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When I pulled into the driveway, Mom’s expression changed from carefree and happy to quiet and subdued. I didn’t like it, and an ominous sensation took residence in my gut.
She’d spent the time at dinner asking us about our lives, what we thought about football, college, and who we were dating. She’d laughed and joked, and even Damon seemed to be having a good time. But now, faced with the house and the life she led inside it, everything went back to the way it was.
Dad wasn’t home, and I hated him for what he was doing to our family. One of these days, I would even the score on Mom’s behalf.
CHAPTER SEVEN
RILEY
The door slammed, and Mom walked into our furnished rental. I was sitting down and kicked my feet onto the scuffed coffee table, glaring as she hummed and twirled a flower in her hand. She stopped when she saw me and grinned. “Things are going to change for us.”
“How so?” I couldn’t hide my skepticism, as I didn’t know who her mark was or why she was working at a lawyer’s office. We typically stayed away from anything to do with the legal system. It was still light outside, and she hadn’t noticed the lack of electricity.
She plopped down next to me on the ratty gray couch, the flower still clutched in her hand. “I accepted a position at the law firm.”
Because of whoever the guy was who’d given her the flower? I raised my eyebrows. “That’s dangerous. If this guy is a lawyer or works for the law firm in any capacity, he could come after us when you rip him off.”
A clump of dyed-golden-blond hair with caramel highlights fell over her shoulder, and she swiped it back, her eyes losing a bit of their dreamy look to be replaced by their usual sharpness. “The man I’m seeing is married.”
I grunted, not liking where this was going. But she’d fallen into her usual cadence of explaining the current con, so I was comfortable listening.
“He’s going to leave his wife, and we’ll have everything we’ve ever dreamed of when he does.”
“Really? You know, things like that rarely work out.” I was as jaded as she was. “We’ve been on the run since I was a year old. What makes this guy able to protect us when my uncle can’t even guarantee our safety?”
“He’s powerful. I know he can do it.” She leaned forward, her enthusiasm infectious, and I wanted to believe. “This time, things will be different—we’re staying. You can join the diving team when school starts. We won’t have to hide or pack up in the middle of the night and run for our lives.”
“I want to believe you, Mom, but it seems too good to be true.” Neither of us had much experience with staying in one place and feeling safe. We’d had pockets of time when things had been good, but there was always a reason we had to leave, and it was usually the same one—he’d found us, Mom’s sperm donor, aka my dad.
She squeezed my hand, a sad smile curving her lips. “It may take a little while, but I think we’ll be okay.”
I returned her smile before pulling my hand away. I wanted to believe her. It was the first time she’d ever said anything like that. It would be nice not to worry about our safety or play a part in the latest scheme we had going on to survive. To completely be myself outside the small inner circle of my mom and Uncle Ronan. Weary from trying to make sense of it all, I gave up for the time being. “I’m going to bed.”
She glanced at her watch. “Isn’t it a little early?”
“I start work tomorrow. I got a job at the Coffee Cabana.”
Her dark brows furrowed. “Why did you get a job?”
I couldn’t help feeling annoyed. “Because you left me with ten dollars and were gone for two days. And we don’t have any power.”
Her lips formed an O, and then her eyelids dropped in a slow blink. “Oh, I’m sorry, Riles. I thought we could ride off the former tenants for a while since the power was on when we got here.”
“Guess not.” I felt terrible because I was being bitchy. “At least there’s a beach. It’s not a hardship to be without power for a few days.” And it wasn’t like we hadn’t survived worse conditions.
“I could dip into our emergency fund or ask Ronan to spot us for a few days until I get paid.”
I waved her solutions away. “We’ll be fine. I’ll get tips, and that’ll help with food until we’re both paid.”
Mom got up and wrapped me in a hug. She gave the best ones. I always felt loved and safe with her. And with my uncle. No matter where we were, in whatever town or situation, I knew both of them would have my back. That made some of the sketchy things and conditions we’d lived through pale in comparison.
I pulled away, suddenly exhausted from everything—the conversation with Mom, changing my look to fit into another new town, and the job I would start tomorrow. I got ready for bed, taking one of the electric candles we traveled with into the windowless, dark bathroom. Once in my room and changed, I looked around. I’d only unpacked the essentials, some sixth sense screaming that we wouldn’t be here long and I needed to be ready to move fast. Ignoring intuition wasn’t smart. I could only guess that Mom’s was out of whack because of this guy—and when had she ever been infatuated like this before?
With athunk, I flopped onto the lumpy mattress. I couldn’t blame her, because I kept thinking about Cole. I’d never seen a more attractive guy, and when I closed my eyes, I could still remember how his body felt against mine. Maybe it was because no one had ever touched me like that or used my body’s reaction against me before. But since I’d found out his name, I’d been fantasizing, even dreaming, about him.
Usually, I didn’t care for alpha guys. Well, that wasn’t true. I hadn’t been interested in anyone—not until him. Butterflies took flight in my stomach as I pictured the gold flecks in his green eyes and how big, muscular, and hard he was—everywhere. And then that kiss. Everything had faded—the sound of the party, people talking and laughing, and the loud music too. I pictured the way he leaned in. The warmth of his breath on my skin. His leg wedged between mine. Even the scent of his spicy cologne and the hints of ocean made my senses swim and my mind haze over with lust. Not even the strong smell of alcohol on his breath interfered. Because the first touch of his lips against mine ignited something in me I’d never experienced before. And I very much wanted to again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
