Page 35 of The Brat: Prequel

“There isn’t enough power in the world to make me consider getting this close to you ever again, Ciaran. You know what you need?”

He scowls. “What?”

“Mouthwash. No, wait, a visit to the dentist because there has to be an underlying health issue for a stench that bad. Now, are you going to let go of me, or am I going to kick up a bigger stink than your breath?”

“Bitch,” he hisses, but he does relinquish his hold on me. “I won’t forget that.”

“Don’t. Make an appointment with your dentist for everyone’s sake.”

I back off, but before I can leave this goddamn dance floor, someone else sweeps me into a dance. An older guy this time. One I don’t recognize.

“You’ll have to forgive my son,” Daddy Kirkland offers. “He’s rather like a bull in a china shop when it comes to beautiful ladies. Unlike me and my nephew.”

My eyes widen as he leers at me. Is this old guy… flirting? With me?! What the hell’s going on?

“I know you, don’t I?”

“I went to school with Ciaran. Ronan’s in my class.”

“No. From somewhere else.” He clicks his fingers but the gesture’s performative. “That’s it! You’re in a picture on Lyanov’s desk.”

Whut?!

“Lyanov?” I ask warily.

“Maxim,” he inserts.

I blink. “He has a picture of me on his desk?”

I’m not sure what stuns me more—the notion that Maxim has a desk, there’s a picture of me in a frame on it, or that this bozo’s been in his office.

I always imagined Max working in a warehouse where he has easy access to a hacksaw at all hours of the day and night…

Curiosity gleams in this creep’s eyes. “Are you related to him?”

Because I don’t like the way he’s looking at me, I take the truth and manipulate it. “No. But I will be soon. I’m his fiancée.”

“Interesting. You were dating Ronan, weren’t you?”

“No. I danced with him at Homecoming. I hope he’s doing okay. Did he receive my flowers?”

Oh, how I enjoyed sending him those orange lilies…

“He’s still in the hospital. They’re unsure if he’ll ever walk without a cane.” Disapproval flitters across his expression. Does he know that Maxim targeted Ronan because of me? “Did I overhear my son correctly when he said you’ll both be attending Oakwood in the fall?”

Sweetly, I counter, “The pair of you like to eavesdrop, don’t you, sir?”

His laughter might as well be coated in slime. “You’re an outspoken little thing, but that kind of trait can be curbed.”

“Maxim doesn’t want it to be curbed.”

I have no idea if he does or not, but he’s never chastised me for anything I’ve done in the past.

Anyway, how can he judge when he has the willpower of a gnat? Unlike some mobsters I know, I haven’t chopped anyone’s body up recently!

“All men like a docile wife.” He licks his lips. Ew. “Do you want to know a secret?”

“Not particularly,” I mumble.