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Finally, we arrived at Sloane Estate, where my mother Winter lived. My hopes soared as we neared the impressive mansion. Father and I had agreed I would tell mother I'd arrived for an impromptu visit, while he'd try to sneak some of the men in to track down Violet and save her. If mother suspected my father was with me, she'd never so much as let us cross the threshold of her home.
The limo pulled up in front of the house, on the large round driveway, and I got out of the car, heart hammering in my chest as I approached the entrance. I rang the doorbell while my men waited in the car. I needed to distract my mother, and my mind raced with the possibilities of how I was going to achieve that. Being this close to Violet, I could almost smell her sweet scent in the ear. My hands formed fists at my sides, and steely determination took over.
Family be damned. I'm taking my Violet back, and nobody can fucking stop me.
Finally, the door opened, and I was surprised to find my mother on the other side.
"Not letting the servants open your door?" I smirked at my mother. "That's so very unlike you."
"Devlin." She smiled crisply, pressing a cool peck against my cheek. I allowed it, though my skin was bristling when her lips grazed it. I wanted to yell at her, but I forced myself to hold back. "What a... pleasant, unexpected surprise."
"Not happy to see me?" Was I imagining it or were her toned shoulders even more tense than usual? "I thought you'd be excited to have a little impromptu visit from your favorite son."
"My only son," she corrected me with a cold smile. "Well, come in. Unfortunately, you can't stay for too long. I've got errands to run."
I followed her into the sunroom, trying to not be too obvious about checking out the place. As we sat down, I finally commented on the lack of help, since we hadn't seen a single servant since we walked in together. My mother had always been the kind of woman who didn't even tie her own shoelaces, and it surprised me to see her without at least one maid waiting to do her bidding.
"There's something going around here," she waved her arm nonchalantly. "They’re busy. Don't want them spreading their nasty germs."
"Understandable."
We stared at one another, as if we were playing in a blinking contest. She didn't waver, but neither did I. I was getting to the bottom of this, come hell or high water.
"Where is she, mother?"
"Where's who?" She took a sip of tea from the floral porcelain cup on the coffee table, feigning innocence.
"Violet." I got her name out through gritted teeth, and by then, it was getting impossible to hide my true feelings. "I know you have her, so cut the bullshit and give her back to me. Right the fuck now."
"Violet?" she repeated, then laughed out loud. "Oh, that Cabot girl. You've been fucking her, haven't you?"
I wanted to fucking hurt her. I forced a smile on my lips instead and went on calmly. "It would be best if you gave her up now, before things get ugly."
"I don't know what you're talking about." She waved her hand dismissively. "I thought you were here to visit me, Devlin, not accuse me of ridiculous schemes. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"I don't think so." My voice was nothing but a hiss by then, and we got up from our seats at the same time, staring at one another with contempt. "I'm not leaving until I have Violet."
"It's really sad, Devlin," my mother shook her head. "How fast you've managed to forget about your loyalties. You're so much like your father. Always have been. Perhaps that's why I could never love you."
The words hurt, cutting deep like knife wounds against my flesh. But I didn't give a shit about her accusations, and I clicked my fingers. The room filled with my men who'd sneaked into the house while I distracted my mother. She paled as she watched them enter, my father standing center stage.
Her lip curled back in distaste when she saw him, and her words dripped with contempt when she muttered, "You."
"Did you miss me, darling?" My father's voice was sarcastic and he nodded at mother. "What a nice little family reunion we're having here. So good to be back together. Almost feels like old times, doesn't it, Winter?"
"I want you out of my house," she hissed. "Guards!"
"Oh, I think you'll find your guards are a little... indisposed at the moment." Father smirked at her, motioning to our own men. "But we'll write them off as casualties. We only killed four of them."
She paled more at this update, and glared at me, as if I was to blame for the whole situation - not her hidden psychotic tendencies. "How can you do this to me, Devlin? Your own mother?"
