The Luxembourg Betrayal: An International Legacies Romance by Camilla Stevens

Author:Camilla Stevens [Stevens, Camilla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

Demetria

“What do you mean he’s gone?”

I turn my head from my mother to my father to my grandmother. Only the latter offers any sympathy in return.

“He’s not gone, he’s just…”

“Gone,” I finish for my mother. “Color me surprised.”

“Don’t even start, Demetria. Just because—”

“You know what? Don’t you even start!” I shout so loudly, I surprise even myself. “I’m so sick of hearing your defenses for Devin. Face it, Mom, he’s a deadbeat loser who has shirked his responsibilities once again. Why? Because all of a sudden, life is too hard. All of a sudden, he has to pay for his mistakes!”

“Don’t you dare take that tone with me in my own damn house!”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “You don’t get to take that tone with me. Not since it’s my damn name on the loan that was taken out with the promise that he’d show up to his court date. And are any of us surprised at how that turned out?”

After the perfection of last night with Luca at Hibari—and everything that happened in his apartment later on—I came home tonight after work to find out that Devin had missed his court date. Mom filled my ear with noise about Tarik making a plea deal and placing the blame on Devin, and the poor boy being railroaded by the police, the court system, and any and everyone all the way to the President of the United States himself. Because, of course, her sweet boy couldn’t be guilty of anything.

“You need to watch yourself, Missy,” Mom sasses, though I see the growing wariness in her eyes. The beloved son she’s doted on has turned out to be a lemon, and she’s suddenly realizing that her future well being rests on the shoulders of the daughter that she so casually took for granted.

“No,” I say, casting a furtively wary voice toward my grandmother. All I see is encouragement and approval in her eyes. She wants the full monte—and I’m damn ready to bring it.

“I’m done.”

Two words.

But it’s enough to bring on the panic.

Even Dad, for once rises out of his stupor to become alert. “Now, Demetria, your mother is just—”

“No,” I say in a deceptively simple tone. Enough for him to give me a confused look, as though wondering if I’m serious.

I turn to both my parents as I continue.

“I. Am. Done.”

“Now, what the hell does that mean?”

“Interpret it as you wish,” I say, with a sardonic smile. “But for starters, don’t expect me back here after I graduate.”

Mom straightens up and exhales in a huff. “And after all we’ve done for you, you just want to—”

“Stop,” I say, feeling suddenly tired. “Don’t even try to pull the blame card on me. And if you mention Devin’s name, I will walk right out this door and never look back.”

They are silent in the face of that.

“Here is how this will play. Don’t interrupt because I just won’t tolerate it.”

I wait for them to say a damn word. When none is forthcoming, I’m both surprised and satisfied.

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