Page 58 of Dirty Legacy

“It’s split. Some are angry with him. Some think he did the right thing. Others are just happy to get the chance to start killing people.” She laughs like that’s the funniest thing in the world.

“What do you think?”

“I think Connor was put in an impossible situation and is doing the best he can. I think you seem like a really nice person, and I think you’re going to be okay.”

I sigh, spearing some salad. “Doesn’t feel that way.”

“Give it time. Anything else? I should get back⁠—“

There’s noise in the hallway. My ears perk instantly and my back straightens. I chew hurriedly before jumping to my feet.

The sound of my mother’s shrill, frustrated shouting echoes like gunshots in a tunnel.

“Mom!” I hurry past Lisa to find Dawn struggling against Colm. He’s trying to calmly steer her toward the room set aside, but she’s resisting as much as she can.

“Let me go, you overgrown steroidal lab rat! I want my stuff! My freaking smokes, my clothes, get off me—“ She turns as I rush over, exasperated. “Angelina, there you are, they told me⁠—“

I throw my arms around her. Dawn Bellandi has never been a very affectionate person and I’m not surprised when she stiffens, but I don’t care. She squirms and it only makes me hold her tighter.

“I’m so happy to see you.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s okay, hon. You’re fine, I’m fine. This place is wild, isn’t it? Your husband really is loaded, isn’t he?”

I pull back and she’s beaming at me happily. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“This meat pocket here—“ She gestures at poor Colm who silently takes the abuse. “He forced me out of my own home and thinks he can keep me locked in this house for the rest of my life. But that won’t happen. Do you hear me, you tumor-ridden snake fucker? I will not be caged!”

“Sorry,” I say to Colm and steer my mother away, into the room set aside for her. “Mom, please, they’re just doing their jobs. Leave him alone.”

“You’re too nice to people. Honestly, Angelina—“ She cuts off mid-sentence as she looks around her new setup. “Huh. Okay. This isn’t bad.”

It’s not as big as my room, but it’s close. The bed’s huge, freshly made, and there’s plenty of seating. I made sure she had a comfortable lounge and a massive TV plus her own private bathroom with a luxurious freestanding tub. The windows are enormous, let in lots of light, and the ceilings are tall.

“I don’t know how long we have to be here, but Connor says it won’t be forever. There’s some kind of war⁠—“

“No shit, hon. They talk about it on the news all the time.”

“Not that war, I mean, some kind of, like, mafia war⁠—“

She rolls her eyes. “God, men can be so dramatic sometimes. Do you know where my smokes are? Can you get me some? Ask that quivering gelatinous ooze back in the hall⁠—“

“Mom, are you listening?” I’m tempted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her. “This is serious. We really can’t leave this place. Colm won’t let you out the doors at the end of the hall. There’s room service⁠—“

“You had me at room service.” She flops onto the couch. “Smokes? Please?”

I rub my face, biting back a string of curses. Leave it to my mother to care only about getting her weed. “I’ll ask about it.”

“Thank you, love. I hope this isn’t too long. Dennis probably is stroking his porky little dick thinking about evicting us.”

I sink down beside my mother. It’s annoying but also strangely comforting listening to her complain. I was raised on a steady diet of grievances and axes to grind, and there’s nothing like a rant by my mother to make me feel like I’m back home.

“I’m happy you’re here.”

She squints at me. “Why? I’m definitely not. How do you work this thing?” She jabs at the remote.

I help her get it working. Better she’s alive and bitching at me than dead and happy. Once the TV lulls her back to quiet, I notice a figure standing in the doorway, watching us.

Connor gestures at me with his chin. Come talk.