Page 140 of Devour

“No. Just the Sinclairs, and no one will ever tell another soul.” She picks at a thread on the arm of the chair. “When you’re ready and away from all of this, I’m available to talk if you need someone who . . . understands.”

My eyes burn and I nod. I can only assume that she has her own experiences. “Thank you, Reese. I’d really like that.”

She gives me a small smile and opens her mouth to say something else, but the door swings open and whatever she was going to say dies.

My mother stands in the doorway.

Her blonde hair is perfectly styled and pinned back. She’s decked out in expensive jewelry, but I notice her wedding ring isn’t on. Her makeup is flawless, and she’s wearing a tight red dress with cap sleeves. Her husband and son are dead. Her daughter has been raped, lost a baby, and almost died. But she looks like she’s about to walk a fucking runway. She didn’t even have the decency to wear fucking black.

Fuck her.

She scans the room, notices Reese in the chair, and her eyes settle on me.

“Saylor.” She sets her purse on the counter by the door. “I should have brought my stylist with me. You look terrible, dear.”

“Nice to see you too, Mom.” I don’t sit up for her. “Sorry I didn’t have time to get my hair done between being stitched up and finding out my father and brother are dead.”

I’m not going to tell her anything about what I’ve been through or my role in Justin’s death. It’s not like she gives a shit anyway.

My mom doesn’t flinch. She pulls her purse off the counter and turns to Reese like she just noticed her. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve formally met, but I knew your father well. Reese Donaldson, right?”

“Reese Sinclair.” Reese corrects her and holds up her hand, showing the huge rock of a wedding ring.

Jessica’s smile doesn’t waver. “Of course. I forgot how quickly you girls snatched up those Sinclair men.” She looks at the ring with an expression that’s more appraisal than admiration. “Your father would have been proud. He always did appreciate the finer things. It’s such a tragedy he went missing. He would have been a wonderful buyer for a wife at auction.”

Reese’s hand drops to her lap, and her expression goes flat. I watch her draw a deep breath, her knuckles turning white where she’s gripping the arm of the chair. I have to imagine that has something to do with things from Reese’s past.

“Mom.” I snap at her. “Did you come here for a reason?”

Jessica turns back to me and smooths her dress. “I came to check on my daughter. Is that a crime?”

That can’t be true. If she gave a shit, she would have been here before now.

Reese goes to stand, but I motion for her to stay. “Please. I enjoy your company.”

“Of course. I promised Axl I’d sit with you until he returns.” She settles back into the chair.

Jessica glances at Reese and then back at me. Her smile thins. “Well, isn’t that sweet.”

Her heels click on the floor as she moves to stand at the end of my bed. “I suppose we should discuss your situation.” She looks at me the way she always has—like I’m a problem she’s been waiting to solve. “With your father and brother both gone, you don’t have a male family head, Saylor. I think some cousin of your father’s is the heir now. Do you understand what that means?”

“I know how the fucking Ravens work, Mom.”

“Do you?” She raises an eyebrow. “Because from where I’m sitting, you’ve gotten comfortable playing the part of a whore, and I thought I raised you to know what was expected so you could do better.”

Reese is still in the chair beside me, watching us.

My hands curl into the blanket over my legs. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” My mother waves her manicured hand. “You could be married to a high-ranking Raven right now, but you’re still hung up on sex with some boy.”

“That boy, as you call him, and his friends are the reason I’m fucking alive, Mother.”

“And I’m grateful for that.” She doesn’t sound fucking grateful. “But would that have been necessary if you had listened to your mother? Would your father and brother still be alive if you hadn’t thought it would be cute and fun to fuck one of these Talons? Do you know the level of husband I could have gotten to bid on you at auction?”

“Fuck you, Mom.” My voice is low, and my hands shake under the blanket.

“I can see you’re a lost cause.” She sighs as she pretends to examine her nails. “As it stands, I’m now a widow. Which means I’ll be going to auction myself.” The corner of her mouth tips up. “I always knew I could have done better than David if my father knew how to work the auction. This is my opportunity to elevate this family, and Mommy is about to show you how it’s done.”