Chapter 704: Dumont Interference

I could tell from the look on Mom's face she wasn't so happy to see me. But when she realized Quaid was with me, her tension rose to a whole new level. So high, she practically shoved her aides out of the room before slamming up a shield around us and drawing a deep breath.

"I'm ready," she said through gritted teeth. "Hit me."

Quaid did most of the talking. I was grateful, considering my traitor throat closed over, misery eating at my insides to the point I doubted I could fit two coherent words together. Sass said he and Gram instilled this sense of loyalty in me when I was a baby.

Now I wished they'd just minded their own damned business.

Mom sank into a chair, her anger gone as she passed a hand before her eyes while Quaid wrapped up. Far more succinctly than I could have. Her blue gaze traveled from him to me and back again while she nodded.

"I've been watching young Mia," Mom said. "And I suspected she might try something like this."

Nice of her to tell me.

You're really s