Eden

Just how long has Nora been spying on me?

We sit in total silence while we wait for our food. Neither of us are willing to give in and be the first to speak, and I can’t help but think of Carley some more. Now that she’s entered my head, it’s hard not to compare Nora to her. Whenever I’m with Carley, everything is just so easy, and I always feel so loved and protected. I don’t feel that with Nora. Not at all.

The only thing binding us to each other is blood and genetics. There’s no love here—not truly—and I doubt there ever will be.

To Eleanor Mallory, the only thing I represent is a paycheck, and I’m not entirely sure how that will all play out either.

Or what will happen to me once she collects it.

Finally, I can’t take it anymore. “How’s Je

The corner of her mouth quirks and there’s a satisfied gleam in her eye. She’s pleased that I broke first. “She’s fine. I promise.”

I grind my teeth. “Forgive me if I don’t put a lot of weight behind your promises. I need some proof.”

Her brow shoots toward her hairline, and I can’t tell if I’ve a

I tentatively put the phone to my ear and the next moment it clicks and a raspy smoker’s voice says, “Nora? Aren’t you with Mallory right now?”

My breath catches in my throat. “Momma, it’s me.”

I don’t miss the way Nora sucks a breath through her teeth when she hears me call Je

There’s a pause, and then Je

She doesn’t sound high, or at least not so high that she’s incomprehensible. She doesn’t sound happy, either. Or very calm, which makes me think if she’s not high now, she will be very soon.

“She’s here.” I glance across the table at Nora, who will likely spend the rest of the evening tossing drugs at her baby sister just to keep her complacent, and hatred burns hot and deep in my gut. As if she knows exactly what I’m thinking, she gives me a little shrug. Squeezing my eyes shut, I cradle the phone closer to my ear. “I just needed to know that you’re okay,” I whisper to Je

More silence. My mind starts to go crazy with all the possible ways Nora could’ve hurt Je

Then, she murmurs, “I’m all right. Promise. My sister would never hurt me. Just … just listen to Nora, okay? She only wants what’s best for you. Then we’ll all be together and happy and safe.”

Je

“Okay. I’ll hear her out. I’m just … I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“I am,” she assures me, though I don’t believe her. Je

That’s when I hear the fear in Je

Once Je

“Feel better?” she asks with a fake smile. “Alexandra is safe and well and just so pleased she could help reunite us.”

At that moment, the waiter returns with our orders, which is a relief. I need a minute to process how I’m going to navigate the rest of this evening with her. Once we’re alone again, she begins eating without looking at me, and that chill is still cloaking us. I shiver, and pick at my own plate, though I’ve no real appetite to speak of.

“So, how’s school?” It’s not a casual question from a concerned mother, but a pointed one from an ambitious investor.

“It’s fine.” Then, glancing up at her, I ask, “What would you have done if I hadn’t accepted the invitation to go to Angelview?”

She ignores me, and instead says, “It’s important to maintain your grades, you know.”

“I know.” I nod. “Why didn’t you approach me when I was in Georgia?”

“What’s your favorite subject?”

“History.” When it’s not being taught by the guy who got me pregnant. “How long are you pla

“Is Mr. Wallace still teaching chemistry? He was one of your dad’s favorites and—”

“Are you just going to not answer my questions all night?” I snap, losing the last of my patience.

She looks up at me, irritation clear in her gaze. “Are you going to keep asking me stupid questions that you don’t have any business knowing the answers to?”

“I think it’s my business,” I counter, “seeing as how you’ve manipulated my whole life to get me here and keep me here.”

“You’re young and immature,” she says flippantly. “You don’t understand everything I’ve done for you, but you will someday. For now, I just need you to be a good girl and do what you’re told. I don’t want to have to punish you, but I will if you force my hand.”

The idea of punishment at Nora’s hands is legitimately terrifying. This bitch is crazy, and if she can keep her sister pumped full of drugs so she’s compliant and pliable, who knows what she’d be willing to do to me.

“I’m not your puppet,” I snap, a small part of me still wishing to rebel against her despite knowing the potential danger. “I’m your daughter.”

She meets my gaze dead on. “A puppet’s more useful to me.”

Her words burn, even though they shouldn’t. I shouldn’t care what she thinks, and yet I feel like she just slapped me.

I go quiet after that, ducking my head and pretending to focus on my plate so she doesn’t see that I’m hurt. The rest of our meal is excruciating. I choke down as much food as I can, just so I don’t piss her off, but when the waiter returns to tentatively ask if we want dessert, I quickly tell him no. He hands Nora the check and I’m antsy to get up and leave as she pays with two crisp hundred-dollar bills.

Once the waiter is gone again, I’m eager to get the hell out of there.

Before I can stand, though, Nora shocks me by saying, “I want this to be a regular occurrence.”

I freeze, my heart thudding with dread. “What do you mean?”

She smiles, and for a moment, she looks almost serene. Almost like the mother in that biopic I’d watched in drama class sophomore year—before she went ape shit on her kid with a wire hanger.

“We’ll have di

And there’s the hanger to the face.

“Why?” I blurt before I can stop myself.

Now her expression is so fake, so toxic, I feel sick looking at her. “I just want to keep up with my baby girl,” she says.

And I just want to push her into traffic.

“Bull,” I spit, pushing to my feet. “You can force me to meet with you, Nora, but don’t act like I’m stupid.”

Her smile fades to darkness. “Fine. I won’t bullshit you. In exchange, you’ll do what I tell you without complaint.”

“I’ll meet you for di

“Not just that,” she interrupts, drawing out the last word like a true sociopath.