Page 89 of A Deviant Queen

Oren dips his chin in understanding and, without another word, slips out of the car. I start the engine but stare at the concrete wall, allowing myself to calm down before dealing with playing this pointless role.

Collins texted me earlier today and asked me to have drinks with him at a dance club. Given the man looked like he was going to piss himself at The Emerald, I knew something was up. Perhaps Oren telling me about Liam being aware of my existence has put me on high alert.

When I arrive at the club, Sinners, it’s already packed. Collins told me where to find him inside, so it shouldn’t be hard to fish him out of the heavy crowd. Bodies cram together on the dance floor, dancing to the thumping music. It’s easy to avoid them by walking along the outside edge.

Following the path to the bar, it doesn’t take long to pick out Collins’s blonde hair. The agent is deep in conversation with none other than Liam fucking Brenner. Those blue eyes were already set on me when I notice him.

I should be relieved he’s here, making my life both complicated and easier at the same time. Collins hasn’t noticed where his friend’s attention lies while he blabs away about something, nursing his drink. Keeping my eyes trained on Liam, I grab Collins’s arm catching him off guard when I approach them.

He turns to me and smiles, pulling me into an unexpected kiss. I kiss him back with as much enthusiasm as I can muster, letting his tongue slide into my mouth and caress mine. Liam’s stare bores into the side of my head, and, for some reason, this feels wrong.

So, fucking wrong.

Collins tastes like alcohol, which would explain his behavior. From what I’ve noticed in my time with him, he hasn’t been aggressive unless we are in private. Finally, he pulls away and grips my chin in a tight hold.

“I’ve missed you,” he says to me, squeezing a little tighter, not allowing me to break from his hold. I mean, I could, but that would cause a scene and do me no favors.

“I’ve missed you, too,” I say without too much venom behind it.

When he seems satisfied, he releases me and snakes his arm around my waist, pulling me close to his side.

It’s a power move, something unspoken as if he’s warning me this is some sort of test with Liam. As much as I will myself to play the submissive girlfriend, I can’t help looking straight at the man whose eyes beckon me.

Liam's body posture is defensive, not missing anything behind Collins’s move. His gaze is locked on Collins, fist clenching and unclenching at his side, the glass in his other hand ready to shatter with the grip he has on it. If the man’s jaw sets any harder, his teeth might shatter, too.

Collins’s hand glides from my side to my lower back before settling on my ass. He squeezes me, and Liam narrows in on the movement, then snaps his eyes to mine. And just when I think he might snap, a woman I’ve never seen before steps in front of Liam and runs her hands through his hair.

“Thank you for inviting me,” she purrs.

I watch her grope at Liam as if she has the right to. The handsy woman pulls at the memory of him saying last night he was mine. I tilt my head to the side, a silent question as his face softens. Liam all but pushes her away, never taking his eyes off of me.

Collins and this woman fall into a natural conversation. I don’t pay attention to too much of what they’re saying. I had caught something about work, so I assume they work together, and her name is Mona. She wasn’t an ugly woman, but the way she dismissed me with disgust when we were introduced made me want to claw her eyes out.

Usually, I don’t settle for catty violence. I’d much rather run my blade through her pretty ebony skin, starting with those hands she keeps touching Liam with. Her constantly touching him is calling to something primal inside me.

A tinge of what I’m guessing is jealousy tightens in my chest, but I quickly stomp it down. I need to remain focused and not let Liam continue to get under my skin. His face is soft with regret when he looks at me, but something is in his eyes. That darkness I always see lurking in their depths is front and center.

The purity in Liam Brenner is fading, and something sinister is about to be unleashed, and that’s when I realize exactly what’s going on.

Liam says little, but he clarifies that he wasn’t the one to invite this bitch tonight. With Collins’s little show upon my arrival, it’s clear his little test runs deeper than I thought. I’ve had about enough of Collins and his bullshit, but before I can fake sickness and go the fuck home, Liam’s final ounce of self-control in Liam vanishes.

Mona’s hand glides under his shirt. Liam snatches her arm and shoves her into Collins. With Collins’s reflexes off, he stumbles back. Both of them are lucky the bar is close enough to catch their fall. I just stand back and watch the chaos unfold.

“Don’t think I won’t break it off,” Liam warns when Mona straightens and steps toward him. “I think they set us up, Mila. It seems like rejection isn’t Detective Bridges’ thing.”

I snort. Mona’s head snaps to me, her nose flaring and anger burning in her chocolate eyes. I don’t know her role in this, but whatever it is, she was definitely in on this dramatic shitshow. I raise an eyebrow at her, challenging her to make a move.

I’ll be damned if I continue playing these games with Collins. If Dad wants me to protect Liam, then I’ll do it at his side instead. Fuck Donovan and his bullshit plan. Things have now officially gone sideways, and it’s time to divert.

Mona takes a step toward me. My hand shoots out, grips her throat, and tugs her toward me. The sudden move has her stopping in her tracks. I squeeze and lean closer to her ear while she claws at my hand.

This is stupid and risky, but I’ve had enough belittling from Collins in these almost two months. I’m not about to accept any from her.

“He might break your wrists, but I’ll twist that pretty little neck of yours if you touch him again,” I whisper. I see Collins looking to Liam for help from my periphery, but Liam stands with a wide smirk stretched across his face, watching the show as I did.

Releasing her throat with a shove, I walk to Liam’s side. His eyes are filled with heat. It was the same look he gave me last night before he got on his knees and buried his face in my pussy. I turn to face the two dickheads that stand joined in their defeat. Mona rubs at her neck, and Collins glares at both of us.

“I think I’m going to call it a night,” I say with mock boredom, watching Collins closely. “If this is what you wanted, then I’ll be more than happy to oblige. We’re done here. I hope when you’re sober, you realize you only pushed us closer. Grow some fucking balls, Bastian.”

My gaze snaps to the woman about to fall to her knees in tears at being humiliated before.

Turning on my heel, I walk away, leaving that mess behind.

I’ll go home, do some recon, focus on moving the hell out of the mansion, and work out a plan to shift things toward Liam. But before I can walk too far, a large hand grabs my shoulder and spins me around.

“And where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Liam asks.

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