Chapter 20
Valemine can’t stop thinking about River Blackwood and the comments he made about his mother. He knows he should ask her about it eventually, but she’s been coming home late from work and going straight to bed.
So when she finally comes home early tonight, he seizes the chance.
“Hey. Mom” Valentine says, his voice steady but cautious as he leans against the doorway, watching her turn the TV on. “Can I ask you something?”
His mother, Shelly, looks up pausing her show, “Sure, honey. What is it?”
“Do you know a guy named River Blackwood Valentine asks, watching her expression closely
At the mention of River’s name, her face goes pale, her hands freezing mid–motion. The edish towel slips from her grip and falls to the floor. “River Blackwood?” she repeats.
Valentine’s heart
“Yeah. Do you know him!”
Shelly quickly composes herself, but the fear in her eyes doesn’t escape him. “How do you know him?” she asks, her voice shaky.
“I know his daughter from school.” Valentine says, narrowing his eyes.
Shelly’s expression hardens, her brow furrowing in a way that sends a chill down his spine. “Valentine, you should probably stay away from him.”
“Why? What’s wrong
g with him?” he presses.
She hesitates, and the tension in the room thickens with every second of her silence, Valentine has never seen her this rattled before.
“Mom, seriously” Valentine says, stepping closer to the couch. “What’s going on? You’re acting like he’s some kind of criminal or something”
She takes a deep breath, but her hands are still trembling. “His daughter you should stay away from ber too
“Mom, What are you talking about!” Valentine says, impatience creeping into his voice “What did he do to you? Did he burt your
Shelly shakes her head. “No, of course not. It’s nothing like that. But he is a dangerous man, and it’s best that you don’t gel involved with him or his family”
Frustration bubbles up in Valentine as her vague warnings leave him with more questions than answers.
“Mom, you’re not telling me everything. Valentine insists, his voice rising. “If River didn’t hurt you, then what is it? Why is he so dangerous?“
She presses her lips together, looking away as if deciding how much to reveal. Finally, she sighs, her shoulders slumping.
“Valentine, there are some people in this world who live by a different set of rules,” she says carefully. “Rules that don’t care about the law or what’s right and wrong. River’s family is one of those people. They they have power, influence. And if you get too close, you could get hurt or worse
Valentine blinks, trying to wrap his head around what she’s saying, “Powert/
rt Are you talking about some kind of criminal activity!”
His mother’s eyes often. “I can’t get into details,” she says firmly, cutting him off before he can ask more. “Just trust me when I say it’s better if you don’t get involved.”
A surge of unease rises in him. She’s clearly hiding something big, something that ties her to River’s world in a way she doesn’t want him to know about. But the more she tries to push him away from it, the more he feels the need to uncover the truth.
- r. Scarlet. You can’t just t
tell me to stay away from her and not give me a real reason, Valentine argues.
“Mom, I really like his daughter,
Shelly sighs. “Out of all the girls to choose from, you had to like River Blackwood’s daughter? God, Valentine. What am I going to do with you?”
Valentine’s
frustration deepens. “Mom, you’re freaking me out here,” he says, his voice softening “What aren’t you telling me?”
Shelly rubs her temples, looking more exhausted than ever. “Valentine, there’s a lot you don’t know. A lot I wanted to protect you from”
“Protect me from what? River’s not some kind of mob boss, is he?”
She lets out a short, humorless laugh. “Something like that. Please don’t repeat this to anyone. Not even by accident. He never hurt me, and I’m sure he doesn’t plan to hurt me or you, but I can’t take that chance.”
Valentine’s mind reels from her words. Something like a mob boss! The idea sounds absurd, yet the fear in her eyes is all too real. He stands there, trying to process it all, but the more he thinks about it, the more his curiosity grows at him
1/2
2.28 PM d
Chapter 201
“His daughter Scarlet’s not like that,” Valentine says, “She’s very sweet.
Shelly gives him a look of deep sadness. “The sure she is, Valentine. But she’s a still his daughter. That world will always be a part of her, whether she wants it or not. And if you do anything to hurt her or piss him off.”
“I will never hurt her,” Valemine says.
Shelly smiles. “I know you won’t. You aren’t like me. You’re a good boy, Valentine”
Valentine looks away, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He’s still curious about River Blackwood, but he decides to change gears. “There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about, Mom.”
“What is it, sweetie?” she asks.
“I found you passed out the other night. When did you start drinking again!” he says.
Shelly’s face tightens, her eyes widening for a brief moment before she composes herself. She looks away from Valentine, her lingers fidgeting with
the hem of her shirt.
“1. I slipped up,” she says softly, her yoice trembling with guilt. “I didn’t mean for you to see me like that. I was just.. having a hard time.”
“Mom, Valentine says, his voice breaking, “this isn’t the first time I’ve found you like that. You promised me you quit
Shelly lets out a shaky breath, tears glistening in Iser eyes. “I know, and I meant it when I said I would. But it’s hard, Valentine. Life, life is land. There are days when the weight of everything gets to be too much, and I feel like I can’t breathe. And drinking it mumbs that for a while.”
A knot forms in his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me, Mom! I could’ve helped. I hate seeing you like this.”
Shelly quickly wipes her eyes, trying to hold herself together, “I didn’t want to burden you. You’ve been through so much already, and I didn’t want to add to it. You deserve to live your life, not worrying about me.”
Im always going to worry about you, Valentine says gently. “You’re my mom”
She reaches out and squeezes his hand. “I do better, Valentine, I promise”
Valentine looks into her eyes, searching for any sign of the strength she once had. He wants to believe her, but doubt lingers in the back of his mind.
“I’ll hold you to that, Mom,” he says softly,
He knows this isn’t the end of their conversation–about River, about Scarlet, and about whatever secrets his mother is still hiding.
AD
