Page 288 of Second Sets Omnibus

Fuck that.

“Keep her there. Tell the cops I want to speak with her before I press charges against her.”

“Okay, Sir.”

And we hang up.

I heave a breath, running a hand down my face. My mother. Fucking Gloria. She must have done it at some point when she was desperate for my money. It’s been like this since we moved her here with us. Constantly texting and calling us, begging for it. The only reason we’ve put up with her for this long is for our little sister, Cami. We’ve tried to protect her every step of the way. Including sending her to a private boarding school on the edge of town to get her away from Gloria’s shitty parenting. After Asher’s father went to prison, everything fell apart for them. We were the only people who picked Gloria up by her arms and coddled her ungrateful ass. It’s not like she deserved a penthouse apartment or money from us. She’s never been thankful. Always so damn greedy when it comes to what we earned.

She only saw us as dollar signs. Never humans. Never her fucking sons. So once and for all, the time has come to sever ties with the woman who gave me life.

“Lyric,” I sigh, reaching across to clutch her little hand as she sets her spoon down. “I need to run an errand. It’s right next door…” I hesitate a moment, not really wanting to take Lyric into this hostile situation. I want to protect her from Gloria’s manipulating ways. But a part of me wants to show Gloria what she missed out on by sending River away. Not that she would have been a good grandma, anyway.

“Okay,” Lyric says with a shrug. “But you didn’t eat your ice cream, Daddy.” She points to my melted ice cream glittering in the sun shining through the windows.

“We’ll come back, and I’ll try it again. I liked it, but Daddy has to take care of something important.”

She nods, jumps down from the chair, and takes my hand as we walk to the last meeting I’ll ever have with my piss-poor excuse for a mother. No… Gloria. She’s no one's mother. She’s a user. Manipulator. And her reign of terror ends now, includingher hold over Camilla, our teenage sister who luckily lives in her own dorm at the local prep school. Our mother has never been there for her. Never protected her from Nigel’s fists, like she should have. So, we did the only thing we could do on our end to keep her safe from Gloria’s clutches. Since Asher’s father went to prison and now, I’m sending my mother’s ass there, Camilla will fall into our hands.

Me

We’re going to have to enact plan ‘Save Camilla’.

AKA beg our lawyers to give us custody of Cami and prove our mother unfit. It shouldn’t be too hard, but it’ll be a huge leap for us. Another reason going on tour would prove harmful.

Asher

What? What happened?

Me

Get the lawyers on the phone…Gloria’s been stealing money from me… And is getting arrested.

Asher

Shit. I’ll call the lawyer. The school. The landlord of Gloria’s apartment…any other place?

Me

Nah, man. Thanks, tho. I gotta take care of this. Can you meet me at Florence’s? Apparently, she stole my card… And I’ve got Ly…

Asher

Yes. On my way.

Nothing preparesyou for facing down your own flesh and blood. Especially when that person is your mother. My life bringer. The one who carefully cooked me in her belly for nine months, shot me out, and then ruined my fucking life.

She’s the one individual who is supposed to look after you. Not take advantage of you. Not steal from you—multiple times. Fuck. Her. The only person that matters now is Cami. I’ll protect my sister from everything.

“Mr. Knight.”

I stop dead in front of the manager’s office with a grim expression, clutching tight to Lyric in my arms. Her eyes dart around, soaking in everything happening. Maybe it was a mistake bringing her with me. But I couldn’t pass this up and let Gloria go straight to jail without knowing what I have to say.

Gloria and I are about to have a lot of words.

“Yes. I’m Kieran Knight,” I say, holding out a hand to the police officer standing guard outside the door. “I was told my mother was here?”

His lips roll tight, and he nods. “Yes. We were told you wanted to speak to her before we took her in. And that you wanted to press charges?”