The Promise (Darkest Lies Trilogy Book 2) Bethany-Kris (read books for money TXT) 📖

if for a while, I wonder if that means the circumstances that caused her to appear in the first place have disappeared, too? You see,” the woman murmured, folding her hands neatly into her lap, adding quieter, “Awareness of the identities often brings with it memories ... be they shattered, or not your own, as you say. Some are still there. Maybe yours aren’t, but I feel like I should ask. Do you remember what happened to you, Karine?”

She turned away, then, her throat was still dry, but it wasn’t quite the same. The excitement she felt a moment ago had quickly turned into fear.

Why did Michelle have to ask that?

Why?

Things were going so well, too. Fear wouldn’t let her speak, though, it never had.

“I don’t want to talk about monsters today,” Karine replied in a whisper.

ELEVEN

Claire arrived the day after Karine’s first session with the psychiatrist. Roman didn’t want to make a big deal of it, in fact, he didn’t even want to introduce his mother as a nurse, and spook Karine. That wasn’t why he wanted his mother there to begin with, even if it was a benefit.

Then, Karine’s face had brightened the moment Claire walked into the lodge, and he introduced her as, “This is Claire, my mother.”

He hadn’t been entirely sure of just how much information was given to his mother about Karine, but didn’t seem like an important thing to worry about when the two first meet. The connection was instant—Claire’s natural kindness and maternal presence had always surrounded her like an aura someone could feel when they were close enough to her. Karine was sucked in like a magnet.

Roman wondered if that was because of the absence of a real mother-figure in her life. Even though she had a caretaker who clearly took over some aspects of a mother, he didn’t quite think that was the same. Karine probably just wanted someone she could learn from—who would have nurtured her, and kept her safe the way a mother does.

He shouldn’t have worried about Claire’s arrival at all, honestly. Karine was staring, her eyes wide open and excited, and instantly a smile spread on her face that made Roman nervous.

The only true model of love that he had witnessed was what existed within the relationships of his family—his mother and father, grandparents. That didn’t mean Roman had ever been able to grasp what it felt like, but the way Karine’s smile formed so brightly, making his heart race with a nervous happiness, when he introduced her to his mother might have been the closest thing to him finally understanding it.

Love.

Or what it meant to be in love.

Roman didn’t really have time to work through the realization because in the next second, he was watching his mother throw her arms around Karine in a welcoming hug.

“And you must be the beautiful Karine I’ve been hearing so much about,” Claire said.

He was once again reminded how different Karine and Katina were when she sunk willingly—and with a wide smile—into the embrace. But then again, he couldn’t say he had ever seen Karine hug Masha that way, either. So, wholly.

Maybe it was just his mother, and the effect she had on everyone around her.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know very much about you,” Karine admitted as the two pulled away, and Roman stayed a step or two back from then, “but it’s nice to meet you.”

Claire laughed at that, reaching for Karine’s hands to clasp tightly with her own.

All Roman could do was stand back and watch them, a little on edge because he’d already witnessed new things and change could be hard on Karine. Yet, neither of the women seemed to notice his presence in the room, content to greet one another whether he was there or not.

“For some reason, my son likes to keep me a secret,” Claire said with a roll of her eyes, and a teasing grin thrown Roman’s way.

Karine’s smile grew even wider at that, finally turning to face him. “Well, you and I have that thing in common, then.”

It still astonished Roman how Karine managed to have a sense of humor in the middle of the chaos that was currently her life. That wasn’t easy, but it spoke to her character more than he thought she even realized. She was stronger because of it.

What a fucking shame.

He thought she should know it.

• • •

They had lunch together that was prepared by his mother—if she was there, she had to cook—and enjoyed the meal in the sunroom where Karine and Claire managed to thoroughly make him feel like the third wheel. The entire time. Not that he really minded. Roman was just glad to taste a home cooked meal, made by his mother. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been able to eat her food. God knew there was nothing like his mother’s cooking.

After lunch, the psychiatrist, Michelle, who had agreed—or rather, been assigned—to remain at the lodge for the duration of Karine’s isolation suggested that she take Karine for a walk. He wasn’t fucking keen on that idea, as it was better for him to assume the woman’s intentions than just trust what she said. Regardless of what they might be. She was there to help Karine, blackmailed, yes, but she would still be paid well for her time in the end, beyond just her brother’s debts.

Nonetheless, she was there to help. He had to keep reminding himself of that, even after Karine agreed to the private walk.

There would always be bulls keeping an eye on Karine at all times, even when she was just going for a walk on their grounds. So really, he didn’t need to be paranoid, but he couldn’t help himself. He had never worried about someone—not like this—as much as he did for Karine.

It was constant.

Festering, almost.

Roman decided to give her some time alone with Michelle, while he stayed back to help his mother with the dishes. Or rather, his mother made the suggestion but