She huffed and slammed the black tray down making glasses clink together. Her name is quite a mouthful. Roselyn Alexandra Donovan, but Rose for short if you want to keep a headache from the entire right or left side of your head. She's currently at hard work taking on the night shift at a bar entitled: Four Roses. This woman dealt with heat and tiring nights especially during busy weeks like this. Local biker clubs or just anyone remotely attached to illegal trade and anything to do with breaking the law waltzed into this bar with some balls attached.
But, even those people had common sense knew to keep a tight lid on their mouths before they rolled into this joint talking about anything or shooting a simple breeze. That simply known fact is because Billy Darley's biggest hot spot was right here in the middle of Rockside. Right here in the middle of the smoky , red and tinted bar. Many would cringe at the mention of Rockside, located on the Southside of Boston. Small little place that couldn't really be called a town. More like sets of neigh-boor-hoods ran by the Darley gang.
Anyone who's currently using the smart keep a lid on it method won't mention the gang at all. Unless they wanted something from the leader Billy or his father Bones Darley, whom owns the Body Shop. Everyone who was anyone with knowledge of the streets knew that the Body Shop wasn't anywhere close to being a regular car shop.
The woman named Rose, simple in height with chocolate brown hair and blue/brown eyes happened to be the closest female tangled with the Darley's. She'd grown up to know them since they were all merely entering elementary school. It's only natural that her job is working at a rundown bar with it's fine share of liquor that holds its best table to Billy and his crew. To her they were family, but family who gave her no privacy.
Personal space always lacks with one drunken customer at the bar or another. Usually depends on what week brings in what type of scumbag.
"Hey Sweetheart, how's about I give you some of this?" A gruff familiar voice filtered through Rose's ears.
She stopped with her task at hand to turn around and face the man. He happens to be a regular customer who goes by the name of Lenny. Lenny is bordering the rough looking facial features with a five o'clock shadow and a short height. His personality: always an ass whole!
Lenny was shaking his groin with a smirk on his lips grinning between Rose and his friend.
"How's about I give you some of this?" Rose retorted, flicking her middle finger into the air.
"Ooh, feisty aren't we?" He smirked.
Rose bit her lip to keep from shouting pervasive language that would make a sailor blush. She decided to ignore both men. She slid the tray of empty glasses over and started wiping down the chips of peanuts stuck to the bar.
"Aw, baby come on? Just some sugar will do." Lenny was laughing now.
Rose lost control of her temper in the flash of a second and slipped up.
"Why don't you go make some use of that thing you call a penis and go fuck yourself!" She snapped, jabbing her finger towards Lenny's groin area.
"Or maybe you could suck-"
"Rose," Came a thick Spanish accent from behind her. She turned her body to face Mike who had entered through the employees only door and tossed a crate down next to the liquor wall behind her. He was the middle aged Spanish man who owned the bar. No one really had a clue to the bar's actual time establishment though.
"Mike, these men are-" She was cut off as Mike interrupted.
"Rose, that is no way to speak to customers! Now, you apologize," he demanded, muttering something Rose didn't understand in Spanish.
"Mike, are you fucking crazy?" Her brows crinkled in confusion.
Usually Mike had been more giving in tossing out jerks if they got too fresh with the bar waitresses. Tonight though, Mike looked as if he couldn't give anything but a damn?
"Rose, NOW!" He repeated warningly.
Rose acknowledged that Mike would never fire her willingly, but if customers complained and his cash intake took a sour turn, he'd have to let the said smart mouth go. Rose chose to behave and keeping herself lucid enough to earn the cash that she needs. A woman has to pay rent somehow, right?
She sighed deeply and tossed the rag aside. "I'm sorry dude. Can I get you another drink?"
Lenny looked cocky whilst he spoke up. "Yeah darlin', I'll have a straight shot of whiskey."
"Anything for you?" She motioned to the man next to him.
"Umm yeah. I'll take a beer," he said, smiling to her.
"Bottle or tap?" Rose asked without interest.
"Tap. Love my damn frosted tops." The man winked.
