Page 81 of Betrayed in Blood
“Devon will do whatever he can to ensure your family’s safety. Not just your mother, but April as well. We all will.”
I turned and blinked away the tears that seemed to be a stream of waterworks today and placed a hand on his. With a shaky breath, I gave him a weak smile. “Who would have thought meeting with my mom’s friends would be scarier than escaping Shadow Island?”
Sergi’s laughter bolstered me as I exited the SUV and strode to the door with my head high and shoulders back. I wasn’t that woman from the Hollows anymore. I might not live in the same neighborhood as these rich bitches, but I was from House Trelane. A new thought came to me. Once we were out of lockdown, I was going to make a reservation for the females of House Trelane and have one hell of a party right here.
The hostess, a petite dark-skinned woman with huge amber-colored eyes and a bulldog expression like most in her profession when dealing with the rich, blocked my entrance.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes, I’m meeting Veronica Stevenson and her party.”
She gave me the once over, and I silently thanked Ginger for dressing me. While I might have passed the first inspection, I didn’t pass the second.
“We only have her down for a party of three, and everyone else has already arrived.”
“I know. I didn’t think I was going to be able to make it, but my other appointment was canceled.” I hadn’t grown up in Christopher’s house without learning a thing or two, and I hated having to use his name now. “Would you be a love and let her know Cressa Underwood is here.”
I didn’t have to look down my nose since she was shorter than me, but I did lift it a bit. She would have expected it. After she scurried off, I prayed the women would be too curious to say no to me joining them. If mom hadn’t been to the hairstylist for three weeks, had she been able to stay in contact with her friends?
The hostess was all smiles when she returned. “I’m so sorry to have to check. You know how it can be.”
I wasn’t sure, but I could guess. The rich didn’t like to be disturbed by riffraff.
I put on my best smile. “Of course.”
“Just this way.” The hostess led me onto the patio to a far corner made more private by the potted ferns and roses that were in full bloom. The light scent energized me as I strolled by to find three wide-eyed, curious faces.
I almost laughed out loud. The last time they saw me, I was a feral high school girl in ripped jeans and a cropped T-shirt. They’d probably written me off as a sad example of how things could go so wrong.
Veronica, Agnes, and Monique continued to stare as the hostess pulled out a chair for me. They were all perfectly quaffed, their fingernails expertly polished and kept at the perfect length with the same boring, sedate colors. They were of varying heights, but they were all thin, perhaps too thin, and were impeccably dressed in their Dior, Gucci, and Chanel and wearing the latest Jimmy Choo shoes.
All three were long-time friends of my mother’s and married to rich businessmen who’d been friends of Christopher. For a hot minute, I wondered if any of them had gotten mixed up with Venizi, but I doubted it. However, I decided to tread lightly and see where the women took the conversation.
“Cressa, my dear, it’s been ages since we saw you.” Veronica, as the ringleader, spoke first.
I gave her a huge smile. “I imagine I looked a bit different back then. But we all grow up.”
“I’d say,” Agnes blurted out, then covered her mouth as she glanced around before taking a sip of her wine. Chances were good she’d probably had a martini or two before leaving the house. “That was so rude, but you look marvelous.”
“Thank you. You all look exactly as I last remember you.” I nodded when Monique held up the bottle of wine once another place setting was put in front of me, but I waved off the server when he handed me a menu.
“Please, give her a plate so she can enjoy the appetizers. They’re still quite fresh.” Veronica waited for the plate, which was in front of me in a blink of an eye.
I dutifully placed a crab tart and a mini quiche on my plate and sipped what tasted like a very expensive bottle of Pinot Gris.
Once the server left and we were left alone, Veronica got right to the point. “Why are you here?”
Monique gasped then sipped her wine while Agnes rearranged her plate. Veronica was not only their leader, and she’d never pulled punches. That was fine with me. Neither did I, and I wasn’t here for a friendly lunch. I wanted out of there and out of these heels.
“When was the last time you saw my mother?”
That took a bite out of Veronica’s sails. She glanced at the others, but before she could speak, Monique did.
“She’s missed the last three lunches. I’ve tried calling, but she doesn’t answer anymore.”
“When she missed the first lunch, we all called her and got the same answer,” Agnes added. “She wanted to spend time with April.”
“When was the last time you spoke to her?” Veronica asked, her eyes narrowed as if I had some ulterior motive.
