Page 87 of Vow Of Fire

“I wanted to miss the traffic.”

I grunted. “What do you want?”

“It’s good to see you too, darling,” she said, moving around the room. My mother prowled like a panther, her long legs gliding seamlessly over the wooden floor. She picked up an apple, studied it, then wordlessly set it back down again.

That was her way of telling me she’d clocked the detail.

I inhaled through my nose, trying not to let her passive-aggressive behavior get to me. I’d grown up with this woman; I knew how she thought. I didn’t always know what she was thinking, but I did know she was the queen of subtle manipulation.

“I want to meet your guest.”

And there it was. No subterfuge, just straight to the point.

“I thought you’d at least be more subtle about it,” I commented dryly.

She laughed, a deep throaty sound. “No point pretending. Besides, we’ve got other, more pressing matters to discuss.”

In other words, Evelyn wasn’t one of them.

“Right, of course.” I shook my head. “Why couldn’t we discuss this last night?”

“I hadn’t thought it through thoroughly enough last night.”

“Okay. Why don’t you sit down?” I gestured to the table.

She glanced at the couch, then back to the table like it was the better of two deeply unsavory options, and sank into one of the four chairs.

“Coffee?” I asked.

“Not the kind you have here.”

I rolled my eyes as I sat down beside her. “Evelyn’s getting dressed.”

“Oh. I see.”

“It’s not like that,” I snapped.

“Hmm…” She left her opinion hanging. I knew she was reserving it for when she met Evelyn. For when she saw us together. Because that was what my mother did. She read people. There was no point in pretending we weren’t fucking. She’d know it the moment Evelyn walked into the room.

That’s when she’d decide whether Evelyn was useful… or dangerous.

I let out a breath. Evelyn would be no match for Valentina.

Very few people were.

There were footsteps down the hall, and Evelyn emerged, barefoot, her copper hair flowing loose, wearing a T-shirt under a loose cardigan over leggings. She looked adorably nervous, and if my mother weren’t here, I’d be hard-pressed not to take her right back to the bedroom.

I saw Valentina’s eyes narrow as she scrutinized her. There was a flicker of surprise, and I realized my mother hadn’t known how beautiful my tragic Ophelia was.

When had I started thinking of her as mine?

“Hello. It’s Evelyn, isn’t it?” Valentina said, getting to her feet. She knew full well what Evelyn’s name was.

Evelyn gave a tentative smile and I grimaced. This was going to be a bloodbath.

“Mrs. Marcelli. I wish I could say it was a pleasure to meet you.”

I blinked. At the same time, I registered my mother’s curving eyebrow.