Page 40 of Goldrage
“You’re staring,” Mother says.
“Making sure she doesn’t cause problems.”
Lies.
She laughs. “Of course you are. Honestly, Julian, doyou need a lobotomy to stop thinking about that bitch? I’m the only one who has ever cared about you.” She sips her champagne, and something in her tone drags me backward through time.
I’m eight years old, crying in Mother’s bedroom. The bruise on my cheek throbs where Father backhanded me for interrupting his meeting. Mother sits beside me on her silk duvet, dabbing my tears with a handkerchief that smells like roses.
“My brave boy,” she coos, pulling me against her chest. “You were only trying to protect me, weren’t you? When you heard Daddy shouting?”
I nod into her shoulder, breathing in her perfume. She’s soft and warm and everything Father isn’t.
“That’s because you love me more than Adrian does.” Her fingers stroke through my hair. “Adrian just stood there when Daddy was angry. But not you. You tried to stop him.”
“Adrian was scared,” I mumble, defending my brother even though part of me glows at being called braver.
“Was he?” She pulls back to study my face, her blue eyes sad. “Or does he love Daddy more than me? Sometimes I wonder if Adrian even cares when I cry.”
My chest hurts at the thought. “He cares, Mama.”
“Does he?” She touches my bruised cheek so gently. “Then why does he spend so much time with Daddy? Learning the business, going on trips, leaving us alone?” Her voice breaks. “You’re the only one who really loves me, Julian.”
“That’s not true?—”
“Shh.” She presses a finger to my lips. “It’s okay. I know it hurts to admit, but Adrian is becoming just like Daddy. Soon he won’t want us at all. It’ll just be you and me against theworld.” A tear slides down her perfect face. “Promise me something, my darling boy. Promise you’ll never leave me like Adrian is doing. Promise you’ll always protect me.”
The weight of her sadness crushes my small chest. I throw my arms around her neck. “I promise, Mama. I’ll never be like Adrian. I’ll never leave you.”
She holds me tight, and I feel her heartbeat against mine, the way she trembles like she needs me.
“My perfect boy,” she whispers. “My Julian. You’ll always choose me, won’t you? Even over your brother?”
“Always,” I promise.
The memory fades as Aurelia accepts a glass of water from a server. She doesn’t drink, just holds it like a prop.
I glance at Mother, who’s also watching Aurelia with interest.
Adrian is becoming just like Daddy. Soon he won’t want us at all. It’ll just be you and me against the world.
But that’s not the truth. Adrian did care for Mother when we were kids, but she always tried to tell me differently. I hadn’t ever thought about it but… it was like she wanted to turn me against him. Like she was using my love for her as a blade to cut what binds me to Adrian.
Why?
Sergio Castellano joins the circle of men around Aurelia, and my blood pressure spikes. His reputation precedes him, a trafficker who samples his own merchandise. The way he evaluates her makes my vision edge with red.
“Careful,” Mother murmurs. “Your feelings are showing.”
“I don’t have feelings for the bitch. Not now.”
“No?” She turns to study my face with the same intensity I’m directing at Aurelia. “Then why are your hands shaking?”
I look down. Fuck, she’s right. My fingers tremble with the effort of not crossing the room, not tearing Aurelia away from those men.
“She’s carrying the Harrow heir,” I say. “That makes her valuable.”
“Indeed. Though value is such a relative concept. What’s precious to one person might be worthless to another.”
