He tightens his arm around me, pressing a kiss into my hair. “It’s not our business, and we’re not exactly the touchy-feely type.”
“It doesn’t bother you?” I ask, propping up on one elbow so I’m looking into his face.
“Nope. It might change the dynamic, but we’ll deal with it if that happens.”
Warmth spreads across my chest, and I rest my head on his arm, kissing the underside of his prickly jawline. “I love how you guys support each other, no matter what. It’s beautiful to behold.”
“If we don’t have each other’s backs, we’ve got nothing. We realized that a long time ago.” He toys with my hair as my lips trail up and down his neck, sending a rake of shivers firing in all directions.
“I promised I wouldn’t interfere, but I think it would help Theo to know you and Saint support him.”
“I’ll see what Saintly says,” Galen promises, cupping my face and forcing my chin up. “You make everything better, angel. I hope you know that.”
“I feel the same way about you guys.” I peer into his loving green eyes. “You’re my only family now.”
I’m not sure what he sees in my face, but he kisses me softly, pulling me in closer to his sexy body. “Don’t write your mom off yet. We don’t know anything other than Sinner is completely fucked in the head.”
“I know she’s avoiding me. I’ve called her a ton of times now, and she hasn’t called me back.”
“I know what it’s like to think the worst, but Giana isn’t like my mom.”
“How is Alisha?” I ask. “Have you heard from her since your last visit?” Galen dropped in to see her the day after we returned from the cabin, but he was fairly tight-lipped afterward.
“She’s not good.” He sighs, nuzzling his nose in my neck. “And I’m running out of patience.” He buries his face in my neck, exhaling heavily.
I run my hand up and down his arm, my fingers lingering on the defined contours of his upper arms. “No one would blame you for that or fault you for all the ways you have loved and cared for her.”
“I told Mrs. Murphy I’d come for dinner on Sunday, but I’m dreading it, because I never know what state I’ll find her in.”
“I’ll come with,” I offer. “If you like.”
He lifts his head, staring into my face. “You don’t have to.”
“I want to.” I make a note to message the gardener to see if he can get the maze finished by then.
“Okay.” He visibly relaxes.
“You should ask me more.” I sit up as a cool breeze whips across my skin. “We’re a team in every part of our lives, and I want to be there for you.”
“I’m not very good at asking for help,” he admits, wincing a little when he sits upright.
I stand, extending my hand to help him up. “I’ve noticed.” I grin as I pull him to his feet. “But get used to it. Because you’re stuck with me now.”
CHAPTER 25
MOM FINALLY RETURNS my call the following morning, and we have an epic argument over the phone when she admits she is meeting Sinner for dinner tonight. “Do you have a fucking death wish, Mom?” I hiss.
Behind me, the guys are silently setting the table for breakfast, sharing troubled looks as I screech down the phone.
“He’s truly apologetic, and I at least owe him the opportunity to have his say.”
“Are you insane?” I yell. “You owe him nothing. He tied you up and raped you with his buddies. In what universe is that okay?”
“I’m not saying it’s okay. I just want to hear him out.”
“Have you considered it could be a trap?” I pace the floor, so enraged I could scream. “Do you know how many times he’s threatened your life?” She doesn’t, because I’ve never admitted it fully, but I’m done holding back.
Mom was safe.
Hidden with protection someplace where he couldn’t hurt her and he couldn’t use her against me anymore.
If she goes back, she will undo everything. “He could kill you, Mom!”
“He won’t get the chance,” she snaps, as if she can outwit him. “We are meeting in a public place for a reason. I’m not as naïve as you seem to think I am.”
“I can’t support this. I won’t.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
“Good, because I won’t be there if you choose to throw your life away by getting back with that fucking psycho, and he is a psycho, Mom. That’s why he’s so dangerous.”
“I know how to handle Sinner.”
No, she doesn’t, or she wouldn’t have ended up tied to a sex sling in our basement, abused, bruised, and bleeding.
“You know what, Mom. I can’t do this anymore. Do what you like. It’s clear my opinion counts for nothing.” I hang up before she can reply, throwing the burner cell at the wall as I scream in sheer frustration.
I drop to my knees, burying my face in my hands.
“Hey.” Theo’s voice is soft as he kneels beside me, scooping me into his arms. “We’ll follow her. Keep an eye on her and make sure she’s safe.”
“How?” I ask, looking into his eyes. They are more brown than green today, and I can see the little amber ring around the edge from this proximity.
“Diesel placed a tracker on her new cell phone. We can go there and watch to ensure he doesn’t hurt her.”
“We can’t.” I shake my head. “The mole is meeting The Arrows tonight. We’ve got to be there. We might not get another chance.”
“We could always split up,” Caz suggests as he walks by carrying a pot of coffee.
“We could,” Saint says. “But separating makes me nervous. It’s better if we stick together. We could ask Diesel or his brother to follow your mom, and I could send a couple guys as well?”
“Let me check with Diesel,” I say, climbing to my feet. I run to the bedroom, grabbing a new burner cell from my stash, and call my trainer-slash-friend. This time, he answers straightaway.
“You okay?” he asks, and his tone is a little off.
“Yes. I’m just worried about Mom.”
“I heard.” He sighs.
“She can’t meet him, Diesel. He’s too unpredictable.”
“It’s too late. She’s already left the place she was staying at with Lincoln.”
“For fuck’s sake. Ugh.” I press my forehead against the wall. “Couldn’t you stop her?” I lean over the railing, noticing the guys sitting down, so I walk out of the bedroom and down the stairs with the phone pressed to my ear.
“She’s not a prisoner, Lo. I went over there last night when I got your message, and I tried talking to her, but she refused to listen. She’s not thinking clearly right now, but neither I nor Lincoln could get through to her.”
“I’m worried about her. Plus this could fuck everything up. He’ll use her against me again. This is only going to make everything ten times harder.”
“I know.” His tired sigh trickles down the line.