Page 5 of Blood Taken (Blood Mafia 2)
Before she can react, I punch my mother in the face. Bone crunches under my fist. She cries out in surprise and covers her nose with both hands. "That's just the beginning," I warn her. "I don't forgive you, and I probably never will. The only reason I'm coming is because you have information I need."
Ms. Hammon wraps her arms around my waist and pulls me away from Maria before I can hit her again. She's a lot stronger than she looks and no amount of thrashing loosens her hold. I growl low in my chest, tossing my head back into hers. She dodges the strike though and squeezes me tight enough a rush of air passes my lips.
"I will hurt you if you don't stop, Demi. Don't make me."
It's incredibly difficult to reconcile the steel undercurrent of violence lacing her words to the teacher I used to know.
"Fine, but she doesn't touch me." Jerking my chin toward Maria, I let out a dark chuckle when I see blood covering her face.
Maria's eyes are lit with fire, something akin to the rage I've become familiar with this past month. She whirls around and punches through the drywall, letting out a furious scream as she does so.
Guess that answers the question as to where I got my temper from.
Chapter Two
Demi
Ms. Hammon drives a discreet sedan while Maria nurses her broken nose. The visor is pulled down and she looks over the damage I've done in the mirror. I cringe when she places her fingers on either side and presses her nose into place, making the bone and cartilage crunch.
Damn.
I'm not even sure I'd have enough guts to set a broken nose by myself.
Her brown eyes flash to mine in the reflective glass and I shoot my gaze out the window, pretending I wasn't staring at her. I'm furious at her for several reasons. My anger doesn't prevent the desire to learn more about the woman who birthed me.
Since I got caught looking at her, I use my peripheral vision to monitor her movements. I don't trust her, not for one second.
I'm not even sure I trust Ms. Hammon.
"What's your name?" I ask my teacher, breaking through the tense silence that's filling the car.
She navigates onto a freeway before answering. "Nicole."
"Did she put you up to watching me?" I jerk my thumb toward Maria.
Nicole glances at my mother, whose face has gone hard.
"Yes."
Maria exhales through her teeth, the sound a low hiss.
Nicole raises her eyebrows at Maria and shrugs in apology. "Honesty is the only way to repair the damage we've done."
There will be no reparations with Maria.
Nicole? Perhaps.
Maria? Hell no.
I trace a finger along the edges of the window. "Why did you get a job at my high school? Couldn't you have watched from the shadows?"
Maria squares her shoulders to Nicole, dark eyes flashing with annoyance. "The questions can wait, Demi."
Scoffing, I drop my hand from the glass and unbuckle my seatbelt.
"What are you doing?" Maria asks when I grip the door handle.
"If you're not going to answer my questions, I'm out. I can find another way to hide from Mateo."
