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I take a towel and dab her hand dry, wincing at the red mark. It was just a slap, and Rose has delivered plenty of those and come off without injury, but her palm still hadn’t fully recovered from being burned by the damn pan in St. Lucia. “You couldn’t have used your other hand?” I ask, lifting it to my mouth and kissing it.
“If I had taken a moment to think about it, yes. It hurts like hell.”
Mum comes in and gets a pot out of the cupboard, placing it on the stove. “They’re in your office,” she tells me. “Rose, Daniel wants you upstairs.”
“Why, what’s wrong with him?” I ask.
“Something about Barney.”
Barney? My nose wrinkles. “If that kid’s spewed any more—”
“Lies?” Rose cocks her head and leaves the kitchen. “I’m certain Lennox will never allow Barney to see our son again.”
“Good,” I grunt, but immediately feel shitty about it. Daniel didn’t ask for this kind of childhood. I know he loves us, loves everyone, but he’s restrained here in Miami. “What do you think about sending Daniel to school?” I ask Mum out of the blue as she slaps a few spuds on the counter.
“I’m sorry, what?” she asks, not looking at me.
I frown. “School. What do you think? For Daniel.”
“I think,” she says on an exhale, not stopping what she’s doing, “before I give you any opinions on anything, I would like an apology.”
Otto.The fucker.My anger for that particular grievance is renewed. Unfortunately, I have other priorities. “I’m sorry,” I grunt. “But—”
Her knife comes up fast, pointing at me. “No buts, Danny. I am a grown woman, and I am your mother. Do you hear me? Your mother. I take care of you, take care of everyone around here, so you will back the hell off.”
“You deserve more tha—”
“A murdering criminal?”
I scowl. “This isn’t ab—”
“Do I deserve more than that in a son too?” she asks. “Because if anyone asked me to swap you for a more moral version, I’d tell them to fuck off.” She catches a breath, and I step back, alarmed. “Because I love you just the way you are, Danny, and everything you are is because you’re a fucking survivor.”
I recoil.
Fuck.
Me.
Received loud and clear. “I’m sorry,” I say, my tail between my legs.
“Good.”
“So what do you think?”
“About what?” she snaps, impatient, and still slightly breathless from her rant.
“School for Daniel.”
She sighs, her body loosening. “I think it’s a very good idea if we can find the right one, of course.”
A safe one.“Me too.”
“Do you want me to look into it?”
I nod. “But let me speak to Rose first.” Just as soon as I’ve dealt with the other shit. “I’ll be in my office.” I go to my mum, standing before her like I’m asking permission. I suppose I am. She lets a small smile free and gives me her cheek, not surrendering her potato or knife, and I drop a kiss there before leaving her, telling myself I need to shut the fuck up where her love life is concerned. But, I swear, if he hurts her, I won’t hold back.
I pass Pearl and Anya in the hallway, both girls in gym kit, both a little sweaty. “Good workout?” I ask as I pass.
