Ruthless

Chapter 7

Colin held onto the handle in Jean's old truck as she sped down the old country roads. He didn't know whether this was how she normally drove or whether she was working out her stress on the roads, but he figured it was best for his safety if he didn't mention it.

She was already on edge. If he insulted her driving, she'd probably go off the deep end. Or worse—drive faster.

"So Katherine lives at a motel?" he asked, trying to bring her focus back to the here and now.

Her hands tightened on the wheel. "I thought you knew everything about me."

"I know a lot about you. Not about your mother." At least not about her recent living activities.

"Katherine's been kicked out of so many apartments it's hard for her to find a place to stay. She bounces around, sleeping on friends' couches or saving up enough to get her a few weeks at some of the local motels. Except for the not paying thing, she's a pretty good guest so they don't mind having her."

"And why doesn't she stay with you?" Jean stiffened and he could tell he hit a nerve. Which confirmed his suspicions about why her mother wasn't welcome in her home. "So the last time she stayed with you didn't end well?"

"I'm grateful to her for giving me life," said Jean carefully. "But that's about it."

"So why not turn around and go back home? Keep this for yourself and let her cards fall where they may? You're not the one who talked her into taking all these loans. I'm sure you told her to curb the gambling hundreds of times before. Just let her go."

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to think of your mother on the streets? Homeless? Of course not. That would require a heart, wouldn't it? You probably don't even have a mother. Some sort of robot out of a test tube or something."

Now it was his turn to stiffen as he narrowed his eyes at her. "My mother was murdered when I was ten." He said the words simply, with no emotion. That part of himself had died with his mother. Died with the part of him that gave a shit about other people. But if she wanted to think of him as another person she could relate to, it would be easier if she knew more about his past.

As expected, she jerked around to look at him and then back at the road. "Jesus... I'm sorry. I didn't—"

"It was a long time ago. But at the time it was hard to deal with. Believe it or not, I do know what it's like to care about parents. The difference is that my mom actually cared about me."

That got Jean back on the defensive. "Hey, she cares about me, okay?"

"I'm sure she does. When it's convenient for her."

"Takes one to know one," she shot back, glaring at him out of the corner of her eye. "Maybe you should stop your bitching since it's only me caring about her that got me to agree to your stupid plan."

He held up his hands in surrender. "Fine. I'll shut up." She was right. It was her mother who tipped the scales. He should be grateful for this crutch instead of trying to talk sense into her. But he didn't like the idea of more people using Jean.

He wasn't even comfortable using her, even if his way would result in her being set for life.

Colin kept his mouth shut for the next five minutes until she pulled in to the parking lot of another motel. This one was two freeway exits away from his and in an obviously cheaper part of town. The pool was filled but looked as if it had way too many other organisms calling the water home for anyone to want to swim in it.

The doors looked dated and less than secure; the railing on the stairs and on the outdoor corridor to the second-story rooms was rusted and about to fall off. "Seems...homey."