The Rose That Got Away - Christina C. Jones Page 0,7
so she could stay in bed.”
I turned the water off, knowing I couldn’t stand there washing my hands forever – I had to turn around and face May – I just hoped the visual appearance of my face didn’t match the pain I felt.
“Oh no – is she okay?” I asked, trying to deflect as I turned.
It didn’t work.
May’s eyes went wide as she took in my battered appearance. “Tamra!” she exclaimed. “What on earth happened?! Who did this to you?!”
“It’s nothing, May,” I tried to soothe, raising my hands. “I just… listen, I’ve gotta go, okay? I’m sorry for lying to you, but… I was really coming over here to leave Roxy, so she wouldn’t be alone. But I have to go.”
May opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted by the sound of the door. “That’s probably the mail – let me grab this package, and then me and you are gonna talk.”
“May, I—”
“Just give me a minute,” she insisted, turning to jog toward the door.
I’d already expended too many minutes here though.
I dried my hands and grabbed my bag, then bent to offer Roxy one last cuddle.
My hand was on the back door handle when I heard a male voice that sent a shiver up my spine.
It was him again.
Immediately, I dropped my bag and whipped my gun from my waist, finger on the trigger as I moved to the kitchen doorway to catch the conversation.
“…need you and your daughter to come with me. I know I probably sound like a lunatic, but you have to trust me. Tommy Turner has decided you’re a threat to his future, and he’s willing and able to eliminate the threat.”
“And how do we know you’re not the threat?” I asked, coming around the corner, gun drawn and pointed at the thorn May had unwittingly let into her home. I had to give it to her – he looked very non-threatening in his cheesy khakis and polo shirt, with the sleeves covering the tattoos high on his arms.
I knew better though.
“Get away from him, May,” I demanded, and she listened, scrambling backward as he drew a weapon of his own.
“Tamra, what the hell are you doing with a gun?!” May asked, but I had no choice except to ignore her.
He wasn’t pointing the gun at her.
He was pointing it at me.
“How do I know you aren’t the threat?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “Put that down, Ms. Lewis – the police cannot help you.”
I glanced away from him long enough to see May with her cell phone in her hands. I locked my eyes on the thorn again before I shook my head. “Don’t do it, May. Please trust me. Just go upstairs, and check on Amelia. And put together a bag. It’s time to go.”
The thorn took a few steps toward me, his eyebrows furrowed, face pulled into a scowl. “She’s not going anywhere with you. And you still haven’t answered my question.”
“If I wanted her dead, I’d have done it a year ago, when I moved in,” I declared, as May bounded up the stairs to get to her daughter. “And I’m not for hire. Can you say the same?”
He shook his head. “Nope. But I’m not here to hurt her – I’m here to protect her.”
“Why the fuck should I believe that?”
“Because I didn’t put a bullet in her head as soon as she opened the door,” he answered. “And because I haven’t put a bullet in yours.”
“We can see which one of us has the faster trigger finger if you want,” I offered, raising my gun to refine my aim, just as the doorbell rang again.
This time, it was a delivery – I could see the package through the glass panels at the side of the front door, and watched the delivery-person jog back down the steps.
“No. My boss wants to see you.”
I scoffed. “Fuck your boss. And fuck you. Why on earth would I want to meet him?”
“Her,” the thorn corrected. “And you’ve probably already met. I feel like you would’ve looked up to Alicia.”
My eyes went wide. “Alicia? The rose, Alicia?”
“Yes.” He lowered his weapon. “I’m sure you already know this – probably why you attacked me – but… I’m a thorn. I found Alicia, and I work for her now… helping people. Saving people, in situations where the police… the law… may not be an ideal avenue.”
“What?” I sucked my teeth. “So you’re what… a goddamn superhero or something?”
He shook his head, taking a