Page 109 of The Forbidden Note

I’m shocked, but not too surprised. Dad’s a heartless vampire who drinks blood and doesn’t need regular human sustenance.

Marian folds her hands together and peers at me. “I know my marriage to your father was a shock. I also know I didn’t make a great impression during our last family dinner…” Her voice trails.

I set my fork down. The last family dinner was when mom came over and told us about our grandmother’s inheritance.

“Nobody was in a good mood that day, but it wasn’t because of you.”

She smiles tightly and pinches at a bread roll. “I guess, what I’m trying to say is that I’m honored to be a part of your family. And I won’t let anything jeopardize that.”

My fingers tighten on the fork. That’s not good. I can’t have Marian being too attached to the Cross brand of insanity. She’s a key player in my plan to weaken dad’s power.

“Is this how you usually spend your day?” I ask, digging into the baked beans.

“I do some shopping, watch TV.”

“Dad hasn’t been home for a while now,” I say, watching her carefully.

Her eyelashes flutter down. “He’s on tour.”

“Has he called you?”

She launches out of her seat. “Let me pop these rolls back in the oven. They’re a little too soft.”

I watch as Marian fiddles with the knobs on the stove.

“About dad, there’s something I need to—”

“Zane.” Her voice sounds tired. “Do you know how Grey grew up?”

I shake my head.

“We lived in a cramped apartment behind a nightclub. The noise was obnoxious. There were fights. Screams. Women sold their bodies on the street near our block. Gangs fought turf wars right in front of our house. Sometimes, the bullets tore through the walls. We could have died in our sleep.”

It sounds horrific.

“I swore I’d get her out of there and I did.” She turns to face me, a determined set to her chin. “My baby was smart. She got a scholarship to Redwood. She went to college. She made something of herself. That was all I wanted. For her to be better than I was. So I never imagined I’d be here.” She throws her hands out to indicate the giant, spacious kitchen. “Living like this. I never allowed myself to dream of it.”

The edges of her mouth curve up in a not-quite-there smile. “I don’t know why you boys moved in and I don’t care. I’m glad to have a family. Me and Jarod, we willalwaysbe a family.”

She gives me a knowing stare, and I realize Marian isn’t as clueless as she looks.

“Understood.”

Her grin gets more genuine and she pops the rolls out of the oven. When she returns to the table, she sets one in my plate.

“Eat up.” The scent of her cocoa butter lotion wafts to me as she pours another glass of sweet tea.

I back off, deciding not to broach the topic of her divorcing dad yet. “This food is really good.”

“It’s the least I can do for such a sweet little brother.”

Calling me ‘sweet’ and ‘little brother’ in the same sentence?

Poor Marian.

She has no idea all the filthy things I want to do to her daughter.

Marian folds her hands together and rests her chin on top of it. “You know, I’m so glad Gracie has you boys looking out for her at Redwood.”