"Right," Rose sarcastically replied, moving to take her place behind the bar- hunting for two clean glasses below the counter top.
She smiled having found a shot glass and a taller glass without trouble this time.
She took some moments to think while making the drinks. Normally making the drinks wouldn't be her thing, but the bartender is apparently "under the weather" or smoking pot?
"Like I don't get enough of these fucking drug addicts," she mumbled to herself.
"Hey cupcake, get your ass moving with my whiskey," Lenny shouted over the country song on the jukebox and the conversation of civilians.
Rose shook her head filling up the last inch of the other man's beer.
.
"Two more hours, just two more hours." She breathed in deeply
Mike couldn't help but chuckle at Rose as he counted out the money from the register.
"Hey, don't take my tips," Rose barked, slamming the tray set on the bar and using her two working hands to deliver the beverages.
Mike laughed and handed her out the bill for Lenny and company.
Rose wanted to stall with her feet, every step closer she got to their table. But she resisted and gracefully set down the bill and alcohol.
Mike made a coughing sound still in the same spot. Rose rolled her eyes.
"Enjoy your drinks guys." She walked away but only got a few inches before Lenny hollered something that made her mouth turn up.
"Twenty fucking dollars!" He yelled. "I'm not paying for this shit at all!" He snapped his fingers.
"Excuse me Sir, but this isn't a five star dining organization." Rose smirked, while trying to confuse the men. She continued looking on for ways to further agitate his posture. "Do you have a name?"
" I sure as hell do," Lenny smirked. "Forget me already?" He failed at an attempt to wink in god knows what way he was trying to mimic, but anyone could've guessed the wink correctly.
"No, not you. Your friend here." Rose motioned to the other man to Lenny's left. He was very sexy for keeping company like this. She'd done analyzed him in the few seconds she'd taken to deliver his beer. Normally his type would be throwing out dollars at some high and mighty strip club. But he had a sense of darkness just from his wondering eyes.
"I thought you'd never ask. The names' Ralph, baby."
"Well, Ralph, if Lenny doesn't pay the bill I'm sure you will? Am I right or am I wrong?" Rose grinned like mad. She wanted her hard earned tips, and roughing it with scumbags turned up her personal heat space. In the heated way of energy and power she felt by testing her vixen smart ass demeanor on them. "Just remember it's twenty-dollars. Strippers can wait, huh? And don't ever call me a baby." She winked cockily walking away right as Lenny snorted.
Rose got maybe half an inch or two before she felt a firm smack. She grit her teeth and slowly ground her heel into the cement causing her to turn sharply on the very overworked soles of her feet.
She watched Lenny smirking, knowing it was his large hand that reached out for her ass moments ago. Ralph set with a firm shaking of the head.
We've got an unusual charmer on our hands. Hmm?
Rose didn't need an static throat clearing sound from Mike, she knew to let it go with her dignity still in tact. You've got to roll with the punches when working in a place like this.
"Anything else?" Her eyes on Lenny. He shook his head.
She raised her brows and put on a sweet smile. Walking back to the bar, she yanked off her burgundy apron and hoped onto a bar stool- wasting no time with letting her head rest into her hands. She sighed deeply upon noticing the chimes inside of the bar ring out through her throbbing ears. She lifted her head to see who else would be making a debut tonight, but saw no one at the door. "Thank god," she mumbled, placing her head back into the comfort of her folded arms.
Rose didn't take notice to the person that is headed in her direction. When she felt someone wrap their arms around her stiff form, she jumped. Her heart fell into her chest and she rammed her back into the person-hopping from the stool for a ready defensive action. She knew it's a bar drunk.
Since her one faulty relationship with a man she thought that she might be able to love more than just a few months dating time, she felt tension with any unfamiliar man. Doctor, bill collector, you name it. None of her other boyfriends could handle who she was involved with, and those that could- bailed because of her lack of trust due to Michael. She once thought he was her angel. Finally someone good her way after her best friend never saw her as more than that typical trusted female and beneficial shelter for his manhood. She knew that he wasn't perfect, but the more she let the doubt seep in, the further in denial she got. Not so trusted, but more a cocksucking-rich fuck! He'd buy her off, sweet talk her to make all those bruises disappear from the her mind, so he'd be protected from the outside world.
