of the words tumbling out like a torrent. Whether she believes me or not, I will deal with Casey.
“Yeah, sure, because that’s what you want from me, huh?” she seethes. “Revenge for a brother you won’t ever talk about with your last remaining brother.”
“This isn’t about Aiden.” I growl, fighting for calm.
“Then what Julian? What is it that makes you the devil I can’t escape?”
The feeling’s mutual, Little Minx.
“I told you to stay away from my brother, didn’t I?” I start, flicking the zippo, keeping my voice low. “I told you I’d destroy you for hurting them.”
“Julian—" she starts but I cut her off.
“Your crimes keep piling up, Little Minx.”
Flicking the zippo, I bring it closer to what I’m holding in my other hand. With grim satisfaction, I notice the moment realization dawns in her eyes when she sees the dress/skirt thingy that she touches every single night before she sleeps and when she wakes up. The very same one she just touched a few minutes ago.
“Oh my god, Julian,” she gasps, watching me with horror as I raise the dress and bring the flame to the bottom. “Put it down. Don’t you d—"
“You keep pushing me, baby,” I start, my voice low and strained. “You keep testing my patience. It’s like you’re looking for a punishment. Lucky for you, I’m the only one who can dole it out the way you deserve.”
“You wouldn’t!” she shrieks “Julian, no!”
I bring the flame to the tip of the dress, watching her face pale. I can easily set this thing on fire and she knows it.
“That’s the tutu my Mom wore when she was crowned Prima Ballerina, Julian. Put it down!” she shrieks, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
That’s right, baby, let it out.
“Shh, Mia, you’ll wake your sick mother up,” I whisper, as tears start running down her face. Finally, but we’re not there yet. Not with Mia, she breaks different. “Keep your treacherous voice down.”
“Damn you, Julian, don’t do this!” she cries, cautiously taking a step closer to me.
“I guess it’s your intention to wear this at some point, even though the rightful owner hasn’t given it to you and probably never will since you’re a quitter.”
“I’m not a quitter.”
“A whiner then. Isn’t that why you’re not dancing as well as you know you can?” I press, watching the anger in her build. “You’re so damn fake that you don’t even realize you’re resenting every single person in your life.”
“What?” she gasps, frowning. “I love my family and they love me. I don’t resent any of them.”
“You sure about that?” I cock my head to the left, wondering if she’s ever been honest with anyone, least of all herself. “You resent your father for leaving you when you needed him the most.”
“Stop talking.”
“You resent your aunt for choosing money and lust over you and your mother and lastly,”
“No—”
“You resent your mother.”
“I don’t resent her!” she gasps, looking horrified.
“When was the last time you actually spent time with her?” I question, watching her eyes widen. She doesn’t have anything to say to that and I chuckle. “You don’t even deserve this.”
“She’ll give it to me when I get the Paris deal, now put it down,” she cries. “I will beg.”
It’s quite tempting that she’d behave a certain way when something she wants is in danger of being taken away from her.
“There’s plenty of time to make you beg,” I tsk. “It’s just, tonight I don’t need that from you.”
“What the fuck do you want then? Just put it down and we’ll talk.”
Yeah, I wouldn’t trust her as much as I would trust my dick to not get hard around her like it is now. They’re both treacherous.
“Liam,” I start. “What do you want with him?”
“What?” She looks bewildered. “Julian, put the dress down first.”
“Liam?” I prompt.
“I… we…,” she stutters, stepping closer to me. She wants to make a grab for the dress. I chuckle, shaking my head at the poorly executed intent so clear in her eyes.
“Here’s how this is going to go, Little Minx,” I start, getting up. “If you step closer, I’ll burn it. I’m going to ask you three fucking questions then I’ll tell you what I want you to do. If you lie or if I so much as taste the beginnings of one rolling off that tongue, I’ll burn it. If you make a stupid move that will end up with you hurting yourself, I will burn it and force you to watch, do you understand?”
She mutely