Reign (The Sainthood - Boys of Lowell High #3)(13)

I nod, liking that plan more.

A beeping sound echoes from the wall-mounted panel by the door, claiming our attention. “What’s that?” I ask as the guys trade wary expressions.

Theo is already on his cell, stabbing buttons. “What the fuck?” he mumbles, his eyes darting to mine.

“What is it?”

“It’s your mom,” Theo replies. “She’s at the front gate.”

“My mom is here?” My jaw slackens.

Saint straightens in his chair. “How da fuck does she know about our place?”

“I haven’t told her.”

“We know, angel.” Galen rushes to reassure me so I know they aren’t accusing me.

“Maybe your dad told her,” I suggest.

Saint shakes his head. “He doesn’t know the location. He must know we have our own place, but he’s never asked, and I’ve never offered.”

“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t know,” I say, watching Theo text Mom the code for the gate.

“I guess we’re about to find out.” Caz stands, heading toward the kitchen.

I climb awkwardly to my feet, walking out with Saint to greet her.

“You okay with this?” he asks as we wait outside for Mom’s car to appear.

“It’s not like I have much choice.”

“You still don’t trust her.”

“Do you?” I peer into his blue eyes, seeing my answer there. “Exactly. I don’t like this. This is your safe place. Your sanctuary. I hate she knows where it is.”

“It makes me wonder what else she knows.” Saint folds his arms across his impressive chest.

“Yeah, me too.” My brows pucker. What the hell is Mom playing at?

“You’re still worried about her,” Saint adds, and it’s a statement, not a question.

I give him a terse nod. Mom has disappointed me so much these past couple of months, and I’ve lost faith in her, but that doesn’t mean I want anything bad to happen to her. I don’t know what her motives are, but Sinner’s are pretty clear—he wants to punish both of us for what he perceives to be a betrayal. No matter what has happened between us, she’s still my mother, and I can’t let him hurt her, because it’s the right thing to do and because my father trusted me to keep Mom safe.

“I’ve been getting daily reports from the guy I have at the house.” Saint shoves his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. I forgot he’d hired a guy he knows and trusts from within The Sainthood ranks to do “odd jobs” around the house, under the guise of keeping an eye on Mom. “Sinner hasn’t been around a lot, but when he has shown up, he’s pissed, and that’s never a good thing.”

“I know. I’m scared he’s going to kill her.” The asshole is deranged and depraved enough to do it even though he claims to love her.

“We won’t let that happen, and Giana is stronger than you give her credit for,” he says as Mom’s car rounds the bend, heading our way.

“Maybe.” I’m being noncommittal on purpose. Lately, Sinner’s been beating her up and doing nothing to disguise it, which worries me, along with the fact Mom appears to be letting it happen. That doesn’t instill confidence.

I step forward as Mom parks in front of the barn and kills the engine. She hops out, making a beeline for me. “You shouldn’t be outside, Harlow,” she chastises me, gently pulling me into her arms. “You should be resting.”

“Why are you here, Mom?” I ignore her so-called concern.

“I want to make sure you and Galen are all right.”

“You couldn’t just call?”

Hurt skates across her face, and I feel like a bitch. Until I remember all the lies she’s telling me, and my tinge of remorse evaporates.

“I know you think I don’t care, Harlow, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Yeah. Whatever. She barely even visited me in the hospital from what the guys have said.

“Let’s talk inside.” Saint scans the grounds with suspicious eyes before he opens the door, gesturing her inside.

“I came alone,” she volunteers, sliding past him into the barn.

Saint plants his hand on my lower back as we follow her inside, closing the door behind us.

“Wow. I love what you’ve done with the place.” Mom looks around, smiling widely until her eyes land on the framed posters of nude chicks on the walls. She hastily looks away, and Saint and I share an amused grin.

It reminds me of something I had planned, and I make a mental note to follow up on it.

“Coffee, Giana?” Theo asks, handing her a mug as Caz comes up on my other side, grasping my hand.

“Thank you, Theo.” She smiles before spotting Galen leaning against the edge of the table, and it fades from her face as concern replaces it. “Galen. You should be in bed too.” She clucks her tongue at him.

“Don’t worry,” Caz says. “Harlow and Galen got plenty of rest in bed, among other things,” he adds, under his breath, and I elbow him in the ribs.

“No sex for you for a month,” I hiss in his ear. He pins me with a horrified look, and a burst of laughter pushes up my throat. “I’m joking,” I whisper. “Kind of.”