Page 74 of Discord
I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning my butt against the edge of the table. I squinted my eyes at Milo, irritated.
“It’s clear that you two have a special bond.” Milo paused, then admitted somewhat reluctantly, “I don’t want to take that away, nor do I want to make Mia miserable.” Milo shook his head. “But you can’t marry her anytime soon.”
“Still controlling other people’s lives, I see,” I retorted.
“I’m trying to meet halfway. But are you?” he snapped. “If you’re going to be in a relationship with my sister, learn to pick your battles. It’s what I had to do her whole life.”
It took a monumental effort to keep my neutral expression though my insides were thudding. The agreement was to come clean to her family, then get married. I didn’t want to wait any longer or give Mia’s family more opportunity to drive a wedge between us.
“Wait until after she is done with school and has the support of her family backing this decision,” he pressed. “If you want her to be happy, then take this olive branch instead of letting your pride get the best of you.”
I stared at him resentfully. Every bone in my body rebelled against his pitch, unwilling to swallow the pill.
If I twisted her arm, it might cause a bigger rift in their already fragile relationship. And Mia wouldn’t be happy at any wedding we planned if Milo and Raven weren’t there.
I had to set the tone for the future and my long-term relationship with the Sinclairs. They came as a package deal with Mia. Unfortunately, I couldn’t love her without loving—or at least tolerating—them.
Suppressing my rage, irritation, and every one of my selfish instincts, I managed the curtest of nods. I couldn’t do any better.
“I’ll call Mia to let her know we spoke.” Milo closed his eyes, sighing in relief. “Oh, and next weekend’s family dinner is at our place,” he pointedly added the invitation.
My head reeled back. I was expected at family dinners now? What the fuck had I started?
Milo turned to leave, then paused as if remembering something important. He looked at the book in his hand, then chucked it to me. The book landed flat on my desk right as Milo slammed the door shut behind his retreating form.
My fingers hovered over the cover. It was odd. Mia carried this book around like a safety blanket. She would never make the mistake of leaving it behind.
Suddenly, a colossal comprehension settled in.
Mia wouldNEVERmake the mistake unless it was premeditated.
I smirked.
While everyone was worried about the big bad wolf tearing their meek little sister from limb to limb, they overlooked the deadliest amongst our midst. Pegged as naïve and too green for the salacious ways of this world, she was more lethal than all of us combined.
Mia manipulated Raven and Milo by planting the book for them to discover because she knew ours was a story even they couldn’t deny.
She. Was. Savage.
Mia
I staredat the tall mirror in the bridal suite. An unrecognizable decked-out bride stared back. After a lifetime of being ignored, two hundred pairs of eyes were about to single me out today. I’d had no practice in this arena and thinking about it made me want to hurl.
Did someone turn off the air conditioning? I could barely breathe. My hand crept to the sweetheart neckline of my gown.
The soft noise of the door creaking open interrupted my accelerated heart rate. Milo entered with his eyes downcast in the off chance I wasn’t decent. Despite my apprehensions, the gesture made me smile. Some things never changed.
“Hello, brother dearest.”
“I have been sent to fetch you.” Milo looked up, having gotten the all-clear that I was decent. He smiled broadly when his eyes landed on me. “You look perfect.” Even so, he might steal the show. Milo looked sharp in a black tux and a pastel boutonniere pinned to his pocket. “How’re you feeling?”
“A little nervous.”
He stood next to me in silent camaraderie. “Having second thoughts?”
“What?” I narrowed my eyes. “Of course not.”
“You know, if you want to wait a few more years to get married, it isn’t too late.”
