  Maria’s eyes are the most vulnerable I’ve ever seen them. Her voice is breathy, like the words she’s saying mean more than what she can verbalize.

  Frances looks ready to kill someone. Cut, in particular. I’m becoming increasingly grateful that Cut stepped in, and I didn’t have to.

  “I made you a promise, remember? To fill you in on what happened.”

  Maria stares at him for a long time. Frances rolls his eyes and tightens his grip on her wrist.

  “You did,” she says slowly, keeping her eyes on Cut. Just like that, Maria comes back into her body. She turns to Frances with a friendly smile.

  “Sorry, babe. Change of plans. Gotta get this info.” She winks. “Next time. You seem fun.”

  Frances glares at Cut. I don’t know much about this life, but I have a feeling the term ‘cockblocker’ holds a lot more serious consequences here. Frances slips his hand over his gun. Lacey immediately steps forward, ready to jump in front of a bullet for Cut, meanwhile Cut simply raises an eyebrow. Deciding against it, but clearly pissed off, Frances turns back to Maria.

  “Fine. When I get back from guarding her little brother,” he says, pointing a thumb at Lacey.

  Lacey immediately stiffens.

  “Well then, you should get to it, Frances,” Cut interjects with a smirk. I’ve been in this life long enough now to know there’s a threat behind that smile. He still hasn’t let go of Maria’s wrist, even though she’s tried to pull away.

  “Next time,” Maria says, still maintaining her cool facade. He sends one last glare to everyone in the room.

  “I’m sure my husband would not want to get involved in this.”

  Damn, Lacey. She’s gotten more brazen since I last saw her. She said that in such a tiny voice, but the threat was clear. Frances squeezes Maria’s wrist tighter, tight enough to make her gasp. That’s when Cut steps forward with a growl. Once Frances has seen everyone’s reaction, he sends a dark smirk Cut’s way and walks off.

  “Ready, Lacey?” Cut asks after a beat, as if nothing happened.

  Lacey is still stiff from what Frances said about Jamie. What did he mean by that? Jamie is everything to Lacey.

  “Actually, Cut, I’m so sorry, but I have to find Ruston. Jamie… um…”

  “Don’t need to say more. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Cut.”

  Lacey rolls up on her toes and starts to sprint forward, before stopping in front of me.

  “I think it’s great that you are going to confront your father. Use your voice.”

  She offers me a small smile and runs off. Then it’s me, Cut, and Maria. I feel very out of place.

  “Why’d you to do that?” Maria asks Cut as he swings his bag over his shoulder.

  This isn’t gonna end well. I wish she’d drop it, but that’s
not in Maria’s nature.

  Cut sighs as he looks over at Maria.

  “The whole display was pathetic. You’re welcome.”

  “You’re welcome?! You asshole. There was nothing pathetic about that. He’s attractive, and I wanted…”

  “You have no argument, Maria. I didn’t see you rejecting my offer. It was a half-hearted lifeboat that I threw at you and you took it.”

  I suck in a deep breath. Ouch. Maria shuffles her feet on the floor before looking back up. She looks confident again, but resigned.

  “Thank you.”

  Cut visibly jolts. “You’re welcome, Maria.”

  He throws a nod in my direction before walking out.

  “Uh, Maria, what the hell was all that?”

  “Rose!”

  I whirl around. A very pissed off looking Sven is charging down the hall.

  “What the hell is this shit I’m hearing about you going to Marketta’s with us? That’s a no!”

  “Thank god someone has sense,” Maria mumbles before leaving us alone.

  “No, Rose. Absolutely not!”

  “Please just hear me out on this, Sven. Please.”

  He huffs and looks to his left. “What?”

  “I need my voice heard. I need to tell him I don’t owe him a damn thing.”

  “That was a given when he tried to have you shot!”

  “But I need to say it to him. It’s important for victims to have their voice heard, Sven.”

  “Great, I’ll get you a therapist.”