No one saw until the end neared. Only three years ago.
~*~*~*~*~
Flashback- January 12th, 2004
At first he treated her well. Flowers and gifts here and there. The sex leveled beyond satisfactory, but Michael was no Billy Darley. The best friend in question. Billy never liked anyone Rose paid attention other than himself. And when he found out that she slept with him...
It went on for about four months. Rose would slip up according to Michael's standards, and he'd make sure his fist got the point through her body.
She was attending Boston University and ended up meeting Michael through a friend in her study group. She let Michael move in with her during her final college year, off campus. Though she lived far away from Rockside, Billy knew everything, he just knew.
Rose walked out of the library with a heavy messenger loaded with books. It clung to her shoulder with slight pain. She was also on the verge of finals and celebrating her twenty-second birthday. She finished up some hard studying towards her degree in English Literature. And finally, in a few short months she'd be able to go back home and visit everyone for a while. Including fishing out Vincent's number for a get together with him. She hadn't seen him since her involvement with Michael began a year ago. He'd skipped out of Boston and back to New York to see his mother and family.
But both he and Rose had promised to keep in contact with one another. I mean when you know someone for that long with a relationship containing what the two of them shared, it's best to never forget what it all amounts to. She only wished that Vincent is here for her at this point and time. He'd been there for her more than she'd ever imagined. Why did he have to leave and this ass hole enter? If it weren't for the threats of Michael promising her future would dissipate before her very eyes, she'd have kicked his solid manhood into the next fucking state and back.
Rose checked her watch. Shit, 7:30, she discovered with fear. She made a quick entrance for her car and hit the gas to home.
Once she arrived, she practically ran like she was in a marathon just to reach her apartment door. she threw her keys into the locked and the white door flew open. She shut it behind her and tossed her heavy bag down. She looked around to find the place empty. She sighed with relief and made a move to set down on the sofa.
"Well, well, the bitch finally returns." A cold voice startled every nerve with fear inside of her. The tips of her toes ached with readiness to run away from this situation. She swore to herself like all in her situation, past and present. She'd never go back to being abused after escaping that from her childhood.
She tried ignoring him to keep a tinge of dignity for herself.
Michael continued on. "Where the hell have you been? Out whoring around?"
"Hell no! I was out studying for my finals and you fucking know that!" Rose lost her temper at hearing the word whore being used in the same sentence as her name.
"Listen here bitch, you'll never amount to nothing! And unless I give you permission to go out and study, you don't!" He emphasized each word.
"Says the moron who met me at a study group," she retorted with spite, giving him a sharp glare.
Michael tossed whatever drink he held in his hand to the counter. He never drink he was just pure angry. Pure controlling.
Before she could blink his hand backhanded her sharply across the face.
Not surprising. Here we go. Rose thought while biting her lip awaiting his next move.
"I say that you my little birdie are a liar, not only a whore, no I think we should go with," Michael paused, while pretending to scan over options. "No," he continued on. " No, I think that you were out whoring around with those damn Darley's! So we'll go with the typical lying whore!" He spat, pushing Rose to the ground.
"Don't you ever say their name! And if were going for cliches tonight, baby," her tone sarcastic and cruel. " We'll deem you the typical rich ass hole who hits his feelings and then buys them off in return. Tell me, whose good enough to not hit!"
"You little bitch! How dare you?!" He yelled, bending over and preventing Rose from rising to her feet. He harshly yanked her up by her wrist. Rose knew this protocol from experience. She'd gone so long dealing with Alex's abuse that when she finally snapped, she went for the gold and it caused the biggest family throw down. This is turning out the same.
Michael wrapped his hands around her throat and began squeezing.
