Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 147801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Kayden’s mom calls him "Kay." Hmm.
“I understand completely. My apologies again, ma’am.” I offer my hand to Jina, who shakes it with more force than necessary.
“Don’t do that again, or you might actually get shot,” she warns.
“Jina!” Rachel says, exasperated, while Kayden smirks smugly.
“Promise.” I keep smiling and nod toward the oven. “I think something’s burning.”
Jina mutters what sounds like curses—Korean, maybe, judging by the dramas my cousin Maya forces us to watch—and runs off.
“What a shame.” Rachel sighs. “I was hoping to invite Gareth to dinner.”
“There’s no need, Mom,” Kayden says firmly.
“Nonsense. No one comes here and doesn’t eat. Give the kid a break, Kay.”
I smile at her. “I’m no chef, but I’m an excellent sous-chef—according to my mom, though that might not be the best endorsement.”
“Aw, bless you. But you really don’t have to.”
“It’s the least I can do after intruding.” I step toward the kitchen, but Kayden blocks my path, his pale face taut, jaw ticking.
“What are you doing, Carson?” he whispers, low and close enough that I can feel his minty breath on my lips.
“Figuring you out.” I jab a finger at his chest. “Brace yourself to see me in my full glory tonight, Kayde.”
15
KAYDEN
The last thing I wanted was for my moms to meet Carson.
That was literally the last thing I’d ever wish for.
But then again, I never thought he’d actually show up, especially after playing hard to get. But he thrives on the push-and-pull nonsense, so I should've seen it coming.
My second miscalculation was not changing the code as soon as my moms showed up. They’re not supposed to know where I live right now, but, of course, the bastard Jethro gave them the address.
“What? They were worried sick, and Jina threatened to kill me,” was all he said in his defense.
So now, I have three dangerous variables in my house. My moms aren’t dangerous, not by a long shot, but the real danger lies in their encounter with Carson.
"You sure you don’t want to lie down, hon?” Mom rubs the back of my hand as we sit together at the table.
Although she’s been through a lot, she’s still beautiful in a delicate way. Her face is small, her movements soft, and she always wears her hair in this elegant bun with a couple of strands escaping.
But as she looks at me, a deep frown forms on her forehead, and her eyes are slightly red. As soon as they arrived, she hugged me and cried for what felt like an hour. Mom Jina tried to hold it together, but then she was hugging us, too, tears streaming down her face.
I can’t stand seeing them cry. I’ll be the first to admit that I have little to no capacity for interpersonal emotions, but I’ve always seen my moms in a different light.
Maybe it’s because of the protective streak I’ve developed after everything I’ve witnessed. Maybe because they’ve already suffered more than anyone should, and I hate to see them in pain again.
That’s why I keep them completely out of my business.
My gaze shifts to Mom Jina, who’s scolding her amateur sous-chef. Carson just grins and apologizes, letting her sharp words slide right off him. I can’t help but watch the dimples that crease his cheeks, making him look so young and charming, almost…normal.
Almost.
If I didn’t know him, I’d probably think he was the most well-mannered kid. But then again, I really don’t like thinking of him as a kid.
That’s just disturbing, to say the least.
“Hon, are you listening?” Mom squeezes my hand.
“Yes?”
She smiles knowingly.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing,” she speaks with cryptic glee. “I was just asking if you need more rest, but you seem energized.”
Pissed off, more like. I want Carson gone, but I doubt I’d manage that now that he wormed his way into what would’ve been a quiet evening otherwise. Mom seems halfway in his pocket already.
He does have the knack to mess with my system to no end.
I face her and lower my voice. “No personal information revealed tonight, Mom. Promise me.”
“Why?” she whispers back. “Is he that important?”
“It’s because he’s not important that he doesn’t need to know anything. I’m serious, Mom. Nothing. He’s an outsider.”
“If you say so.” She laughs along, seeming too giddy for someone who said they’d die if something happened to me not half an hour ago.
“What are you laughing about?” Carson is carrying two dishes, smiling like the ray of fucking sunshine he’s not. “Can I join?”
“Oh, certainly.” Mom gets busy as they both set the table.
When I try to help Mom Jina, she just scolds me in Korean and basically tells me to sit the fuck down and not aggravate my injury.
Well, they think it’s an injury. In fact, I’ve been helping the motherfucker I grew up with, Julian, do his stupid medical experimentation in exchange for him helping to cover my tracks with my brother, Grant.