I cross my arms, fists clenched. “Oh, do tell. What is it I’m doing, Mom?”

“Sneaking around with Roman Moore.”

Shock radiates through me, and I swallow, shaking my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She chokes out a laugh. “Fucking liar. Elvin saw you in his car. He saw you all over each other, too.”

Everything from the other night closes in on me, from Elvin stopping me outside to what he said leaving the kitchen.

“Next time you need a ride, call me. I can keep a secret too.”

I chalked up the encounter to Daniel trying to scare me—sicking his favorites on me. But Elvin knew I’d been with Roman.

“You act like you’re so much better than me.” She picks at the bottom of her sweater. “But here you are, down at the bottom, fucking my junkie reject.”

My lungs struggle for air, and I speak through my teeth. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“He told ya he’s clean, right?” She has a sway to her stance and follows it a half-step forward. “He’s not, honey.” The last word’s so condescending I almost lose it on her. “He’s used the same act for years. Plays the good guy until he gets what he wants. If you fell for it, you’re stupider than I thought.”

I force myself to ignore the ill feeling creeping through me. She’s wrong. She’s lying. She’s an addict grasping at sand. “Forgive me if I don’t believe the actual junkie he left when he got sober. Maybe if you covered your track marks, you’d be more convincing.”

Her lip curls as she yanks down the sleeve pushed up on one side. “Stay away from him, or Daniel will deal with it, you ungrateful whore.” She pauses before crossing the only remaining line I have with her. “Dimitri was smart, dying to get away from you.”

“Leave,” I demand, moments from unleashing on her. “Stay the fuck away, and don’t you ever say his name again.”

She snorts and turns. “Hate to break it to you, darlin’, but he was a piece of shit, too. Always begged not to take you. He hated y⁠—”

I drive forward and thrust her into the hallway. She knocks into the banister, grabbing it for balance as I back into my room. I look her over, the same pathetic woman who’s repeatedly destroyed pieces of me along with herself. At least I have a few left. I’ll be damned if she ruins them too.

Gripping the door, I huff a breath. “You better hope Daniel’s there and feeling generous the next time you OD. Because I sure as fuck won’t be.” I slam it, lock it, and cover the bottom with pillows.