Reborn Deceit

CHAPTER TWO

Damian

The sound of high heels clicking down the staircase in the foyer alerted Damian to his sister's arrival. Taking one last drag from the long necked bottle in his hand, he set it down on the end table beside him, clenching his fist around it. His tall frame was spread out in one of the chairs in their parlor, arms draped over the armrests. He tried to relax, but his tight muscles refused to listen, and the anger inside him made his whole body twitch and spasm.

He glanced around the room, only growing more pissed off as he took it in. Who the hell decorated this place? The colors were too light and there were too many plants and candles. The room screamed happy and joyful, the complete opposite of his state of mind. He blamed Mia for this too, simply adding more fuel to his already ablaze internal inferno.

Mira sighed as she made the last step and was in the process of slinging her purse over her shoulder when she stopped mid-step. Her gray eyes made contact with his, and for a second he got the satisfaction of seeing fear cross her face. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. In its wake sat a leveled look, one that took years of practice to master, and one that Damian was all too familiar with.

"Drinking alone even after the party goers are gone? That's low, even for you, brother." Her voice was even, void of any emotion, but just like her face, it was a lie. Damian could tell.

Looking over at the clock Damian noted that it was three in the morning. Mira's party had ended almost two hours ago, but the last of the guests had staggered out about a half hour ago. To Damian however, they didn't leave soon enough. After his encounter with Mira and her friend, Damian holed himself up in the formal living room on the first floor, waiting to corner his sister.

Now was his chance.

Damian looked away from his sister and stared at the empty fireplace set in the wall across from him. His little sister had always been a constant in his life. From the minute she was born he swore to the heavens that he would always protect her. Which he did and still does. When she returned home one day sporting a black eye, Damian had hunted down the bastard who did it to her. And when a group of SOBs threatened to harm her, he took all four of them down with his bare hands.

Yet, regardless of his protective instinct when it came to his little sister, when he looked at Mira now all he could see was red. She was always an honest person, never going behind anyone's back because family and friends were what was important to her. That's what made her betrayal hurt this much. She had purposely lied and deceived him, then flaunted her disloyalty around him like a damn flag.

"What's your game, Mirella?" Damian's voice was low, but he kept it calm and level. For that he deserved points. If he exploded now, she would refuse to talk to him. No matter how scary he got, or how much he cussed, Mira knew he would never hurt her. He needed to keep a cool head and get answers out of her. Only then could he explode in her face like a hand grenade.

"I don't think I know what you are talking about."

The damn girl had the nerve to play dumb. Damian's fists clenched in his lap and he felt a ripple run down his back muscles. His plan of calm and collected was quickly falling apart in his grasp. He rolled his neck a bit to the side in an attempt to free some of the anger building up inside of him, but it proved useless.

"I suggest you drop the charade and start talking. My short patience only gets shorter with alcohol, and this is my fifteenth beer tonight." Damian muttered through gritted teeth, grabbing the bottle from the side table and holding it up before taking another chug from it. Setting it back down he cracked his knuckles. Again, useless. He was still just as mad as he was five seconds ago.