Page 151 of Forged in the Fire
Fuck.
What I wouldn’t give to hop on my bike and destroy the beast who had set this into motion. Turn around and end anything or anyone who would threaten to do her harm.
Say fuck it to the whole plan and end him myself.
But I couldn’t let her go, either.
Couldn’t do anything but carry her back into the lobby and around the counter where I carefully settled her onto the desk.
She gasped and choked, hands still clinging to my neck as I inched back so I could take her in.
Almost dropped to my knees when she tipped her face toward me.
Tears soaked her cheeks.
Confusion and dread and terror toiling in those harvest eyes.
I gripped her by each side of the jaw, trying to wipe away the stains like it might be enough to erase the intent that had been perpetuated today.
“Are you hurt? Did he get you anywhere else?” With my thumb, I swept up the trickle of blood from her neck.
“No.” She gulped, and she squeezed her eyes closed for a beat, like she was trying to bring herself back to reality.
Problem was, thiswasher reality.
I hated it.
Hated that this nightmare was real.
Hated that she had been sucked into her brother’s mess and that I was a twisted part of it.
“You’re okay. You’re okay,” I rumbled again.
Trying to make it true.
Wishing I had the power to take it away.
That I could make it better.
ThatIcould be better.
“Am I?” Brinley basically begged as she gripped onto my wrists. “Am I really okay?”
“Yes. Because I’m here. I’m right fucking here.” It was the only answer I could give.
She gulped. “Who was that?”
“Not sure, but we’ll find out.” Brutality curled out with the words.
“He…he wanted to take me. He knew Dereck.” It tumbled out of her mouth.
I kept running my thumbs over the tears that slipped down her cheeks. “I know.”
“I don’t understand any of this, Silas. I didn’t ask to be a part of it. I don’t want to be a part of it.”
“I don’t want you to be, either, and I’m going to make sure to get you out of it. I promise you.”
I wouldn’t stop until I made it fact.
