Page 211 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

I feel my lips curve but then remember what’s about to happen.

I squeeze his hand and flash my charming, easy-going, please-do-what-I-say smile, “Hey, maybe it’s best if you wait in the car for me? I don’t know if they’re in the mood to meet strangers, you know?”

His smile vanishes, and I can see the excitement leaving him. I’ve never seen him look so hurt, and I want to cry in frustration.

“Oh,” Rurik says. “Uh, I’m sorry. Is this a boundary thing? Do you not want me to meet them—”

“Angel, no, it’s not that. I just—”

“What the fuck are you two waiting for?”

We both jump and turn around to see my uncle standing outside the door with a look of disgust on his face. His eyes glance over to Rurik briefly before hardening when he focuses on me.

Oh yeah. He’s definitely not in the mood to meet strangers.

Rurik’s gaze shifts between me and my uncle before he forces a smile and offers his hand toward my uncle.

“Hello, sir,” Rurik says brightly. “I’m Rurik. I’m one of Briar’s friends.”

But my uncle completely ignores him and his offered hand.

I swallow hard and turn to Rurik, “Wait out here?”

I could see the annoyance hidden in his gaze as his golden boy persona breaks. His eyes drift to mine, and he shakes his head. “No. I’ll come with you.”

For fucks sake.

We follow my uncle inside the house, and I don’t look at Rurik when I see the place still looks like shit. I can feel the disgust radiating off of him.

Empty beer bottles are scattering everywhere, old take-out boxes are still out at the dining table and coffee table, and fuck… It smells so stale and disgusting.

My uncle goes upstairs to his room, and I know he expects me to follow. But before I go up, I give Rurik an encouraging smile.

“Rurik, angel,” I cup his face with my hands. “Can you please just wait here in the living room?” I look around and grimace. I pass the keys to him, grateful when he takes it. “Go wait for me in the car. I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”

Rurik is now full-on, giving death glares in the direction where my uncle was. He turns to me and shakes his head, “No, Briar. I’ll wait here for you.”

“Rurik—”

“If you don’t want me to come up with you, fine. But please don’t ask me to leave you in this house.” He kisses my forehead. “Go see what your asshole uncle wants, baby. I’ll wait here for you.”

I nod. Obviously, this man is too stubborn to listen to me, so I give up. He gives me a small smile before kissing me once, twice, and then three times before turning me around and watching me head upstairs.

As soon as I see my uncle waiting, I close the door behind me.

“Don’t bother,” My uncle snaps. “It doesn’t close all the way.”

I heavily sigh and ask, “What do you want? Money? I told you, ask Mr. Rogers. I’m not giving you shit—”

My head snaps to the side before I even process what happen. Then, stinging pain radiates from my head and ear. I place a hand over the side of my face and could feel my whole body shaking.

Of course.

Of fucking course, he has to resort to slapping me around because he can’t get what he wants.

“How dare you?” I ask my voice low yet in control. My fingers itch to grab the trusty dagger hidden under my dress.

“You think I wouldn’t recognize that little shit Rurik Campbell?”

---