“Right.” I sighed and nodded. “Sorry, Mamma.”
My mother smiled gently at Maisie and waited until she left the room before leaning down, nose-to-nose with me. “Listen to me, you little shit. If youever scare me like that again, I will murder you.” She grabbed my face gently, running her thumbs over my cheeks. “Capisce?”
“Mom!” Frankie snapped. “Language.”
“What language? You heard nothing.” She straightened, then sat on the sofa beside me.
Angel leaned down and kissed my cheek. “You look good.”
“That’s because I showered and have painkillers coursing through me. I’d be even better if I could have finished my nap.”
“Next time, I’ll think about making an appointment,” Mom said, then chuckled. “Oh, no, wait. I’m your mother. I pushed you out of my vagina, fed you from my breasts, watched your father get murdered in front of me, and was left to raise five children alone. So, maybe I’ll do as I damn well please.”
Well, shit. She played ‘the card.’ Actually, she played all ‘the cards.’
I took a deep breath. I had also been there when my father had been murdered, although she didn’t know that, and I wasn’t about to tell her. It had gutted me. All of us. But she’d crumpled. At least, for a time. However, five kids and a life that needed to be continued, pushed you to move on. And she’d done exactly that.
“Jesus, you act more like a mafia boss than a mother,” Frankie grumbled.
My mother raised an eyebrow. “How do you know I’m not?”
Before any of us could retort, Maisie returned with a pot of tea and cookies. Mom rushed to helpher.
“Thank you, Camilla,” Maisie said.
“No, thank you,” Mom countered. “This is so kind, Maisie.”
Mom had been a ‘hard sell’ when I’d decided to join the Dogs of Fire, but she’d come around and come around fast when she’d met Hatch and Maisie. Partly because it was quite possible if Hatch didn’t take me to heel, I’d probably be in jail, but also because she probably had a little crush on him.
She might even have a little crush on Maisie.
“It’s my pleasure.” Maisie smiled. “I’ll leave you to visit. If you need anything, just give me a yell.”
“Thanks, Maisie,” I said, and she squeezed my good arm before walking out of the room.
My mother faced me and cocked her head. “I need this to stop.”
“What?” I asked.
She waved her hand from the top of my head back down to my toes. “This.”
I sighed. “This was random and there was no way to stop it.”
“Being part of—”
I raised my hand. “Don’t.”
Mom let out a huff as she pressed her lips together in silent judgment.
“It’s dangerous. It nearly got you killed.”
“You and Dad went to buy Christmas presents, and he was stabbed for it, so don’t sit there and tell me about what’s fuckin’ dangerous.”
“Enough!” Hatch growled as he walked into the room. “You will not disrespect your mother in myhouse.”
I nodded, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.
Hatch turned to my mom. “Camilla, you mind giving me a moment of your time, sweetheart?”
