Page 33 of Goddess of Mayhem

He scoffs, then lets his head drop. “Dad gave you all the training I should have had. I’m not built for this like you and Dad. I’ve tried to get out of it, but he won’t budge. He just says, ‘it’s your duty,’ and dismisses me.” He sighs. “I want to do my part for the business, but leadership isn’t for me.”

I’m not sure where any of this is coming from. As much as I appreciate his words, they don’t change anything. He gets what’s mine, and there’s no way around it. Our dad is too worried about proving himself to a dead man to be concerned about the needs of his living children.

The Olin Empire will crumble under my brother’s rule. Dad can’t be bothered to care, though, because he refuses to bend our family’s code. He may have built me to lead and to be ruthless, but apparently it was all a waste of time. And here I am once again, feeling sorry for myself.

Donovan’s face scrunches up, and I give him a look.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I ask.

A large smile cracks along his face as he shrugs. “Got a whiff of burnt bacon.”

It doesn’t take me long before I feel a familiar presence behind me, though. My nose fills with the scent of leather and smoke, and my chest tightens. He’s not wearing his leather jacket, yet he somehow still smells like it.

Goosebumps blanket my skin knowing he’s behind me. Donovan gives me a quick look before walking away, leaving me with this foreboding feeling. I go to take a step forward without acknowledging him, but his hand snaps out and grabs mine, pulling me toward the dance floor.

Liam’s grip is bruising as he yanks me into him, bringing me flush to his chest with an audible thud. It’s a bold move for him to try and throw me around in the public eye. My brother insinuating that Liam is a cop could raise suspicion and put a target on his back. I’ll deal with that later, though.

“May I have this dance, Miss Olin?” The smile he gives me is cruel, and his hands securely hold my hips. He dips his head down to the crook of my neck, his breath fanning the shell of my ear and making me shudder. “In case they forgot to teach you how to dance, you can put your arms around my neck or give me your hand.”

I didn’t miss the way his voice dropped and dripped with venom when he called meMiss Olin. I glare at him, but decide not to struggle against his hold as to not call attention to us. My dad still wants him protected and, even if I’m pissed at him, I can admit to myself that I don’t want harm to come to him either.

My arms wrap around his neck, and he starts to lead me in a steady shifting of our feet. It’s lazy, but I don’t think Liam is in front of me to show me his dance skills. He wants to talk, and he’s choosing right now so I can’t fight him.

Icy-blue eyes sear into me, and his hands are dangerously close to being deemed inappropriate as he slides them along my lower back. His beard is slightly longer than I’m used to, and I wonder why he’s chosen to go for something less tamed when he always wore it short and clean before.

There’s betrayal hiding behind his eyes while he stares at me. That single emotion keeps me from sinking into his arms and sayingfuck everyone here. This is what I want.

“You want to do this here?” I finally break the silence between us. “Do you have a death wish?”

He chuckles without any real humor, and a lazy shrug pulls at his shoulders. “Just asked for a dance, love.”

I can feel eyes on us, but I can’t find it in myself to care. Liam’s intentions for this moment are anything but innocent, but I can’t find it in myself to care. This is the most at peace I’ve felt in weeks. It’s alarming how even though he hates me, I find solace within his embrace.

It makes me wonder what it would be like to be loved by Liam Brenner. If I had let him in more than I did. What his arms would feel like without the animosity in his grip.

Liam bends down again, allowing his lips to brush against my earlobe, and I swallow a moan. He’s putting on a show. For what reason, though, I can’t even begin to comprehend.

“Good thing I’ve never been one to listen to you,Malia,” he whispers.

I like the way my name sounds on his tongue. I can taste the malice within his words.

He pulls away from me, searching my face for something I’m unsure of. We stand still, our arms wrapped around one another and gazes locked, unwavering. I hate the mask on his face. It's been weeks since I’ve seen him, and I want to see all of him. My fingers itch to rip it off.

He raises one hand and runs his knuckles down my cheek, much like Caine did not long ago. However, the feeling is nowhere near the same. I resist the urge to lean into his touch, but he doesn’t miss the way my breath hitches at the contact.

I miss him, and I hate it.

Liam smiles, pleased with the reaction he got out of me. He tilts his head, and I almost think he’s going to lean in and kiss me. I would have to shove him off if he did. Not that I care if these people think he’s claiming me, I just don’t want anyone to retaliate.

Men are here to win my hand, and Liam is putting on a show.

“Whatever your end goal was in making me fall madly in love with you”—my heart pounds in my chest, threatening to burst through my ribcage—“I hope it was worth it.”

Guilt and shame.

Two things I don’t usually feel are wreaking havoc on the thin thread holding me together. I’ve been confused because I didn’t understand how he broke through every wall I’ve erected over the years. My brain and heart have been warring constantly, driving me into a madness I thought I knew well.

I know in this moment that I want him. The selfish parts of me want to take until he will give me what he was offering before I hurt him. Because that’s what I did. I’ve become so used to creating hurt and destruction in my life that I’ve never known or cared about the implications.

---