Page 90 of Consume Me

I storm away, and Kaden says, “Where are you going?”

“To watch over Mia.”

“She’s at the damn compound. It’s surrounded by guards.”

“Let’s all go there this weekend. We can spend some time with our parents,” Celine suggests.

“Yeah, my mom keeps trying to get me over for dinner,” Kaden says.

I appreciate their support, and we all get into our respective cars.

When I park the car in front of Cillian’s mansion, it’s late, and the moon is high in the sky. I notice light coming from the living room and a flicker of light from an upstairs window. I knock, and when her father opens the door, he crosses his arms, looking me over.

“Blake.”

“Cillian. Is Mia here?”

“Yes, she is.”

I move to pass him when he says, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I have to see that she’s okay.”

“She’s here with me––her father and I’d paint this world red for her.”

“I understand, sir, but I would do even worse.”

He studies me intently. “You’re him—the guy who has been giving my daughter a hard time.”

Why are we losing precious time when I need to see how she is?

“Can I come in, please?” I ask through gritted teeth, losing my patience by the second, and he finally lets me enter.

“You’re used to getting your way, aren’t you?”

“I need to see Mia.”

I am at the foot of the stairs when he says, “I didn’t say you could go to her room. Let’s talk first.”

Fuck, my chest feels like it’s going to explode with unease if I don’t see for myself that she’s all right.

We move to the living room, and he points at a leather armchair.

“Something to drink?”

“I don’t drink, sir.”

“You won’t impress me by lying to me.”

“Oh, sir, Ididdrink. I drank so much I’m amazed I didn’t end up in an alcoholic coma, but I realized it wouldn’t change a thing—just like alcohol has never really helped me.” It didn’t even manage to get me wasted.

“I see.”

He pours a glass of whiskey and sits in the armchair beside me.

“Mia is my sunshine.”

Every fiber of my being demands to scream that she might be his daughter, but she’s mine. Only mine. I shut my mouth, knowing my declaration wouldn’t go over well.

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