"Stop," Rose wheezed. He was to strong for her to continue to fight him off. But that didn't mean that she wasn't going to try! Her vision blurred as her eyes landed on the coffee table. She'd done herself in before she had time to think of a proper escape route. He'd never tried to kill her before, no matter what he'd done to her in the past.
The blurs turned into an undeniable pressure. Her eyes scanned the surrounding of the inn table for a weapon of some sort. She thanked her lucky starts that she paid attention to her instincts. With one swift kick to Michael's groin, she was up and her hand grasped the letter open and she rammed it into the hand that he was holding over his own balls. She dropped it. His white shirt immediately stained by the crimson. Rose wasted no time in looking and focused on how badly he was screaming in pain. She knew she'd successfully wounded him. She ran for the door and pulled it open. A sharp pain erupted from her skull before she could flee the apartment. Michael gripped her hair with force and pulled her backwards.
"Stupid bitch!" He screamed. He slammed her head into the door and pulled her back. She was on the verge of blacking out. Just as she thought the pressure couldn't intensify a slicing tear bounded her stomach. She screamed out as loud as her lungs would allow. It felt like a burning fire connected with the pain of her stomach and rammed it's way up her lungs. Rose threw her leg back and pulled the door open. She ran, ran harder and faster. The wind pumping beneath her legs. Soon enough she was outside and running through that Boston rain. She didn't know how she ran that far, but she did. Minutes felt like hours, buildings in her vision blurred with her impaired vision.
She fought of the concussion to make it those two miles to one place that could hold help. The letter opener clung to her stomach like tape to a piece of paper.
The place that she was looking for came into her sights. She huffed and screamed out in the night air. Just as she reached the distance where he cry for help could be heard, she screamed, but the roar of an engine cut her off.
No, my chance, NO! She had no more fight left in her lungs. Breathing hurt like a raging fire from hell. The roared flared up and Rose's head twisted in confusion.
He must've came to investigate. Her eyes literally widened with shock and a deep sense of fulfillment followed by terror and fear. Billy was here. Could he hear her?
Keeping her valuable time, Rose hollered his name and started limping. The panic settling in. She wouldn't give up!
"Billy!" Rose screamed over the rain. From the scene to anyone else it was hopeless.
The blood warmed against her legs as it stained her jeans. The rain poured down.
"Please don't leave! Billy, come back!" She felt hysteric.
She collapsed in the middle of the road. With her wet hands wrapped around the letter opener, she curled up in ball against the wet black top.
"Let this be over," her tears blended in with the rain.
She shut off all sounds from her ears. Her mind fell blank. She lay there shivering and whimpering until a voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Rose, is that you?" The deep voice asked with concern.
Sure enough she lifted her head to see his car had been the one to pull up. She looked up. There he was brown long leather trench coat soaked, the rain drops running down his shaved down scalp. His goatee was dripping wet from the rain.
God he looks so beautiful in the rain. Rose smiled through chattering teeth.
"What happened?" His jaw already clenching, his fingers brushing the metal
Before she could open my mouth to speak, Billy had her up and in the mustang. She did not know why she let her eyes stay closed the entire time. If something bad was going to happen to her then Billy was the last thing that she wanted to hear. Once he started down the road, grunts and growls along the way, She managed to let her eyes open and her gaze lingered on his face. His eyes were the bluest of blue tonight. You could see the pain and fear clearly along with knowing of exactly what happened. It's one of the good things about having Billy as a best friend. The man is smart and he just knows things. We know one another and can just be. Billy and Rose hadn't been together for some time in bed though. A few years at best. Thinking about it now after going so long without seeing him was sickening to her.
She closed her eyes again whilst he encouraged her to keep them open. The way had been short and quick. Rose made it inside the hospital before I could open her eyes a second time.
Billy shouted and yelled and voices filtered through her ears. After moments that felt like forever Rose felt herself being wheeled back into a hallway that smelled so grossly familiar.
She stayed strong and kept my cries for him to hold my hand to myself.
"I'm going to be here, Rose. Everything is going to be all right. But don't fuckin' expect to see him ever again!" It was the last thing she heard before the cold numbness took her underneath it's wings.
