Page 249 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

Mr. Rogers squints his eyes.

I throw my hands up and groan, “Scout’s honor. You can even supervise me.”

“You were a girl scout?”

I scoff, “No?”

He releases a heavy breath, shaking his head. Looking at his security, he gives a quick nod. “Okay.”

Giving him a dramatic curtsy, I turn around to face Philip Greene again, who has the courtesy of looking like he’s about to shit himself.

“I remember you,” I tell him, crossing my arms.

Philip backs away, frowning.

“I remember you when I was a kid,” I continue. “Chef Greene. You were my favorite, you know. I remember you sneaking extra sweets for me when Daddy wasn’t looking. Why did you do all this? I can understand attacking me, but why Rurik?”

He swallows hard and clears his throat, “I didn’t want to hurt Rurik. I told the guys not to harm him. They were supposed to scare him enough to get your attention.”

I snap. “Well, you hired a bunch of idiots because they did hurt him,” I throw my hands up and gesturing the door where Rurik is staying. “But that’s okay. We took care of them.”

Philip had the niceties to appear guilty.

Fucking asshole.

“He knows you were involved in his kidnapping, you know. He slipped it out before he passed out.” I say, watching as Philip’s eyes widen.

“Wh-what? What did he say?”

“Only that you were involved with my dear old uncle. Guess you’ve got some explaining to do.”

“Don’t. Please, let me talk to him.” Philip shook his head, looking terrified.

I scoff. “Why? So you can make up shit to make me look like the bad guy?”

Can I just kill him now?

No, Briar. Think of Rurik.

I huff, crossing my arms as I force myself to relax. “You know,” I say, “I really want to kill you right now. I had this whole revenge thing planned out—”

“I know it was you who destroyed everything,” Philip has the nerve to interrupt.

I shrug, “That was just part one, homie.” I stop, staring at the pathetic man in front of me. “Anyway, as I was saying. I had this whole revenge scheme plot out for your hand with Amaura’s death, but…” I pause. I can’t believe I’m even about to say this. “Rurik’s heart is getting weaker, and I can’t stress him out more than I already do.”

Philip stared at me, his brows scrunching together and his gaze darting over my face as if trying to read me. “You’ll… You’ll stop attacking me?”

“I’m not doing this for you,” I snarl. “My love for Rurik outweighs my desire for your blood.”

He closes his mouth into a thin line. “I only did what I was told,” He then says. “Your father. He… I didn’t kill Amaura.”

I force my face to remain blank. “I know what I heard. I may have been a naive little girl then, but I remember things.”

“I understand what it may have sounded like,” Philip continues speaking as if I’m not on the verge of shooting his fucking face off. “But I swear, I didn’t kill Amaura.”

“You were there in the kitchen.”

“I was out in the pantry getting things. I came out after everything went down and was told by your father to…” He trails off. To shove her in a garbage bag and toss her.

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