Deceitful Vows by Brook Wilder
Chapter 44
Paige
As I wait, my resentment builds into fury toward both my mother and myself for giving in so easily. I should’ve stayed angry. What she did was wrong, and I plan to tell her that the next time I see her—whenever that is. It’ll probably be another ten years, I think bitterly. She runs out on people, especially me.
Kenney strides into the bar. His eyes scan the dimly lit room, picking out each one of my guards who sits across the room at a table with a suspicious look. Kenney doesn’t need to wear a uniform to be recognized for what he is. The guards watch him, casually sipping their beers and ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
He sits down next to me at the bar. His sideburns are long gone—buzzed off years ago. Now he wears a blue blazer instead of his denim jacket. He might act righteous, but he’s still Kenney to me—my no-good cousin Kenney.
“Paige.” His voice is stern.
I scoff, twisting around on the barstool to face him. “Kenney. Get to the point.”
He eyes my ring and my Hermès purse. After an uncomfortable pause, he stops assessing my new wealth, and his gaze locks on mine.
“Doing well, cousin?”
Without thinking, I place my right hand over my left to cover my ring. I don’t like how he’s looking at me, calculating how much everything costs.
“You had something urgent to tell me?” I ask.
“I do, and there’s no easy way to say it.” He takes a deep breath. “So I’ll just say it straight.”
“Your mother is dead,” he says.
The shock knocks me off the stool, and I lean heavily against it as my ears ring from the news.
“What?” I breathe.
“From what we can tell, she was the victim of a botched break-in.” Kenney speaks to me but keeps his eyes on Oleg watching us. “Her body was found earlier this morning. Her front door was left open, and a neighbor called. I know you haven’t seen her in years, but I thought I should be the one to tell you. Family and all that.”
I stare into nothing. “I saw her the other day. She was about to move back in with Dad and help take care of Emma. Does my dad know yet?”
“No.” Kenney sighs. “And if I’m being honest, I don’t think he wants to hear it from me.”
I nod. “He won’t.”
“Paige.” Kenney gets off his stool, leans toward me, and lowers his voice. “There is something else … never mind.” He looks behind me and I follow his gaze to my guards. None of them have moved, but Oleg keeps his eyes trained on Kenney.
Kenney knows who and what they are—the matching dark suits, prominent tattoos, and inscrutable looks. But thankfully, he asks no questions and says nothing more.
He walks out without saying goodbye, and I sit there in silence as reality settles in my stomach.
My mother is dead.
