Page 228 of Mayhem and Minnie

“Do it again. But this time, have him drink it,” I tell her. “Here.” I stop a waiter and grab a couple of glasses of champagne.

She takes a glass from me and, turning with her back to the crowd, she swirls her finger inside it while chanting her mantra. Then she gives me the glass and takes the other one, repeating the process.

“Done.”

I nod.

“Good. Let me handle this.”

Taking both glasses, I head toward Julien. Minnie remains behind, her eyes on me.

His eyes are narrowed with suspicion when he sees me approach him.

“I’m sorry about upstairs,” I start. “I shouldn’t have barged in like that.”

He watches me closely.

“You shouldn’t have,” he says in a low voice.

“Here,” I say and hand him a glass. “Why don’t we agree to get along for Mother’s sake? It’s her birthday party after all.”

He doesn’t seem convinced. He eyes the glass, but as he reaches for it, he changes his mind last minute and grabs the other glass. Alas, Minnie had the foresight to do her mantra on both.

But he’s not drinking. Not yet anyway. It seems he needs more persuasion.

“Really?” He raises a brow at me. “And am I to presume you didn’t already tell Mother everything?”

“And what would I tell her?”

He clicks his tongue against his teeth as he stares at me. He brings the glass to his lips, but then decides against it.

He takes a step closer so only I can hear what he has to say.

“Cara is not the innocent victim you think she is, Marlowe. So stay the fuck out of it.”

I release a dry laugh.

“Is that what you’re going with?”

“I don’t have to go with anything.” He shrugs. “And I don’t need to prove shit to you. Now Mother, on the other hand.” He shakes his head. “You just couldn’t keep your mouth shut and let me deal with it.”

“Deal how? Beat her up until one day she ends up dead?”

“You’re the one to speak about killing people?” he fires back.

“I don’t. Kill. Women,” I grit out.

“How virtuous of you, Marlowe. As it happens, I don’t either,” he spits out. “Stay the fuck out of my business and let me deal with Cara.”

He brings the glass of champagne to his lips and gulps it down in one go. He slams the glass on the nearest table, all the while staring at me.

There’s no sign of distress. No pain. Nothing.

Minnie said the holy champagne would burn if he was a demon. But nothing happens to Julien.

He wipes the sides of his mouth with a napkin.

“Stay out of it,” he repeats as he backs away.

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