Page 36 of Imperfect Saint
“Oh, that would be great. Thank you.” Millie took the small bottle the other woman offered and downed a long swig of it. She sighed as she put the cap back on, “Sorry, my mind is elsewhere.”
Jill smirked, “Oh I think I know where your mind is. It’s on that superhot boyfriend of yours.”
Millie felt her face heat, “Is it that obvious?”
“That you’re crazy about him?” Jill shrugged, “Maybe just a little.”
“That’s embarrassing.”
“Nah, it’s cute. You two are good together. Trust me, he looks at you the same way.”
“He does?” Millie found her heart skipping when Jill nodded.
“He looks at you like…”
“Jill!” That harsh voice came again, louder this time, and both women jumped.
Joshua glared at them when they turned to face him. Millie glared back but the other woman dropped her gaze and she instantly knew that this wasn’t the first time Joshua had yelled at her. It wasn’t the first time he’d embarrassed her in public. And no doubt, whatever punishment he saw fit to deliver when they were alone wouldn’t be the first glimpse of the real Joshua that this girl had gotten either.
He barked, “Get over here and give me that water you’re supposed to be passing out.”
When Jill started to take a step towards him Millie grabbed her arm, “You don’t have to do what he says.”
Jill gave her a sad, defeated look and shook her head, “It’s easier this way.”
Millie watched as the girl ducked her head, all but curling into herself as she went to Joshua’s side and gave him the bottle of water. She bit the inside of her cheek until she was sure she would taste blood at any moment. Reed glared at Joshua and Colin told his friend to calm down but neither of them seemed to understand the power struggle that was really happening in front of them.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to tell them, here and now, that the Joshua they thought they knew was a façade and the real man was much angrier and more violent than they’d ever imagined. Before she could though, the wedding planner told them to gather round and Millie reminded herself that she wasn’t going to ruin Colin’s wedding day by revealing secrets she’d been keeping for a reason.
“Everybody knows what their role is. It’s T-minus four hours until go time. I expect you all to head inside and get yourself ready for the big event.” The wedding planner clapped her hands excitedly, “Who’s ready for a wedding?”
A little cheer went up from the wedding party and Millie managed a smile as she extricated herself from the group. She couldn’t believe that Reed and Colin were really getting married. They would say vows and pledge their lives to one another in just a few more hours. She’d known they were soulmates since she was just a little girl but to finally see them out and open and living their life, looking forward to the future was magical.
It made her want to think about her own future, something she’d avoided doing for a while now.
“Come here.” A growl echoed near her ear a moment before a big hand grabbed her elbow and squeezed so hard that she gasped.
“Let go.” She tried to tear her arm away from Joshua but this time he didn’t let her, only tightening his hold when she tried to pull away from him.
“I think it’s time you and I have a little talk.” He snapped as he wheeled her down the hallway under the staircase and shoved her into an empty room at the back of the house.
Millie glanced around, looking for another way out, but knew there wasn’t one as soon as she saw where he’d brought her. The library was tucked into the back corner of the old house and every wall was covered in shelves, stacked with books. Her grandfather’s desk sat in front of the only window; a small square of light too high to reach even if she’d wanted to. She flipped her gaze back to the door that Joshua had pulled shut behind him but he resolutely stood in front of it, blocking her in.
“Move.” She demanded.
“No.” He snarled. “Not until we talk.”
“I don’t want to talk to you and I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Let me out of here, Joshua.” She tried to walk past him but he grabbed her by the upper arms and spun her until her back collided with the wall and she let out a surprised yelp as he knocked the air out of her. She sucked in a breath and shook her head, “I said, let go of me.”
“And I said, no. Who do you think wins, Millie? I’ll give you a hint. It’s always me.” His blue eyes blazed with heat and anger.
She remembered a time when she’d thought those eyes were beautiful. She’d compared them to the icy blue of the pond just after it had thawed from winter. She knew better now. The blue of his eyes wasn’t icy at all. They were the blue of the hottest flames of hell.
“You don’t get it. You never did.” She let her own anger rise and snapped right back at him, “This isn’t some game and I’m not some prize to be won.”
His grip on her arms tightened until she whined and he gave a smug, sadistic grin, “Oh, it’s a game. Of course it’s a game. Why else would you have brought that guy you work with? You brought him to parade around in front of me, to taunt me. You wanted my attention and now you’ve got it.”
“I don’t want anything from you except to never have to see you again.” She glared and watched his eyes widen in surprise.