  “I do need that, but that’s not what I mean.”

  “I’ll set you up with a therapist. I figure you’ll need a team now that you’re here. I’ll help. I know good people.”

  I love that he’s in therapy. I still can’t believe it.

  “That’s great, but based off of this conversation, I don’t know if I’ll be staying.”

  My arms cross over my chest and I glare at him. That dark smirk I’ve come to have such a strong love-hate relationship with crosses his face. His hand reaches up and traces my cheek.

  “You had your chance to run, Rose.” His thumb grazes my lips. “You’re with me, now.”

  At one point, that meant imprisonment. It meant becoming my father. It made me a bad person for wanting him.

  Now all I hear is…

  Safe. Free. Self-Expression. Voice.

  Sven

  Here we are in the car: me, Boss… and Rose. Of course, she knew she was going to get her way, but I still don’t like it. I don’t want him laying eyes on her, but after hearing endless talk of her using her voice, and her citing all these articles, I was done. Fine. She can go. I’m there. Boss is there. Nothing will happen to her. Yes, it will put her in more immediate danger with Miguel Castello, but her friend is game, and they aren’t going anywhere. We’ll keep them safe.

  So if she wants to use her voice, if she thinks thinks that will help her, then so be it. Boss actually thought it was a good idea for her. He said so in so many words.

  “Um, Ruston,” Boss spins around and looks at Rose with raised eyebrows. He looks tense.

  “Sorry if I can’t call you that. I don’t really know what to call you.”

  Adam. Adam. He’s not Italian. I see now why no one knows his first name. If I had a strong desire to take him out, I really could with that information. He wouldn’t be able to do much before I ended him. But I don’t want to. Not like that. I’m not sure I even want his title at all anymore.

  “Ruston’s fine.”

  “Okay, um, first I wanted to apologize for my friend. Maria is a lot sometimes, but she’s great. Thanks for being patient and keeping her safe, inside and outside your walls.”

  I smirk. “Are you kissing up to the Boss, Rose? Brown noser.”

  “I am not! But he is the Boss, and not you, so I need to make sure that Maria’s not getting herself into too much trouble.”

  Boss turns and smirks at me. “Yeah, Sven, I’m Boss. Not you.”

  My hands bunch into fists on my lap as I turn to glare at Rose. She shrugs as if to say, ‘what’d I do?’

  Still grinning, Boss mumbles, “She’s growing on me, Sven.”

  I shoot him the middle finger. He laughs and straightens up, all signs of his ever-so-rare playfulness disappearing.

  “Long as she doesn’t push it too far, she’ll be fine.”

  “Thank you. I also wanted to ask, um,” Rose starts to fidget in her seat. “Frances said something to Lacey earlier, about Jamie.”

  Boss stiffens.

  “I wanted to make sure she’s okay. That, you know, everything’s okay.”

  I’m super fucking glad I’m in the middle of them now. I don’t know how Boss is going to take this, but I can’t be mad at Rose. I’m glad to see her standing up for Lacey the way she’s always wanted to.

  “Lacey will be fine.”

  “I don’t mean to push or pry, but what’s going on with Jamie? Is Lacey really fine?”

  Boss turns to look at her fully. He studies her, eyes searching for something I’m hoping he finds.

  “The same person I said was a threat to you was involved in Lacey’s…” Boss bristles, clearly uncomfortable even saying it. “Torture. Lacey’s been trying to get us intel. She’s great at hacking.”

  “Yeah, she mentioned that.”

  Boss nods. “Lacey was being subtle. She’s incredible. Anyway, when she was digging, she found out that this… group had files on Lacey’s brother, Jamie. I put Frances and a small group of trusted men on duty to watch him. To make certain he’s safe. It was my call, and Lacey didn’t know I did that when Frances let that bit of information slip.”

  The way Boss’s eyes flash tells me Frances will pay for that slip, and it won’t be fun.

  “Oh… how’d she take that?”

