Page 175 of Possession

My mother.

She’s standing between me and the great room holding a water glass. It’s full, but she’s not drinking water. The liquid is the color of amber, and from the way she looks, this isn’t her first.

I was at the Marinos the last time I saw her. I was hopeful and homesick and so, so stupid.

But the thing is, I don’t hate her today like I did then.

I feel sorry for her. And not because of the state of her house or because her husband is in custody.

I feel sorry for her because she has lived a pathetic life. Everything she loves is fake and funded by illegal activity.

When Brax told me he was worried about not giving me the kind of life I grew up having, I wanted to kiss the foolish words right out of his mouth.

I don’t care about anything lavish. Being here cements the fact I wouldn’t want this even if we could have it.

I want a life completely opposite from what I grew up with.

“I can’t believe you’d show your face here,” she says, somewhere between a seethe and a slur.

“I came to get a few things.” I look around. “If my room looks like this, it will be easy to pack.”

She shakes her head. “You did this.”

My eyes go wide, and I raise my voice. “I did this? You’re hitting the bottle harder than normal, Mom. I’m the last person responsible for this.”

She takes two steps toward me. I smell the whiskey when it sloshes over the rim as she talks angrily with her hands. “You’re testifying against him. You’re going to fucking stand up in court and tell them he sold you!”

“Yes, I am. That’s exactly what he did, and you stood by and watched him do it. The only thing you were worried about was what your friends would think.”

“When I came to the house that day, you were fine. Why are you doing this to us now? Your father is in custody, and his attorney is having a hell of a time getting him out on bail. It has nothing to do with drugs or money laundering. It has everything to do with you!”

I move past her, but she grabs my arm to stop me. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I jerk out of her hold and take two steps back. “It’s none of your business.”

She stares at me over the rim of her glass as she takes a gulp. “When I saw you with him that day, you both acted like it was real.”

There’s something about the way she said that. It’s more of an accusation than an observation.

I don’t confirm or deny it. She lost the right to know anything about me a long time ago.

“For fuck’s sake, you fell for him, didn’t you? You’re so fucking foolish, Landyn. BraxtonCruz,” she tsks, emphasizing his last name in a way that’s odd, even if she’s on her way to drunk. Her tired, hooded eyes work hard at raising a brow when she adds, “You and the undercover agent. I’d think it was utterly ironic if it weren’t so obvious.”

“Ironic?” I spit. “Irony has nothing to do with the way I got to where I am today. Dad walked me to the gates of hell and hand delivered me to Damian Marino. If Brax hadn’t saved me, my life wouldn’t be what it is right now.”

“Wait, he still wants you?” She’s so surprised, she actually sets her whiskey on the hall table and takes another step toward me. “I get when he was undercover. I’m sure he’d do anything to get to us. But why would he want anything to do with you now? You’re an Alba. The fact he can stand to breathe the same air as you is beyond me.”

Anger bubbles inside me. “I’m nothing like my father, or you for that matter.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Her eyes widen and a hand flies to her mouth. “He doesn’t know?”

“Doesn’t know what?”

“We assumed he knew. When the news broke yesterday about his identity and your father was taken into custody, we thought for sure he knew. Why else would he target us?” Her eyes dart around and it looks like she’s working hard to think. She turns for the kitchen and mutters, “I need to call the attorney so they can strategize. This changes everything.”

I forget about packing. I rush after my mother, catch her by the arm, and twist her around to me just as she reaches for her cell phone. “What are you talking about? What does Brax not know?”

She struggles against me and tries to unlock her cell. It’s easy to reach around and grab it since she’s clumsy and drunk.

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