Page 82 of Vicious Little Snakes

I lean in closer on the table, keeping my voice low, placing my flute down.

“No. You weren’t. I haven’t mattered to you since my father left you.”

Grey reaches back, taking his suit jacket from the chair and giving me a nod. Time to go. Her face shifts back and forth, panic setting in. Even Evan looks nervous—I guess this isn’t what they expected today. I slide my chair back, but she darts her hand out over mine.

“Caroline. Think about where your loyalty lies.”

My brows rise. Is she serious?

“So much has happened over the last twenty-four hours that I barely have room for this. But a word to the wise.” I lift my chin to Evan and then back to her. “C’est un bateau qui coule.That’s a sinking ship.You may want to invest in a life vest because when you drown, your husband won’t help you. And neither will I.”

Her nails dig into my hand as she sneers.

“Faites attention à la façon dont vous me parlez, petite salope. Vous me devez—je vous ai cette vie.”Be careful how you talk to me, little bitch. You owe me—I got you this life.

“Don’t you mean little pig? What is it about me that you hate so much, Mother? Is it that I have the life you wanted without all the sacrifice? You do realize that you didn’t have to spread your legs so fucking wide, don’t you?”

“You know nothing of sacrifice,” she snaps, her calm façade chipped away.

My lips tip up, but I don’t know why I smile. Maybe because I’m happy everyone gets to witness this moment, or perhaps because I finally decided that I don’t care what she has to say anymore.

“How’s this for sacrifice?” I pull back the sleeve of my sheer black blouse from the hand she’s holding in place, exposing the scar on my wrist.

“This wasn’t the first time. Just the first time I didn’t care if it kept bleeding. I’ve given a pound of flesh in the name of your disappointment. But I don’t have to anymore. I’ve decided to be free of you. It took me letting go of the most precious person I’ve ever loved to realize that if I can do that and still have a pulse, well then—”

I don’t bother to finish. She understands.

Tearing my hand away, I stand as her eyes narrow. “Don’t forget who controls the purse strings.”

Grey stands next to me, buttoning his jacket, as he interjects, “Brunch is over.” He directs his attention to his father. “I’ll have your belongings sent to a storage facility—on your dime. And just for fun, I’m directing the company’s lawyers to look into Caroline’s trust. If even one penny is missing, it’ll be a headache you don’t want.”

“Is that a threat, son?”Evan spits, tossing his napkin down on the table as my mother sits back, face ashen.

“No, it’s a promise, Evan. If you don’t fall in line, I’ll destroy everything you touch. Then, just to be a prick, I’ll fuck your wife and make her tell you how much better the younger version is.”

My mother gasps and I laugh, shocked, and thoroughly entertained. Grey holds out his hand for me, and I accept, smiling at my mother.

“It’s always a pleasure spending time with family. Callagain whenyou’re in town.”

Grey and I stroll out of the club directly to the valet, who immediately call the car over.We stand stoic, looking forward, but my punch to his arm breaks our silence.

“Ow.”

“You couldn’t have left out the part about fucking my mother?”I snap, shaking my hand, “You’re such a degenerate.”

He shrugs, grinning. “Don’t tell Donovan. She’ll kill me. But it was a good jab.”

Our car pulls up, and Grey opens the door for me, allowing me to slide inside. He follows, plopping down onto the leather seat next to me, searching his pockets for a cigarette.

“You okay?”

I shrug, holding out my hand. He scowls but places a smoke in my hand before rolling down the window. The flame of light flickers as he extends it over, and I take a drag, releasing with a long exhale.

“I wish I’d been the one that put her in her place—said meaner things.”

He smirks and nudges his knee into mine, drawing my eyes.

“Caroline, she may have raised you in her image, but you’re a much nastier version. You’ll get your sea legs with her.”