Page 70 of Silk and Sirens

“They know about the club, just not what I do on the side.”

“Hmm.” I tried to ignore the dog that was currently coming over to sniff my shoes. “Poisoning unsuspected men with their cocks out … Your mum would be so proud.”

“Wouldn’t know, she died in childbirth with me,” she said, a sad smile curving her lips. “It was just Tristan, Mira, and me most days. And whatever Nanny he’d hired, of course.” She reached for the dog, but I kept my arm locked around her waist, unwilling to let her slip away even an inch.

“What about your other sisters?”

“They lived with their own mums, only visiting at weekends and holidays.” She gave another small shrug, but her fingers managed to scratch behind the dog’s ears. “Hey, Dino. Who’s a good boy?”

Dino wiggled his bum excitedly at the attention, and I don’t think I’d ever glared at a dog before. He didn’t seem to catch my mental fuck off, because he immediately started jumping up at me, wanting my attention too.

Fuck’s sake.

“Wow,” Aeris said, smirking. “He likes you.”

“You sound surprised,” I replied, reluctantly loosening my hold on her so I could give the damn dog a few strokes. “Thought he’d bite me?”

“Of course,” she teased, grin widening. “Dino bites all the bad guys, don’t you, boy?”

Dino leaped up at her, and she planted a kiss on his nose. I’d never felt jealousy over a dog before. What the actual fuck.

“I can picture it now,” she laughed, gently pushing Dino down so she could turn her full attention back to me. “You, running around some vast estate with a puppy chasing after your heels.”

“I never had a dog,” I said quietly, the words coming out flatter than I intended.

“Never?” She raised a single brow, eyes dancing with amusement. “Maybe I should’ve killed Alexander after all.”

Hooking my arm around her waist once more I pulled her flush against me. This time she didn’t stiffen, her laughter vibrating through my chest, light, unguarded, and so fucking addictive I wanted to drown in it.

“My mum said she was going to get me one,” I continued, unsure why I was offering pieces of myself to the woman who sold secrets to the highest bidder. “She even took me to a breeder and promised me this golden puppy with the fluffiest tail.”

Aeris wiggled, turning entirely so she could see my face.

“Then she left us a few days later.”

“Come on baby, just a little more,” Mama said, her nails digging into my hand. “Then I’ll take you for ice cream. Chocolate, your favourite.”

“You’re hurting me,” I cried, trying to twist my fingers free. But Mama only squeezed tighter, dragging me faster down the dark street. The pavement was freezing against my bare feet, and I was still in my pyjamas. No coat. No shoes. My eyes kept wanting to close, but Mum wouldn’t let me stop. She kept walking so fast I had to run to keep up.

“Mummy needed a walk, okay?” she said, the words rushing out so quickly they almost tripped over each other. “I’m not supposed to leave you home alone, so you have to come with me. You want to help Mummy, right? You’re my good boy. My best boy.”

“I want Dad,” I whimpered, my voice cracking. “I’m scared …”

Mama gave my hand another painful squeeze and suddenly spun around, crouching down so her face was right in front of mine. Her eyes were too wide, too bright, and her smile stretched so big it looked strange, almost scary.

“There’s no need to be scared, my baby,” she said, her words tumbling out in a bright, frantic rush. “Mummy’s here. Mummy’s always here. We’re going on an adventure! Just you and me.”

She laughed, loud and sharp, making me flinch.

I wanted to run back home, but she wouldn’t let me.

“Mama, please.” I cried now, my face crumpling.

Her expression changed, eyes widening as her warm hand cupped my cheek to brush away my tears. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Pulling me into a hug, I wrapped my arms around her and refused to let go. “I love you, my baby. Always.”

“Caden?” I blinked, looking down to find Aeris searching my eyes, her expression soft.

“She had these manic episodes sometimes, which was a symptom of her bipolar,” I said. “She’d regularly go from one extreme to the next, to the point I never knew which side of her I’d see each morning.”