----------
Rose never really knew what happened to Michael to an extent. Just that he sliced open Billy's face and left quite the scar.
but she let her fear fall away and turned to find the comfort of Joe Darley's arms. She sighed in relief before hugging him slightly. "You scared me, you shit bag," Rose groaned.
His look masked one of seriousness, but no trace of humor. "You ok?"
Joe is the closest to her aside from Billy. She helped Billy take care of Joe as they grew up. They'd been through everything together and back.
"I'm fine." She smiled.
"Rose, are you sure?"
"You want a drink, Joe?" Rose laughed, breaking out of his sentence.
"Hells yeah. But, hey, how long do you have left of your shift?"
"Bout an hour and forty-five," Rose answered immediately, making Joe laugh again.
"Ok." He chuckled and left her side to take his place at the back table.
Joe noticed the door of the bar widely opening and shadows that bound highly off the wall, entered. Joe met his brother Billy in stride.
"Hey," Joe greeted.
"She workin' tonight?" Billy asked plainly.
"Yeah, she's getting some shit done."
"Move on back," Billy barked, motioning with his thumb to the back table.
When Billy aimed at Joe to do the same, he went to protest.
"But, she's getting my drink-"
The low glare had Joe putting his hands up into the air and leading himself to the back table to join the rest of the guys in defeat.
Billy smirked and strutted up to the bar, tapping his fingertips impatiently on the counter.
"Rough night? Need somethin' baby?"
"How's about I show you something not so good." Rose whirled around with the glass of fresh whiskey in hand. Her eyes softened and her lips curved into a wicked grin upon seeing him in all his sensual glory.
Rose leaned over the bar with the whiskey still in hand. "Usual, Billy?"
She got a bit sidetracked when his hand brushed some loose strands of her wavy hair behind her ear. Her eyes closed in bliss. His touch, his every move made her body feel like one big ice storm, the kind that gives you a fierce soft fire afterwards. She absentmindedly rubbed her palm across the scar on his face, but her eyes popped open once she realized what she was doing.
Billy had a look of intensity across his face.
"Been thinking about it?" He spoke.
She nodded. " I usually do on busier nights in this dive. Eight shots?" She changed the subject dully, pulling away from him.
He growled and walked away towards the back. Bodie hissed at Spink to made some room, but Billy held a hand up as he reached the table.
"You're all going to stay here. Got it?" He already knew just what he wanted. "And you're going to tell Mike that Rose left."
Bodie nodded in agreement. "She ok?"
"Just the same old fuckin' ghost," Billy lit a smoke and stalked back to the bar.
"Rose?" She turned with the tray of shots in her hand.
"I have to work."
"No, you don't." With the snap of his fingers, Baggy had appeared and lifted the tray.
"Hey what-"
"We can serve ourselves."
"Come on, Rose." Billy licked his lips out of habit.
Rose found herself caught up and was out the door with him and heading to his car.
"Whoa, whoa. Billy, look-" Warm lips crashed against her own and a large hand cupped her clothed breast.
She pushed away breathless. "Billy, stop!"
"How many years has it been? How long for us?"
"We did a few-"
"Fucking months ago." Billy didn't snap, but kept his cool.
"My car."
"Leave it." Please he whispered, grinding his hips into hers. "I need my shelter," He bit her lip and pressed his right against the corner of her mouth.
Oh how she couldn't resist the overused, unusual phrase spoke by Billy Darley.
"Your place?"
-------------------
A/N: Yeah, I tweaked this chapter a bit to clean it up, lol. I know that my writing before was super sloppy, but give me a break! I was just starting out for the very first time. But anyways, I'll be re-writing the next two chapters like I did with this one, but my punctuation still has a little bit of a rocky feel to it. I apologize for that as my beta is very busy right now. :) She'll be on the case soon, lol.
Got some more chapters to post, because on Hedlund fanfiction, I am up to chapter 18. Remember to leave some feedback. It helps, but I'll get by if you don't, lol. I've learned that you've gotta write for yourself! Thanks for reading. - Kay