Maelstrom (Inferno 5)

CHAPTER NINE

Dalton

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“Um, I forgot to ask you your rates,” I say sheepishly when Kalen and I reenter the living room.

Luna smiles at me, looks at my brother, then back again with an overwhelming kindness shining in her eyes.

“I would never charge someone for helping take care of a loved one. Honestly, I don’t even need the money, I just like to help out is all.”

Kalen snickers and I elbow him roughly in the ribs.

He doesn’t love Mom—I get it.

He gets it, but she doesn’t have to.

“I wouldn’t feel right about not giving you something for your time,” I say, my eyes still on Kalen. Once he’s finally composed himself, I look at Luna again. “But we don’t have much to offer, either.”

“Well,” she begins, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, “I could use a place to stay. If you have room that is.”

Kalen leans over and pinches a piece of my flesh between his fingernails, and I do everything I can not to yelp out in pain as I shove him away.

“We have plenty of room,” I state evenly as I begin to rub the sore spot on my arm. “The only thing we would ask is that you don’t bring any visitors into this house. Ever.”

Luna reaches down for her plate and picks up her half-eaten slice of pizza, takes a generous bite, nodding as she chews then swallows.

“Looks like we’ve got ourselves a deal!”

She wipes her oily palm against the side of her leg, then holds out her hand to seal the agreement.

After I give it a firm shake, I nudge my brother to do the same.

I knew things would start looking up eventually.

___

“So, this is the spare room. I guess it’s kind of convenient that it’s next to Mom’s,” I say with a chuckle as I glance at Luna and Kalen who are trailing behind me.

My brother rolls his eyes.

I swallow down a sigh.

Luna smiles brightly.

“Can I meet her now?”

“No,” I say almost too quickly. Taking a deep breath, I rub the back of my neck before I try again. “The thing is, I just got her comfortable and to sleep not too long before you showed up. Once she’s down for the night, I don’t like to disturb her. It’s hard to get her to go back to sleep after.”

“Tomorrow would be better anyway,” Kalen jumps in. “Because then you’ll have a chance to rest and it’ll give Dalton the opportunity to let her know that we have someone to take care of her again.”

Luna nods enthusiastically.

It seems our little white lie has done the trick, and it puts both of us at ease.

“Um, you can help yourself to anything in the fridge. We have an extra set of keys so you can come and go as you please, but we’ll be holding on to that until we’re sure that this is working out, okay?” I state cautiously.

“Fine by me,” she replies with a smile. “Guess I’ll turn in then and hopefully I’ll get to meet your momma in the morning!”

Hopefully, I think solemnly as Luna disappears into her room for the remainder of the evening.