Hideaway (Devil's Night 2)

“You’re not supposed to be in Thunder Bay or Meridian City,” I told her, stepping forward.

She regarded me for a moment, probably trying to recognize me through the make-up, but then the light came on.

“You,” she said.

She remembered me.

But before I could advance on her, she turned toward the door, the light in her eyes brightening like a child. “Is my son here?” she asked. “It’s been so long.”

“You stay away from him.” I charged a few steps closer. “I mean it.”

Her gaze rested on me again, her smile coy as she fingered her tutu. “Do you like it?” She looked at me, hopeful, as if I hadn’t said anything. “I still fit into my old costumes. I’m still pretty, aren’t I?”

Pretty? What? She was absolutely mad.

“What’s going on?” Kai came up next to me, but she barely spared him a glance before turning her eyes back to the doors.

She was going to search Damon out.

“He’s a man now,” she said wistfully. “Young and strong.”

I shook my head, pushing at Kai behind me to move for the doors. “She’s bad. We need to leave.”

I spun around, grabbing Kai’s hand and reached for the handle.

“Tell him mama loves him,” she called out. “I’m the only one who loves him.”

I whipped around, releasing Kai. “That’s not love,” I growled at her.

A sob lodged in my throat, feeling so helpless despite my anger. She wouldn’t hurt him again. She couldn’t. He wouldn’t allow it.

But she ignored me, looking calm and even a bit excited.

“I hear he’s quite the animal now,” she taunted. “No girl in that town is safe. That’s mommy’s big boy.”

“Jesus Christ.” I heard Kai mumble at my side. “What the hell did she do to him?”

“Has he touched you?” she asked me.

I ground my teeth together.

“He will, you know?” She took a step closer. “He’s a ravager. Just like his daddy.”

My head shook just slightly. That would never happen. My brother would never hurt me like that.

“I wanted him to take you.” Her words left her lips softly and crawled inside me as she held my eyes. “Sleeping in his room like you do, he won’t be able to resist the scent of his precious girl.” She reached out, brushing her knuckles gently across my jaw. “His little treasure.”

“Hey, hey.” Kai pushed her hand down and pulled me back.

And then she finally turned her gaze on him. “I remember you. My son’s friend,” she said. “Does that mean he’s here, then?”

My breath caught in my throat. Damon.

But the doors behind us suddenly opened, and I jerked my head, looking over my shoulder. My brother stormed through, the muscles in his face tight and his eyes furious as they locked on me.

“I knew that was you upstairs,” he said, seething. “What the hell is going on? How did you get here?”

I quickly turned my body to face him, hoping to block his view of her.