“What?” I went to grab the knife. “Mum!”
“Let me cut it out!”
I lunged forward, seizing her wrist just as the blade grazed my arm. Hissing through my teeth, I wrenched the knife away as mum collapsed to her knees in a heap.
Reaching for the other knives, I grabbed them all and ran to my room, frantically searching where I could hide them. Swallowing my panic, I shoved them beneath my mattress, making sure to cover the edges with the sheet and duvet before returning to the kitchen.
Mum hadn’t moved. Her shoulders sagging as she looked up at me, eyes glassy with tears. “Where are you going?” she asked, noticing the key in my shaking hand.
“I have to get to work.”
“What if they take you?”
I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’ll be careful.”
“Please don’t go,” she choked out. “We have to stay safe.”
I left, locking the door behind me before pressing my forehead against it. I could hear her sobs through the wood, and each sound broke me just a little bit more. Taking a moment to calm myself, I knocked next door at Mrs Chen’s, my smile forced when she answered.
“Oh my, what happened?” she asked, her eyes widening.
I glanced down, only just remembering the cut. It was small, but blood trickled steadily down my arm. “It’s nothing,” I said quickly, trying to sound casual even as I tugged my sleeve down to cover it.
“Let me clean that up for you.”
I forced my expression to remain calm. “No, really. I’m fine. Could you just keep an ear out for mum? She’s not… feeling well today, and I’ve got to get to work.”
“Of course,” she said, her expression saddened. “Violet… if there’s anything I could?—”
“Thanks, Mrs Chen, I really appreciate it,” I called over my shoulder, hurrying off before she asked questions I couldn’t answer.
Chapter 7
Ryder
Black didn’t suit Violet. Her dress and oversized jacket, which clearly wasn’t hers, made her look like she was about to attend a funeral. Which evidently was the theme of this gallery, because the art was boring me to death.
Not that I could gain access, because apparently you had to have an appointment. Good thing I could casually watch through the cameras, their system so pathetic a child could hack it.
Sipping my coffee, I sat back in the booth, having taken the seat right at the back of the cute little café that happened to be almost directly opposite the pompous gallery. With my headphones in and phone propped up, I was able to flick between the camera feeds and watch her.
“Violet, remember to smile,” the man hissed over her shoulder, his voice crystal clear. For such shoddy security, the camera and microphone quality was actually top notch. “And make sure you keep that jacket on. I don’t want our clients to see your arm.”
What the fuck was wrong with her arm?
“Yes, sir,” Violet responded with an obedient nod.
“We have an original Devereaux being delivered today, andyoumustrepresent the gallery. Mr Devereaux rarely allows his work to be seen, so we need to show his wife that we’re worthy of featuring such an extraordinary piece,” he continued, reaching up to adjust his unfortunate-looking toupee.
A little light seemed to return to Violet’s gaze at that, all while I pulled a face. No way did the fucking ‘Beast’ create art, not unless it was with his fists and blood. My hand had never entirely recovered since our last meeting, and even now I felt a phantom twinge where he’d broken three of my fingers.
“Ah, it looks like Mrs Donn has decided on the Bulliard original,” the man commented in what had to be a fake posh accent becauseChrist, no one naturally sounded that pretentious, did they? “Go wrap it carefully while I process the payment.”
Violet’s smile tightened, and I followed her across the gallery to where she carefully removed a black and white painting of a man looking out to the sea.
So, I think it was safe to say I wasnotan art person.
Shifting in my seat, I zoomed in on Violet, watching her as she carefully carried the framed piece through a door to where there were boxes and packaging supplies. Swapping cameras, I watched her place the painting down before taking a seat on the closest box and pulling out her phone.
