Page 86 of Forged in the Fire
What I was doing, I didn’t know, but I’d always been a fake it till you make it kind of girl.
No use in changing that now.
“Party time, baby!” Elena shouted from the porch. “We already have dinner ready, then we can watch a movie or listen to music or shop online, or whatever you want to do. I’m about to lose my mind from boredom.”
It sounded exactly like my kind of rager.
Silas shut his door. “Brinley isn’t here for you to play house with, Elena. And wasn’t the party enough for you last night?”
“Letting me out of my cage for two hours is hardly going to break the deep-seated boredom that has sunk into my bones.”
Her droll tone promised she was on the verge of death.
Silas rolled his eyes, so casual as he strolled toward the back of his truck. “Dramatic much?”
“Bossy much?” she hollered back.
Another reckless giggle shot from me as I moved for the bed to grab my overnight bag since Silas seemed insistent on carrying my suitcases.
“What are you laughing about?” he rumbled under his breath.
“Your sister is both shy and a badass. Don’t blame me for loving it.”
He sighed, his voice contained so only I could hear. “The shy part is because of me. Keeping her in that cage.”
“Because you’re overprotective?”
I winced when I said it, quick to remember what he’d just told me.
These faceless bad guys I hadn’t known existed had abducted Elena.
My spirit clenched as old visions threatened to flash, my soul sick with the idea that Elena might have been tormented the same way.
“No such thing as overprotective, Brinley.” Hate ground from his mouth. “Not when you know the type of fiends that are walking this world. I’ve been trying to protect her since she was a little girl. Turns out, I’m not always so good at it.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Was that true?
“Doesn’t matter what you think.”
It was a sudden dismissal of the subject as Silas dropped the tailgate, grabbed the duffel and slung the strap over his shoulder, then pulled out the suitcases, taking one in each hand.
“I am capable of carrying something.”
“Unnecessary,” was all he gave before he went clomping his way around the truck and toward the porch steps.
His strides were so long I thought I’d have to employ my old high school track skills in order to catch up.
I probably needed to rethink my shoe choices while I was here, but honestly, that was not going to happen.
The additional height gave me an extra boost of confidence.
When I towered over someone, it made me feel like they couldn’t touch me.
Grievously, Silas still had me by three inches when I had them on.
I marched five feet behind him, head held high while my nerves zipped and zinged.
