Page 62 of Memphis

“A chef? What did you say he does for a living?” Umber questioned.

“He’s in corporate management.”

“Hey, where is he?” Lilith queried.

“He’s spending time with his mom today.”

“When do we get to meet his family?” Umber asked.

“Never. I can’t stand those motherfuckers,” I declared.

“Well, damn. Uh, let me hit the bathroom you showed us before we eat,” Umber said.

Lilith and I were in the kitchen when she moved close to me and whispered, “I still can’t believe you married your boss.”

I frowned, setting the plates I’d gathered on the island. “Lil, don’t start.”

“I’m just saying…”

“Pleasedon’t.”

Just then, Umber returned yelling, “Let’s eat!”

I broke weak,or maybe a more truthful way of looking at it was, she broke me down. She, being my mother. She kept calling, basically begging to see me, and shit, she wasmy mother. So, I finally agreed, taking one bodyguard with me and leaving the other two to watch over Memphis who swore they were sorcerers or something because she rarely saw them, even though they were always present. That was by design, of course. I didn’t want her upset at me because she could take care of herself. I knew she could, but I needed the extra assurance. In truth, her security was formypeace of mind. She didn’t need to know I’d bought the house across the street from my place for them to hole up in. She didn’t need to know their names, either, although that information was at her fingertips. All she needed to do was be. I just needed her to be, and while being, to be with me. That was it.

I hated to leave her to meet with my mother, but I also didn’t want to bring her with me and end up shooting my mom if shedisrespected her. I still owed Zaccai another bullet for talking slick at that last meeting.

We met at The Bell Room, a café in The Village known for their tea cakes. I loved me some damn tea cakes.

I arrived a whole hour early, waited for my security to check everything out, and was told my mother was already there. I found her sitting in a corner booth nursing a cup of coffee.

Dropping onto the seat across from her, I asked, “Just you and Moody and the guys outside?” I nodded toward Moody sitting a few tables away from us, failing to blend in with the other patrons. Dude was too damn huge.

She smiled. “Yes. Always aware of your surroundings…”

“Mm-hmm, just like my father.”

“If you’re fishing for an apology, you won’t get one. I did what I had to do to protect you and Zaccai.”

I chuckled. “No, you did that for yourself. I’m sure of that.”

She shrugged. “Partly. He was trying to cut me off. Believe me, he owed me.”

I nodded. “Whatever you say.”

She sighed, took a sip of her coffee, and fixed her eyes on me. “I didn’t ask to meet you to argue. I want…Ineeda truce. I want to be a part of your life. I’m not getting any younger, and I just…you’re my son. I love you.”

I stared at her. I might have had a soft spot for the woman who raised me, but this was too far out of character to be believable.

She blew out a breath, reclining in her seat. “Bo, I’m serious. I know you’re angry about how things panned out with Miss King in the past?—”

“Mrs. Pierce,” I corrected her.

This woman visibly flinched before rubbing the back of her neck. Her mouth opened, but no words were spoken.

“What has Memphis ever done to you?” I asked, my pulse thumping in my temple. “Our family swooped in when she was young and pulled her into our world. She has done her job better than anyone else at the company. She’s intelligent and efficient. She has a good heart, and she still loves me despite what you did to us, what Iletyou do to us. What’s your fucking problem?!” I somehow kept my volume low, but she couldn’t have missed the venom in my voice.

Her gaze dropped to the table as she said, “To be honest, she reminds me of myself.”

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