Everyone wants answers, promises, control. Dad’s swearing to keep me safe at home. To find Moretti’s son and take care of him. Supposedly, his family doesn’t know where he is.
But I have a sneaking suspicion…
I think he’s with whoever was sending him nudes. And all I know about her is that she had brown hair.
Even still, I do feel slightly guilty for not speaking to my family for the past few days. So after a call to my mom, she’s on her way to pick me up and bring me to their house. Only so I can gather up my things for the new semester.
Aideninsiststhat I stay in his room atThetaManor instead of returning to the freshman dorms. And I’m used to it now. So yeah. That’s happening.
“This is a gorgeous place,” Mom says, stepping out of the car with two of my dad’s guards.
“I designed it. Well, I drew it back at…camp. And Aiden built it based on thedrawings I made.”
Her eyes sparkle. “I knew you had that in you.”
“Did you?”
She snorts. “Yeah, Ash. You’re not like your sisters. You construct mountains. Then move them. It’s impressive.”
Heat hits my eyes, and I blink back tears. “I’ll give you a tour. Sometime.”
Something shifts between us that’s subtle, but real. Her shoulders lower and the armor cracks.
When she turns to me, she isn’t the woman who negotiated futures like contracts. She’s smaller. Fragile in a way I’ve never let myself see before. She looks like aperson. And not just my mother.
“I’m sorry,” she says quietly. “I should’ve known he was dangerous. Ishouldhave protected you.”
She gathers me into her arms, and for once, I don’t stiffen.
“I thought I was doing what was best.” She continues, voice rough. “I wasn’t.”
I breathe in her familiar scent. Soothing, yet complicated. “I don’t know how to forgive everything,” I admit.
She nods once. Accepts it. “Understandable. And acceptable. Maybe we can try again.”
A weak laugh slips out of me. “Well. At least I know where my talent for bad decisions comes from.”
Her mouth curves, just barely. “Unfortunately, you get it from both your parents.”
We don’t fix anything.
But for the first time, we’re standing on the same side of the damage.
The chocolate waves of her hair ripple as she nods eagerly into my chest. “Come on. Let’s get you home…or yourotherhome.”
“I want to grab my things from my old room,” I say, as we settle into the back seat of the Range Rover.
“I had the staff wash everything you brought home already. Are you, um, staying with Aiden?”
“I will be, yes.”
“He’s pretty special, huh?” Brown eyes glance my way as I try and fail to withhold a grin.
“Yeah.”
My fingers crawl over my neck, missing that collar. There was something soothing about it. Like a bond between him and me that was there even when we weren’t physically together. Maybe I’ll put on the old one when we get back toTheta.
As soon as we get into the house, Dad rushes me and gathers me up, scanning my face and arms carefully for the bruises. His thumb brushes over my lower lip.