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“I’m not comfortable telling you that yet. I’m safe and building the life I want.” I leave my chair and walk to the living room. I grip the phone; my palms start to sweat.

“You had a good life here. You belong here,” she pouts.

“I did not. We’ve talked about why,” I hint.

“Are you talking about the bruises again? Why do you keep whining about those?” She sneers.

I remember too late that vampires have excellent hearing. Ryker stands up and stalks toward me, his eyes black still and narrowed.

“Mom. I don’t want to talk about it again. I won’t come back. I won’t ever be with Tom again. Tell him to stop coming over if you don’t want to deal with it. It’s not my problem anymore. I left; deal with it,” I snap, my voice raised. Maybe it’s the presence of the angry vampire that claims I’m his mate that gives me the courage.

Silence fills the phone after my rant. She sputters, “Excuse me? You have no right to speak to me that way. I am your mother. You will give me the respect my title deserves.”

“Then maybe you should act like a mother,” I say harshly. Ryker gets into my space and runs his hand down my arm.

“You ungrateful brat. You have no idea the sacrifices I have made for you. All the things I have done.” She spits into the phone.

“I guess I don’t. From my end, I see none of those things. I need to go. Don’t call me again. If I want to talk to you, I’ll call.”

“You will regret this,” she growls.

“I don’t think I will. It’s been a long time coming. I’m doing what’s best for me for the first time in a long time.” I hang up the phone on her angry response and grin at Ryker.

“That felt amazing,” I say, taking a deep breath.

“What bruises?” he growls.

Crap. He looks ready to do battle for me. I’m still running on a high from finally telling my mom off, and I don’t temper my words.

“My ex, Tom, hit me. Not from the beginning. It started with control and ridicule but turned into slaps with his palm. He escalated from there, graduating to using his fists. I showed my mom the bruises, and she brushed them off. Which shouldn’t have surprised me; she’s been a shit mother from the beginning.”

He puts his hands on either side of my face, tilting my head farther back to meet his gaze. “What about your father?”

“He is an alcoholic. Pretty much my whole life, he’s had his head in a bottle. He didn’t treat me with anything but indifference,” I say.

“You had no one to protect you,” he snarls, angry.

I should not have taken the call even though I feel free now. Free from that woman. If it is true about vampires and their mates, Ryker may go on a killing spree. Starting at my house. Why does that give me a warm, mushy feeling?

“I did not. That’s why I moved here with Ava. I came to my senses. I’ve let them hold me down for too long. I lost who I was.” I grab his wrists, holding on.

“Do you want me to kill them?” He tilts his head.

“That’s a harder question to answer than I would have thought. Of course, I also never thought I would meet someone that could do it.” I laugh but sober at his seriousness. “Right now, no. I will let you know if that changes.”

“Just so you know, if anyone, whether it’s your ex, mom, or dad, comes here to do you harm, I won’t ask for permission.”

I take in his dark hair falling around his shoulders, bared teeth, and dangerous eyes; his body is tense, his muscles bunching. I make a decision. “I know. If that happens, I will let you.”

“I’m going to take you down to Bash’s. You can spend some time with Ava, and I will be more comfortable leaving you. I’ll be back before we have to leave for work.” His eyes are back to blue now.

“Where are you going?” I frown.

“I have to meet with a wolf.” He doesn’t sound too happy about it.

“About the murders?”

“Yes.” He grabs his phone and sticks it into his pocket.