I’d been awake for almost a half an hour, listening to Suria breathe, feeling the soft weight of her breasts against my back, her arm slung around my waist.

Having her in bed next to me filled me with all sorts of chaotic emotions – conflicting emotions.

It felt right having her in this bed.

But it couldn’t be right, could it?

After everything that happened between us?

I was ready, I thought, to try and forgive her, but how was that going to go over with my mother?

My mother.

I needed to talk to her.

I’d replace the money Suria had taken because no matter what Suria said, she might need that when we figured out how to secure her sister’s freedom. Hell, if I had to pay more to help save some kid from what Joelle faced, then I’d do it.

But I needed to talk to my mom because the clutter in my head was making it hard to think.

I eased away from Suria and sat up on the edge of the bed, studying her face for several minutes. Her features stayed relaxed, her breathing steady. Once it was clear she wasn’t going to wake up, I rose to get dressed. I’d deal with that talk with my mother, then I’d get back, and Suria and I would get to work on figuring out some sort of plan.

I didn’t know what it would entail, but we’d work something out.

My mother and I met at a place where we sometimes had lunch on the weekends. If I’d driven to her place, it could have taken me almost an hour in the LA traffic. This had us meeting in the middle and luck must have been with me, because I made it in only twenty minutes and Mom was already there at a table.

Once we’d ordered, I faced Mom over my coffee. “I’ve got some news for you.”

“Honey, if this is about what I think it’s about, please…I’ve decided to let it go.”

I held up a hand. “It is…and you need to hear what I’ve got to say, because things are a lot more complicated than you realize.” At her questioning look, I took a deep breath. “I found Suria…” I winced and added, “I hate to tell you this, but the psychic you went to see is the same woman I was sort of seeing.”

“Oh, no!” She pressed her hand to her mouth, but her shock quickly gave way to anger, as I’d expected it would.

“Don’t,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s not even the complicated part, Mom. She…Suri wasn’t in it for the money, at least not the way you think. She was trying to save her sister.”

My hand tightened on the glass I held, and I put it down. I had the irrational urge to throw it, and Mom must have seen some of the anger I felt in my face because she leaned over and covered my hand with hers. “Tell me,” she said simply.

So I did.

I wasn’t even halfway through the whole insane story before the anger I felt began to be reflected on her face. From time to time, shock would replace it, but the anger always came back.

When I finally finished, she sat there, not speaking.

Our food had been delivered nearly ten minutes earlier, but neither of us had eaten much. Reaching for the ketchup, I doused my fries and began to eat mechanically. I wasn’t particularly hungry, but a lifetime of having a mother who didn’t care for wasted food made it hard to break those habits.

After a moment, she began to eat as well.

“You believe what she’s told you?” Mom asked as she forked up a bite of her Caesar salad.

“Yes.”

She slid me a look. “We should remember that she can be very convincing. You’re certain?”

“Yeah.” Disgust twisted my belly, and I admitted, “I’ll be honest, I almost wish I didn’t believe her. I’d rather be dealing with some conscienceless con-artist than know there are people out there who could sell off their kids for money and power.”

Distaste darkened her eyes. “I don’t understand it all, Kian.”

“I’ll pay you the money she owes–”

“No,” she said, her voice soft but hard as steel. “You will not. Use it to do whatever needed to keep her sister safe.”

I’d been in the middle of reaching for my glass, but now I lowered my hand. “Excuse me?”

She met my eyes over the table. “Please, Kian.” A faint smile tipped up the corners of her mouth. “I know my son. You’re already planning on helping her. Aren’t you?”

“I…” Blowing out a breath, I averted my gaze. With a short nod, I said, “Yes. I don’t see that I have a choice.”

“We don’t,” she said simply. “I can spare the money, Kian, you know that. And if we are able to help these two girls…” She laughed quietly. “You know, if it was me, trying to do something desperate to save you? I would have been willing to do far worse.”

“So, you understand,” I said in a tight voice, “why she did what she did?”

Mom inclined her head. “I know what it’s like to have somebody you’d do anything to protect, sweetheart.” She hesitated a moment, then added, “And I think you do too.”

“Of course, I’d do anything to protect you.”

She laughed, the sound bright and happy, almost out of place in the dark discussion we’d been having. “Baby, I wasn’t talking about me.” She wagged a finger at me. “You’ve got feelings for this girl. Maybe you can’t see it yet, but you will.”