The Unknown

If looks could kill

Julie's pov

If looks could kill, Mike would've put my cousin six feet under.

"What did you just say?" he growled in a terrifyingly cold tone, as he glared daggers at her.

"I took Julie's pills. I mean, I didn't take them take them. Like I didn't swallow 'em or anything, I just took 'em to sell to a guy for money." My cousin hastily rambled her confession as Shane and I stood in shock, our mouths agape.

Unfortunately for my cousin, Mike still had his belt in hand, ready at the use.

Gripping it tightly, he commanded, "You will wait for Shane and I in my room. First, I need to apologize to your cousin and then I need to calm down before I belt you WITHIN AN INCH OF YOUR LIFE, STACEY MARIE! WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU, STEALING YOUR COUSIN'S MEDICATION?" Mike's words quickly escalated in volume as he shouted.

"I'm sorry. I know it was a stupid thing to do and it'll never happen again, I swear." Stacey tried futilely to lessen the severity of her punishment by apologizing.

"If you know what's good for you, young lady, you'll do as you're told and wait for us in Mike's room without saying another word," Shane warned.

Recognizing how far up shit creek without a paddle she truly was, my cousin turned on her heels and hightailed it out of the line of sight of our two beyond livid guardians.

Mike sighed loudly and ran his hand down his face while shaking his head in disbelief. He rubbed the back of his neck out of frustration before he turned to face me and apologize.

"I'm sorry I accused you, Julie, I really am. I just never would've imagined this. I mean, how could I have possibly fathomed something so outlandish?" Mike appeared lost in thought for a moment as he closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead before he spoke again. "Anyway, I'm sorry. Are you going to be okay, Julie?"

Finally letting out the breath I'd been holding since my cousin's well-timed confession, I nodded in response to Mike's question, knowing I'd be able to manage my current state of anxiety on my own once the shock wore off.

"We'll talk more when I'm done whipping your cousin." Mike reassured me by rubbing my arm and giving me a sad smile before he turned to leave, snapping his belt harshly on his way out the door, as if cracking a whip.

Shane hurriedly went to follow him as he called to me from the doorway, "I'm sorry too, sweetheart. I'll be back as soon as possible but right now I have to stop Mike from killing your cousin." 

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I couldn't help chuckling at the comical scene unfolding before my eyes. Shane chasing after Mike was akin to a Benny Hill skit, sans the trumpet music.

Shane's pov

I grabbed Mike's arm, turning him towards me just before we got to his room. The angry look on his face was scary enough to make me swallow hard and think twice about addressing him now but for the sake of our oldest daughter, I mustered up the nerve.

"Mike, wait!" The look I received just about stopped my heart.

Mike ripped his arm free from my grasp.

"No, Shane. Don't you dare try to protect her right now. She's got this punishment coming in spades and you know damn well she deserves it." Mike spoke as rigidly as his jaw was currently clenched.

"Mike, please," I pleaded with my best mate, "We already have one daughter with PTSD from a punishment meted out in anger, we don't need another one."

"Are you seriously comparing what I'm about to do to Stacey to what you did to Julie that night in the park?" Mike scoffed incredulously at me. "No offense, Admiral, but I think I have a little more self restraint when it comes to controlling my anger."