That’s when I hear the fear in Jenn’s voice, and something clenches my chest. Whether it’s fear for my safety, or just a general fear of Nora, I can’t say for sure, but I don’t want to agitate, so I take a deep breath and say my goodbyes.
Once Jenn hangs up, Nora snatches the phone from my hand before I can memorize the number.
“Feel better?” she asks with a fake smile. “Alexandra is safe and well and just so pleased she could help reunite us.”
At that moment, the waiter returns with our orders, which is a relief. I need a minute to process how I’m going to navigate the rest of this evening with her. Once we’re alone again, she begins eating without looking at me, and that chill is still cloaking us. I shiver, and pick at my own plate, though I’ve no real appetite to speak of.
“So, how’s school?” It’s not a casual question from a concerned mother, but a pointed one from an ambitious investor.
“It’s fine.” Then, glancing up at her, I ask, “What would you have done if I hadn’t accepted the invitation to go to Angelview?”
She ignores me, and instead says, “It’s important to maintain your grades, you know.”
“I know.” I nod. “Why didn’t you approach me when I was in Georgia?”
“What’s your favorite subject?”
“History.” When it’s not being taught by the guy who got me pregnant. “How long are you planning on keeping Jenn a prisoner?”
“Is Mr. Wallace still teaching chemistry? He was one of your dad’s favorites and—”
“Are you just going to not answer my questions all night?” I snap, losing the last of my patience.
She looks up at me, irritation clear in her gaze. “Are you going to keep asking me stupid questions that you don’t have any business knowing the answers to?”
“I think it’s my business,” I counter, “seeing as how you’ve manipulated my whole life to get me here and keep me here.”
“You’re young and immature,” she says flippantly. “You don’t understand everything I’ve done for you, but you will someday. For now, I just need you to be a good girl and do what you’re told. I don’t want to have to punish you, but I will if you force my hand.”
The idea of punishment at Nora’s hands is legitimately terrifying. This bitch is crazy, and if she can keep her sister pumped full of drugs so she’s compliant and pliable, who knows what she’d be willing to do to me.
“I’m not your puppet,” I snap, a small part of me still wishing to rebel against her despite knowing the potential danger. “I’m your daughter.”
She meets my gaze dead on. “A puppet’s more useful to me.”
Her words burn, even though they shouldn’t. I shouldn’t care what she thinks, and yet I feel like she just slapped me.
I go quiet after that, ducking my head and pretending to focus on my plate so she doesn’t see that I’m hurt. The rest of our meal is excruciating. I choke down as much food as I can, just so I don’t piss her off, but when the waiter returns to tentatively ask if we want dessert, I quickly tell him no. He hands Nora the check and I’m antsy to get up and leave as she pays with two crisp hundred-dollar bills.
Once the waiter is gone again, I’m eager to get the hell out of there.
Before I can stand, though, Nora shocks me by saying, “I want this to be a regular occurrence.”
I freeze, my heart thudding with dread. “What do you mean?”
She smiles, and for a moment, she looks almost serene. Almost like the mother in that biopic I’d watched in drama class sophomore year—before she went ape shit on her kid with a wire hanger.
“We’ll have dinner together every other Sunday from now until the end of the school year,” Nora announces.
And there’s the hanger to the face.
“Why?” I blurt before I can stop myself.
Now her expression is so fake, so toxic, I feel sick looking at her. “I just want to keep up with my little girl,” she says.
And I just want to push her into traffic.
“Bull,” I spit, pushing to my feet. “You can force me to meet with you, Nora, but don’t act like I’m stupid.”
Her smile fades to darkness. “Fine. I won’t bullshit you. In exchange, you’ll do what I tell you without complaint.”
“I’ll meet you for dinner—”
“Not just that,” she interrupts, drawing out the last word like a true sociopath.
“What else?” I grit out.
She slowly stands and crosses her arms over her chest.
“Stay away from Saint Angelle,” she says.
Jenn had made the same demand of me and look how well that turned out.
“It’s much easier said than done,” I snarl.
“I’m sure you’ll figure out a way to avoid him. Trust me, it’s for the best.”
I’m at my limit with her. Turning on my heel, I start to march away.
“I’ll see you in two weeks, sweetheart,” Nora calls out behind me. “And remember what I said because it would be a shame if his new housing arrangements were to go poof.”
I flinch, but don’t look back. I’m afraid I’ll do something really stupid if I don’t get away from her right this second.
By the time I get back to campus and my dorm building, I’m mentally tapped out. I want nothing more than to go to bed and end this fucking day.
“Mal?”
I stop in my tracks and quickly turn around to find Loni standing just outside her door in the hallway, her shoulder pressed against the doorframe. My stomach flutters wildly, and I lick suddenly dry lips before offering her a cautious smile.
“Hey, what’s up?”
She looks nervous, and a little shy, and that makes me nervous in turn. I hold my breath as I wait for her response.
“You want to watch a movie, maybe? And we can talk?”
Hope pulses in my chest, bursting through to my heart, but I try not to let her see just how excited I am just at the thought that she wants to hang out. “That would be … really great. Just let me go change real quick, okay?”
She nods, her lips turning up into a small grin.
“Sounds good. I’ll go find something corny on Netflix.” I watch her slip back into her room before turning to hurry to mine.
Thank God. I was getting worried that she’d cut me off completely, and other than James, Alondra James is the best friend I’ve ever had. I don’t know what I’d do around here without her. Now that she knows the truth about the fire, though, I need to be careful not to let Nora or Ghost find out anything about her. They’d try to use her against me, just like what they’re doing with Jenn and Carley.
And Saint.
I won’t let them, though. I won’t let them hurt anyone.
No matter what it takes, I’ll protect everyone that I care about.
When I reach my room, I freeze. The door’s unlocked. My eyes fall shut in frustration as my good mood evaporates. How the hell am I supposed to stay away from Saint when he breaks into my room at every fucking turn? His name is already on my lips as I push my way through and over the threshold, but it lodges in my throat when I spot Mr. Tall, Tattooed, and Murderous.