Cherry Creek - Dani Matthews Page 0,83
calm at the time?”
Roman sobers up real fast. “You want to go back to your mom? That's a bad, bad idea, Vee.”
“I didn't say I want to go back to her. I just want to talk to her. I need to know if it's true, that she accepted money to send me off with Khristos—who was a complete stranger to her at the time.”
“You're just looking to get hurt further. I think you should just leave her in the past and say good riddance,” he says with open derision.
“She's my mom, Roman,” I point out.
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I never had one, so I guess I can't really begin to understand what it's like to be in your shoes. I just think she'll hurt you more if you hear it from her yourself. You already know it's true, Vee.”
My eyebrow arches. “Khristos could be lying for all I know in order to keep me here.”
Roman's face darkens. “Is that what you think?”
“Honestly, Roman, I don't know what to think,” I say with exasperation. “I've been kept in the dark about so much. I just want some straight answers, and I don't think I can move on until I know why my mom was willing to give me away for money.”
“Money makes people do stupid things all the time.”
“It's just money,” I mutter. “You can buy all the superficial things in the world, and yet it can't buy you happiness.”
“You exasperate me most of the time, but then you go and say shit like that, making you absolutely fascinating.”
“There's nothing fascinating about me.”
“That's where you're wrong,” he says, slipping his hands in his pockets. “I've been around wealth since Khristos took me in. I'm accustomed to it and what it can do. People will do just about anything for a fat check. You, on the other hand, you could care less about it. It's a bit refreshing,” he says with an approving grin.
I toss the clothes I pulled out of the drawer on my bed and rub my temple as I go back to my original question. “Do you think Khristos would find her if I ask?”
Roman's eyes suddenly focus on my temple where I’d rubbed it. “Headache already?” he asks, frowning.
“Hm? No.”
He looks relieved. “Good. I'm hoping you won't have to feed again for at least another few weeks or so.”
“Why?” I ask as my head tilts with interest.
He gives me a knowing look. “Because it'll piss you off if you have to. That, and I'd like to see you adjust to what you are before you have to feed again.”
I nod and look at him with determination. “About Khristos?” I press.
Roman gives me a look of exasperation. “Yeah, he'd track her down for you in a heartbeat if that's what you want. As long as you aren't wanting to go back to her, that is.”
My lips tighten. “I don't think I could, Roman. If she pretty much sold me to him, I don't think I could ever trust her again.”
Roman walks over to me, his eyes oddly somber as he puts a warm hand on my shoulder. “We're family now, Vee. You’ve got me, and you have Khristos when you're ready for him. You don't need her anymore,” he says before he releases me.
I don't say anything as I look at the clothes on the bed and fidget slightly. I haven't yet embraced Roman and Khristos as family. I'm not sure how long it'll take until I consider them important to me. Right now, they still feel a bit like strangers.
“Go put something on. Preferably short and sexy, because you have great legs,” Roman tells me bluntly.
My head whips back to him. “What?”
He levels me with a look. “It's time to start learning our ways. You're coming to Bane tonight, and I want you to get comfortable with the club. That's probably the safest place to feed. We tend to shy away from school parties, so Bane will be your home away from home. Go change.”
“But I don't feel like going out.”
His brow lifts. “You really want to sit here tonight doing nothing? On a Saturday night? C'mon, Vee. It's time to quit hiding.”
I give him a look. “No drugs, right?”
“No drugs. I swear. Trace tattled to Khristos about the two guys that had you cornered, so when you're at the club you have your own bodyguard looking out for you,” he says dryly.
“You're kidding, right?”
He shakes his head. “No. But you won't see