Page 84 of Betrothed in Fury
“She bit off a guard’s ear two weeks ago, so we’ve had to take extra precautions. Isn’t that right, Clara?”
“Mom…” I admonish.
She smirks, shrugging. “He moved my books and lost my place,” she says in that quiet way she has that would make one think she couldn’t possibly be a threat. Part of what makes her so dangerous. “And I didn’t swallow it, like I was thinking of, so they could still reattach it. That was sweet of me, yes?”
“You didn’t swallow it because I forced you to cough it up,” the guard reminds her.
Her expression shifts quickly as she shoots him a nasty look. “Keep talking like that, and you should worry aboutyourtongue.”
Oh, Mom…
Her smile perks back up as she refocuses on me. “Now come here. You haven’t seen me in all this time, and I won’t stand for you not to give me a hug.”
I oblige. She’ll be easier to talk to if I give in, but I’m cautious, tension knotting up in me as I place my arms around her. She pushes up close against me even though I’m trying to keep a bit of distance. My thoughts flash back to when we were on the floor, wrestling, and she was so much stronger than she seemed.
As she pulls away, she turns to one of the guards. “Can I at least have a cigarette?”
“You know we can’t let you out of your cuffs to smoke it.”
“I’ve been so good this week,” she pleads in an unassuming voice.
“Sorry, Clara. Not while you’re on probation, especially while the doctor’s still trying to get the right cocktail together.”
Mom is on a combination of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, but she’s hard to treat. Case in point, the doctors thought she was on the right medications when she attacked our family.
She rolls her eyes. “Worth a try.”
As we get situated at the table, I feel relief, in no small part due to the muzzle giving me a sense of safety.
Despite her warm expression, my mind flashes to what I know that face can look like, to the way she thrashed about and shoved my head underwater. Something that seems so far removed from her friendly demeanor in this moment.
“When they said my son was here, I assumed it would be Wrath. It’s been too long since you paid your mother a visit. He didn’t come with you?”
Of course she would have wanted to see her favorite.
“It’s been about a year, not too long.”
She studies my face. “When I walked in, for a minute I thought you were your father. Of all your brothers, you inherited most of his features.” Her gaze wanders, as if she’s reflecting on more pleasant times in her life, when she and Dad were together.
“How do you know that?” I ask. “You haven’t seen Malaki or Masters or Rory in a long time.”
She winces, something sinister in her gaze. “You have his vindictive spirit too. But you look like you might be sick, and I have to wonder why you’re here today. Nothing’s happened to your brothers, has it?”
Given the seriousness of her question, she doesn’t seem concerned the way I’d expect a mother to be, not that I’d know what that would even look like.
“They’re all safe and well,” I say, disregarding recent events, though I’m sure Wrath will catch her up.
She grins, seeming pleased that we’re safe, making me question if I was reading her expression right at all, or if I’m just looking to find some fault within her.
“That’s great to know, Logan. I’ve been thinking how nice it would be if you all could agree to get me out of here and bring me home. I belong at Hayward, you know.”
“That won’t be happening,” I say without hesitation, and she doesn’t respond, just stares, assuring me there’s much more lurking behind her otherwise pleasant expression.
“Maybe something I can talk to Wrath about. He seems to be the only one who really cares about me these days.”
I don’t correct her. I didn’t come here to get into it with her about this, and I need to get to the reason for my visit. “I have news, which is why I’m here, and not because I care for you to know, but Dad would want me to tell you.”
Her expression strains at my mention of him.
