Page 234 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

I don’t miss the way her hand balls into a tight fist. “I… We… We were just…”

Briar clears her throat, interrupting me. I turn to her, but she’s focusing her gaze on him.

She gives him a beautiful smile and holds her hand out. “Good evening, Mr. Senator. Nice to meet you. Again. I’m Briar.”

Holy fuck, what is she doing?

Is she really insane?

“We're just grabbing some groceries,” She continues, unfazed, as if we're regular people meeting for a pleasant conversation.

But my stepdad ignores her completely, still looking at me with hard eyes.

“I…” I hesitate.

Anxiety and apprehension crawl up my body, wrapping around my throat. I can’t say anything… Why can't I say anything? Fuck… Oh, that's right. I'm a coward.

A shitty coward.

Briar's hand finally drops, and I glance at her to see her jaw tightening and her eyes dimming with rage and... loathing?

“I thought I told you to end things with her,” My stepdad interrupts, treating me like a child in need of punishment.

Before I could respond, Briar beat me to it.

“That’s not possible, Mr. Senator,” She smirks, crossing her arms. “There’s no end between me and Rurik.”

Oh, fuck.

He’s finally looking at her, and I want nothing more than to shield her from his wrath. Even though a part of me knows how capable this woman is and how strong she is, another part just wants to step up and be stronger for her.

“My stepson is too good for the likes of you.”

Briar looks thoughtful before humming. “Maybe. Or, I’m exactly what he needs.”

I close my eyes, wishing I could just disappear and take her with me.

You’re a damn coward, asshole.

“Here’s the thing,” Briar continues, opening my eyes. “I really like your stepson. I can promise you, he’s totally safe from whatever is between—”

“Safe?” He blurts out with a scoff. “Him being with a bunch of murderous gangsters isn’t safe for him.”

Briar's hands drop to her sides, her expression dark and chilling.

Her voice takes on a low, threatening tone, “Oh, really? That’s quite ironic, coming from you, Chef Greene.”

I frown. What the fuck does that mean? I look at him and see his face growing pale at her words.

What the…

“What are you talking about?” I couldn’t help but ask.

But Briar shakes her and lifts her chin, “Never mind, angel. Let’s go home.”

I start to follow her but halt at the icy glare directed at me by my stepdad.

Briar turns around, her brow arched. “Rurik? Let’s go.”

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