  “Not well,” Boss grumbles.

  Rose goes quiet after that. I suspect it’s partly sensing Boss’s increasing temper, and partly how close we are getting to the prison. I slide my hand over the seat and lace my fingers through Rose’s. I quickly look at her when I feel how tense she is. All her muscles are braced.

  “You good?” I whisper.

  “I’m pissed,” she whispers back. When she looks at me, there’s a storm of fury in her clear blue eyes.

  “I don’t blame you. The only reason I’m not losing my shit is because you’re here, and you don’t need me acting like a raging maniac. Not my style. But trust me,” a low growling sound escapes my lips. “I want to kill him. Can’t though. We have a bigger game to play.”

  “There’s always a bigger game with you. It doesn’t matter. I don’t want him dead. I’m not gonna become him. Besides...” Rose ducks her head and lowers her voice. “Death is too easy.”

  Boss and I glance at each other. Boss raises his eyebrow, and I laugh. My hand slips around her knee and I pull her in closer.

  We don’t say anything after that. The atmosphere is tense. The playfulness is a mask, but as we pull up to the prison, all our masks slip off. Bosses lips are in a firm line, his knuckles are white from clenching his fists so hard and his posture is rigid. Straight. He looks murderous. Rose looks flushed, but pissed as well. Her hands keep clenching and unclenching. Her leg is bouncing around, but it’s not anxiety. It’s fury. Wound up hurt and fury. I’m confused. I want to know why. Of all the people to try to take Rose from me, I never suspected he’d be the one. Especially by means of murder. How naive of me. The closest people to you are always the ones who end up betraying you.

  I know this. I was blindsided and distracted by her. Never again. If I’ve learned anything in therapy about my time with Rose, it’s that I treated our ‘relationship’ like a dictatorship, when we should have been teammates.

  We’re in this now. Together. No more games. No more bullshit. I’m tired of it, frankly. It suited me then. No longer.

  On our way into the prison, Boss turns to Rose.

  “I’m fine if you want to say your piece, but our priority is gettin
g information out of him. Future over past, always, Rose. I know you’ve moved on to Maria, but Lacey is in trouble. She’d never say so, but we are all in danger. I won’t let anything happen to any one of my men, but especially not Lacey or my daughter.”

  “Of course, and I haven’t moved on to Maria… I… Oh god.” Rose’s eyes widen and she looks to the floor. “I haven’t been there for Lacey at all.”

  “Knowing Lacey, I’m sure she’s just happy you’re alive.”

  “I would never want anything to happen to Lacey,” Rose whispers, visibly shaken by her actions.

  “Good, then you’ll wait for my cue before you speak, no matter what your father tries to say to you. He’ll try to bait you, but don’t speak until I say you can.”

  “Okay.”

  I turn away from Rose, who is running through every action she’s ever made since she got back. I can’t say much to her, because, to be honest, I’ve been thinking the same thing. Rose has spent the majority of time with her ‘fun friend’ and hardly any with the friend who has quite literally risked her life for her on multiple occasions. I didn’t say anything, because who am I to judge?

  “Wait here,” Boss says, once we get inside.

  Boss goes to the desk and begins to work his magic. He leans over the desk, and it’s clear from his posture he’s using an odd mix of intimidation and flirtation to get what he wants. It works, because a minute later, we are led back by a large woman with what I am pretty sure is a beard under her chin. A rush of air gets our attention as we arrive at a pretty securely-guarded door at the side of the hallway. We all turn to Rose, who is holding what looks like her heart, but I’ve gone over her medical records enough (courtesy of Lacey) to know it’s the spot where she was shot.

  Boss is not in the mood for anything other than getting information, so he walks right in.

  “Your voice, Rose, remember. Show him your strength, not your fear. You can show me that later.”

  She nods a little frantically and walks in behind Boss. I follow suit. I’m met with the same grey hair, wrinkled skin, and cold, dead eyes from a year ago, but this time, shock and horror fill them.