Page 114 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

It’s hard to leave her, but I do it. She’s breathing heavily by the time I grab my boots and jacket and climb the stairs.

I have to work hard to ignore the ball in the pit of my stomach.

“Where are we going?” Eli asks.

He’s got a black beanie over his blond hair, black jacket, black jeans. He could be ready to rob a bank or pose for a freaking fashion magazine, and that irritates me.

“Mommy dearest called.” I open the door. “Said some nonsense about her apartment being broken into and losing everything.”

“So we’re running to her rescue?”

“She also said she’s been living with Margo’s mom, getting her clean.”

Eli’s eyes widen. “Ah.”

“And, apparently it’s her fault Amberly got addicted in the first place? I’m eager to hear that story.”

We climb into his car.

“Where’s she staying? Maybe we can be back before my parents notice we’re gone.”

“Beacon Hill,” I say, giving him the address.

He groans. “Or not.”

“I’ll buy breakfast.”

He perks up. “Sold!”

It takes us about thirty minutes to get there. Mom is standing out on the sidewalk when we pull up, and she tears the sunglasses off her face.

“Sunglasses at six o’clock in the morning?” Eli asks.

I just shake my head, hopping out. She launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

“Thank you, thank you,” she cries.

I take a deep breath… of whiskey.

I draw back sharply, holding her by her shoulders. It’s no wonder she was wearing sunglasses. Her eyes are red and puffy—from crying or a hangover, I can’t be sure which is the dominant cause—and her skin is dull.

“Mom?”

“What?” She wrinkles her nose. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because… are you drunk?”

She lets out a shrill laugh. “Goodness, no. Hungover, maybe.”

“Mrs. Asher,” Eli greets her. “How are you?”

Mom releases me and stumbles toward him. She pats his cheek. “You must be Josh’s son. You look quite a bit like him, I must say.”

“Right, er, thanks. Can we… help you?”

She straightens. “Yes! My home was broken into. This way.”

We follow her down the street, into an alley. Eli and I exchange a glance before stepping into it. Something about this screams… fishy.

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