Page 111 of Betrayed in Blood
She pulled me up and dragged me out the door. And for once, I followed rather than trying to lead.
ChapterThirty-Three
Gingerand I were on the second floor returning to our rooms when the door to Mom’s room popped open.
Jacques stepped out. “I thought I heard you. You saved me a trip to find you. Your mother is waking.”
Ginger threw her arm around my shoulders. “That’s so good.” She stepped back. “But don’t forget. Let’s grab a light meal on the patio, and then it’s off to the bar for margaritas before the movies.”
“I won’t forget.” I blew past Jacques but stopped before entering. Was she still drugged? Would she be mad at being taken from her home? I took a deep breath and stepped across the threshold.
Jacques closed the door, remaining outside.
Mom was sitting up, flipping through a magazine.
“How long have you been awake?” I asked. Jacques made it sound like she’d just opened her eyes.
“Only a few minutes.” Her voice was a little hoarse. Maybe from the drugs or from disuse. “That young man was going to get you immediately, but I demanded he tell me where I was before I allowed him to go.”
“So, you know you’re at Devon Trelane’s home?”
She nodded. “And from what I can tell, yours as well.”
I nodded in return, then took the chair next to the bed. “I’ve been living here for almost a year now. Devon and I have—” Have what? That’s what we were supposed to be discussing that evening.
Mom finished for me. “An intimate relationship?” She laughed, and it was so good to hear her do that. “Did you think I thought you’d been celibate all this time? I know you don’t want to hear it, but your father wasn’t the only one I’d slept with before Christopher.” She played with the edge of the magazine, dog-earring the page. “I don’t know why I said that. I should be drowsy, but this is the most cleared-headed I’ve been in days.”
“The healer, Madame Saldano, gave you something to help calm your mind while the drugs worked their way out.”
“Well, that explains it. Though I’m not sure I’m a hundred percent yet.” She glanced at the drapes.
“Do you want me to open them?”
“Not yet. I feel a bit of a headache. Where’s April?”
“She’s at Devon’s safe house. She needs more time to acclimate.”
That sounded lame to my ears, but Mom nodded.
“Yes. I believe that vampire mesmerized her. That’s what you call it, right?”
I nodded. “It might be a long and difficult road for her, but Devon will make sure you’re both cared for.”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.” Mom threw her arms around me. “By the time I figured out what was going on, it was too late. They started drugging me, and when they caught me on the phone with you, they must have given me a heavier dose because I don’t remember much after that before now.”
I hugged her tight. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
“It’s been awful.”
“It’s over now. It’s all behind you.”
“I’m not talking about the last few weeks. I mean since I married Christopher.”
Her statement confused me for a second, then all the history between us instantly faded. My life had been tough, but hers had to be worse when she finally saw Christopher for who he was. I locked eyes with her, so she’d know I was being truthful. “That’s behind us, too.”
She gripped me tight enough to squeeze the air out of me. I sucked it up and let her cry. When she was done, she wiped her eyes and looked around.
“Let me get you a tissue.” I ran to the bathroom, grabbed the box, and dropped it next to her. After she dried her nose, she asked, “Now what?”
