Page 192 of Brutal Prince

He doesn’t look close to as pissed off as he did when he was standing in Addy’s living room. In fact, he looks a little taken aback. The flip my stomach just did ends in a fucking belly flop.

What, you never seen a murderer waltzing around with his victim before, Briar?

“Hey, man. What’s up?” Marcus releases me, dismisses me, abandons me. Then he’s striding up to Briar, a hand outstretched like Briar’s just arrived at the football game he’s streaming at his house. Late, but instantly forgiven since he brought his own six-pack of Bud.

And instead of lunging forward, tackling him, and busting his head open on the soot-covered tiles of my living room floor…Briar shakes his motherfucking hand.

“Long drive,” Briar says.

My feet take root. My hands curl into fists.

“Glad you could join us, bro,” Marcus says, completely oblivious to the fact that I’m sprinting toward him at full speed.

Briar’s eyes go wide, and he barely manages one shake of his head.

Then Marcus turns, catches me, spins me around.

Are we waltzing again? Is this one of those flashy moves that will end with me sliding between his legs?

Nope.

This is Marcus anticipating my every fucking move like a goddamn assassin.

We spin. He throws me away from him. Briar lunges toward him. And then there’s suddenly a gun involved in the situation.

I’m on my ass on the floor, but I freeze just as much — if not more — than Briar does.

Marcus makes a show of drawing back the hammer with his thumb.

Briar lifts his hands.

In that moment, I hate them both equally. Marcus for being a psychotic asshole, Briar for being a cowardly freak.

Where’s the cinematic rough and tumble between besties? The well-aimed punch that has Marcus sliding over the tiles, stunning him just long enough to let Briar snatch up the gun?

Nope. They just fucking stare at each other.

Slowly, quietly, patiently, I get to my feet.

Fuck this shit.

I’m done being held against my will. I’m done with Marcus’s rapey threats.

Done.

Just fucking done.

Lips peeling up into a snarl, I launch myself at Marcus.

* * *

Briar

What the fuckis she thinking? What in the fuck is Indi fucking Virgo thinking?

Wait. She’s not. This is all raw adrenaline, and the bone she has to pick with Marcus. I’m guessing she knows about her mom. I’m guessing he’s already toyed with her to the point of rousing that infernal fury I’m already so familiar with.

There’s nothing left for her now but to dig herself out of an early grave. Guess she’s already given up all hope that I’ll be the one responsible for rescuing her from the tower, my virgin Rapunzel.

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