Page 111 of Revere
“Mother.”
Her eyes narrow, scanning my outfit. “Do you still need to change?”
I look down at my jeans and long-sleeve T-shirt. It’s not nearly dressy enough to meet her standards, and usually, I’d care to impress her so I wouldn’t have to hear about it. But today, I don’t have it in me.
“No.” I grab my purse, walking past her before she can open her mouth to scold me.
She huffs, following me down the hallway, and I feel her disappointed glare assessing me for the entire elevator ride. When we finally reach the lobby, I choose the most secluded corner.
Mom frowns at the worn cushions, sitting right on the edge, like the tacky red velvet might rub off on her. I’m surprised she even agreed to meet with me here. I assumed that by telling her I wasn’t going to my parents’ estate, she would decide I wasn’t worth the trouble. Instead, she showed up at my dorm room.
“I see this summer didn’t help with your attitude.” Mom straightens her spine, clutching her purse.
“What do you want, Mom?” I’m never this snippy with my mother, and her hard glare is proof she doesn’t appreciate it.
“Can’t I just be checking in?” She says it too sweetly.
“You never just check in.”
Mom shrugs, her gaze darting off.
“This is about Alex, right?” It’s always about Alex.
My entire life, I’ve come in second to my brother in my parents’ eyes. He can do no wrong because he’s the son who will carry on my father’s Sigma Sin legacy. While I’m just a girl to be married and bred, advancing the Lancasters’ political interests.
“I need you to help your brother understand.”
“Understand what, exactly?” I lean back in my seat. “That Dad almost got him killed during his trial and then lied to him about it. Or that he stabbed Alex’s girlfriend?”
“Your father made a mistake.”
“Then let him suffer the consequences. That’s how it works, right?” After all, that’s how it was for me growing up.
Any little error and my mother would drag me to the basement. Place me on my knees in front of that cross until I bled for my sins. Until I begged for forgiveness.
“This is getting out of hand.” Mom shakes her head.
“And whose fault is that?” I push to standing. “I can’t do this, Mom. If you have a problem with Alex, confront him about it. I’m done standing in the middle.”
Mom shoots to her feet when I start to walk away, raising her voice. “Finally growing a spine now that you have a man at your side, I see.”
I freeze, looking over my shoulder at her.
“I suppose that isn’t a surprise given the rumors circling. I never pegged you as having that much ambition, Patience. Aiming straight for the top. To the one poised to lead them all.”
I shouldn’t be surprised Mom’s heard about me and Jacob when rumors started spreading like wildfire after the Sigma House party. In LA, it would have been taboo; here, people aren’t as surprised. They know how Sigma Sin operates. Nothing phases them. And even if they did judge, they wouldn’t dare say it out loud for fear of what might happen.
“I suppose it isn’t surprising he caught your eye. Although, I am wondering what you did to make him look twice at you.” Her sneer is downright vicious as she glares at me.
“Jacob and I are over.”
“Are you?” Mom steps closer, reaching for the tip of my braid. “Your father and I knew him when you were still too young to remember, but even back then, he had this quality that was hard to deny.”
“You knew him?” My tongue is sandpaper.
“Of course.” She smiles, but there’s nothing sweet about it. “He flew through the ranks of Sigma Sin under your father’s wing. We were all close once.”
A flash of something haunts Mom’s expression. Something I can’t quite place.
