Page 37 of Jagger

It can't be.It's been so long since I've seen her. I jump out of bed and yank on a T-shirt.

What the fuck is Mom doing at home?

"Jagger!" She sounds irritated.

Great.

"I'm here," I call out gruffly, still pulling my shirt down as I go downstairs.

My mother stands at the bottom of the stairs, her hands on her tiny waist, light green eyes narrowed at me.

"Why the hell are the gatesandthe door open?"

I frown and look instinctively to the open door and the gates beyond.

Fuck.

Molly must've left.

"I don't know," I lie, and Mom sighs.

"I need a drink."

Only then do I notice the man beside her, his heavily tanned skin and bleached white teeth telling me he must be her new squeeze.

Wonderful.

"Why are you here?" I demand like it's my house. It technically is—she's never here.

Mom pours a glass of champagne from the fridge and glares at me.

"Do I need a reason to come back tomyhouse?"

"Considering you don't even bother to come back to see me at Christmas, yeah," I retort, crossing my arms.

"I haven't come to seeyou, Jagger," Mom snaps. "Haven't you seen the news?"

I can't help but stare at her.

What the fuck is she talking about?

"No, I don't watch the fucking news. Why?" I ask as she drains her glass before pouring another.

"It's your uncle..." Mom's eyes fill with tears, and I stare at her blankly. "Uncle Leonard. He's dead."

I feel like someone has punched me in the gut. You can't kill Leonard Dahla. He's untouchable—he's?—

My chest feels tight, but I manage to ask, "How?"

"Car accident. I need to lie down." Mom pushes past me, and the man follows her into the lounge, where she falls onto the sofa.

Fuck.

I check my phone and see the story dominating the news—I can't believe what I'm seeing. My uncle's car is on fire, and the headline screams that two bodies belonging to my aunt and uncle have been recovered.

Bodies.

My head swims. It's like someone has unleashed a curse on this fucking family. If they're dead, what about Aphrodite? And Kaden?