Page 61 of Brian and Mina's Holiday Hits
Because I was special. I was so incredibly wrong.
“Brian, I didn’t know, I thought it was you.”
He chuckles humorlessly. “You thought it was me, Mina? You can’t tell the difference in my kiss and a stranger’s? Let’s not kid ourselves here.” There’s an edge of barely controlled rage in his voice, and the combination of his ice and his fire aimed at me is almost more than I can take.
“Everyone’s wearing a mask! The party was crowded. And…” I trail off, stopping myself in time because I don’t know how Brian would react to what I was about to say.
“And what, Mina? What lies are about to fall out of your faithless mouth?”
“He felt cold and empty... like you.”
I see the slightest flicker of something behind Brian’s eyes, but it’s gone in the next second.
He turns his attention back to the man I can’t see, the man I so stupidly thought was Brian. I get it. I understand why this seems so unbelievable, that I wouldn’t know my own lover’s touch, that I wouldn’t be able to discern Brian’s lips on my throat or on my mouth from a stranger’s. But hefeltlike him. All I know right now is that I’m alone in a room with two killers.
“Well, this takes the fun out of everything,” the stranger says.
“Gregor, how have you been?” Brian says. His tone is calm, casual. He knows this guy? Of course he does. They both carry the same energy, like they were inducted into the same secret society murder club together.
“I can’t complain,” Gregor says.
“The target is dead, and I already sent proof. The money has been wired to my account. I was going to take Mina on a nice tropical holiday, but… tonight has reminded me… I work better alone.”
Gregor’s grip tightens on the back of my neck. “I’ll kill her.” It’s painfully clear that he had a script and can’t keep up with the change that makes the script irrelevant now. I realize suddenly that the history between these two isn’t pleasant. This guy lured me away with the plan to what? Fuck what belongs to Brian? Kill me? Kill me while Brian watched? Did Dante know it wasn’t Brian leading me away from the party?
Brian rolls his eyes. “Did you miss the last couple of minutes? I don’t give a flying fuck. Fuck her, torture her, kill her. Whatthe fuck do I care? She’s not mine anymore. She’s nothing to me. I would sell her to you, to try to recoup some of my losses—and frankly this contract is only a third of what I paid for her—but given the bad blood between you and I, I think it’s a pretty even trade. I’ll take the monetary loss and we can let bygones be bygones.”
“Brian… I swear I didn’t know… please. Master,” my voice cracks on that last word.
I see the muscle in his jaw tighten, but he ignores me.
“Master?” Gregor says. “What kind of kinky games do you two have going on behind the scenes?”
“It’s not a game,” Brian says. “I bought this worthless little whore, if you can believe it. She’s myactualreal property. I paid five million for her.”
Gregor laughs. “If you paid that much, then she must be worth it.” The thumb of the hand gripping me so tightly begins to caress the side of my throat. “I bet you’re a smooth, slick ride, aren’t you, honey? Maybe I’ll fuck you before I kill you. Would you like that? I’ll make you moan my name while I sink my cock so deep inside you, you’ll forget all about Sloan, here. And who knows… maybe if you’re a good enough lay, I’ll keep you alive for a while.”
I look to Brian, hoping this is all just some kind of ruse to rescue me, but he is a wall of ice, completely shut off to me—emotionless. Surely these words from his rival would soften him, or give me even the tiniest hint that this is all some plan he has.
“Master… please. I swear I didn’t know. I’m yours, you know I’m yours. I love you.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever said these words out loud to him, at least not explicitly. I’ve held them close inside. They have always felt like such foolish words to say to a man like Brian. I know he cares for me… or… I thought he did, but I’m not sure love is athing he’s capable of—even for me. And especially now, in light of this new unfolding situation.
I’m not sure he can work past the anger and betrayal he feels to get to a rational thought long enough to remember what we are to each other.
Finally he turns back to me and laughs. “It’s a convenient time to address me properly, isn’t it? A very convenient time to express your undying love, when you know you’re about to die. You haven’t really been mine for a long time, and we both know it, Mina.” He practically spits those last words out at me.
I know what he means. His ownership of me has been little more than a performance at the house since I rescued him from Matsumoto’s son at Easter. That feels like a lifetime ago.
The dynamic between us shifted irrevocably. I thought he was okay with it. I thought he was on board and that power flowing back and forth between us in a more balanced way was what he wanted.
Maybe not.
“So, it wouldn’t bother you then if I fucked her right in front of you before I killed her?” Gregor says.
This is not going at all according to his plan. He thought Brian would try to bargain for my life. Gregor no doubt had some big revenge plot playing through his head, but Brian’s cold indifference wasn’t at all what he expected or hoped.
I’m still trying to hold onto the frail hope that this IS some plan to rescue me from a dangerous situation, but if Gregor is buying it, and he’s like Brian, then maybe it’s the truth.
