Page 49 of Psychotic Nightmares

“Like locking me up again, no thanks.” My voice is unsteady despite my faked bravado. Dante’s hand twitches, I wrap my little finger around his, luckily Julian doesn’t notice. Yet that one small connection brings me such strength. My body stops vibrating instantly. Julian used to bring me strength, but now he drains it all from me, makes me feel weak in his presence.

So why do I still have that small bit of tenderness for him deep down?

“I know, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, treasure.” He sighs, hand still reaching out for me. Pea steps a little closer, shoving her pistol into Julian’s cheek, yet his eyes never leave mine. I reach out from behind Dante and touch her arm, when she looks around to me I shake my head and she backs away, stepping beside me. Her gun stays firmly planted in her hand. “Please believe me when I say it won’t happen again. I promise.”

“You’re damn right it won't." Dante stands in front of me, hiding me from Julian’s view. “Now get out of my house.”

Julian's laugh is dark. Menacing. Like a switch has been flipped inside him somewhere. “I have something you can’t give her,mate.” He sneers. “Natalie. I found Anya.” My breath catches in my throat.

Anya? He knows where my baby girl is.

“I can take you to her if you come with me.”

“Cazzo di coglione, are you really going to use her daughter to make her go with you?” Dante tenses his fists. “How could you stoop so low?”

I step to the side. I have a chance to see Anya again. I have to take it, even if it is Julian that takes me to her. “Where is she?” I whisper.

“Nat…” Dante starts to talk only to be cut off by Julian.

“With your Pa.” He tells me. “So let’s go save her, together.” His hand comes out again, waiting for me to take it. I want to take it.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Pa told me he sent her away, she wasn’t there for the last four years I was there for. Why would he take her back? Is she really there or is Julian lying to me to get me back to that room?

“Julian.” Pea growls. “You best not be fucking messing with her.”

“Would I do such a thing?” His eyes connect with mine again, pleading with me. “I promise, treasure. She is there, so we can go and get her back. You can have your daughter back. We can raise her together.”

“We?” I step in front of Dante. “There is noweJulian. You threw us away the moment you locked me up.” His smile falters a little and his eye twitches. Guilt rises in the pit of my stomach. “Show me proof she is there.”

“Is my word not enough?” He scoffs.

“No.” I reply honestly, stepping a little closer. “Not after what you’ve done. I believed in you, I believed in you for years. Only for you to throw it all away because I went to breakfast with a friend.”

He raises his eyebrow, “friend? Him? He hates you, treasure." Julian's hand lands on my shoulder. “He. Hates. You.” I feel Dante fidget behind me, I put my hand up to stop him from whatever he is about to do. I hope he listens. The last thing I want is these two to fight again. “Or are you that stupid to believe that just because he’s a little nice to you, that automatically makes him your friend?” He smirks. “Are you really that desperate?” My hand moves on its own as it connects with his cheek. His smug smile returns. “Slap me again, I dareyou.” he winks, something shifts in the air around us. I glance down and see he is aroused. “Come on, treasure. Slap. Me.”

“You’re a freak.” I spit out.

“And you’re a desperate whore. Just over a week ago we shared a bed. And now you’re shacking up with my best friend.” His eye twitches again. “Nico can’t replace your daughter, Natalie.”

“I know.”

“And Dante won’t replace me.”

“I love him.” I blurt out.

Julian's face falls, his hand comes up to his throat. Shit, this wasn’t the way I wanted to tell him.

“What?” He croaks.

“I am in love with Dante, Julian. And yes I still have a bit of love for you too, even after everything.” Soft fingers stroke along the bottom of my spine. “It’s a fucked up situation, I know that. But I don’t give a shit about that right now. Where is my daughter?”

“He’s the ex?”

“Where is my daughter?”

“Answer me.”