Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
“She tried turning you against Sam?”
There wasn’t a response, and my heart hurt at that because of course she would. Brinna was cracked. If she were an egg, she’d been cooked the wrong way and her shell was all splintered up.
I listened to more, as Steele explained that once he met Beltraine, they bonded within the first weekend. It was an easy friendship. How Beltraine and Axel had no idea what Steele was doing. They were told he needed to hide from some bad family members. They didn’t push Steele for more, assuming he’d tell them what was going on when he felt comfortable to do that.
Grandpa Garrett had no idea what was going on, any of it. He had no idea Brinna was in communication with the guy in prison.
I barely remembered Grandpa Garrett myself.
The other bottom line is that they had no idea what to do with Brinna.
Which brought me back to where I was currently standing. Outside the study.
Brinna was inside. They were all in their kitchen meeting, deciding what to do with her.
I opened the door and walked inside.
Brinna straightened from where she was sitting in a corner chair. She unfolded her legs and brightened, the Brinna mask she wore when we hung out slid into place. Her smile seemed so genuine, like it always had.
“Maddy! Hi.” She laughed, tossing some of her hair over her shoulder. She smoothed her hands over her legs. “You must be confused at seeing me here, huh?” She motioned behind me. “Steele called. Told me what happened. I wanted to be here for my brother.”
So warm and caring. She was the picture of a doting big sister.
I shut the door, locking it.
She frowned at that, a slight flicker of worry showing before she hid it again. Her smile was back in its place. “It’s late for you, right? Have you been sleeping this whole time?”
I didn’t reply, only smiled at her.
That seemed to ease some of her worry. She relaxed back in her seat, the lines around her mouth softening before she grew pensive. “I’m in some trouble, Mads.”
I moved closer to her.
She looked away, and a hand reached up to rub at her forehead. “I—uh…I got a little out of hand and told Steele some things I’m now thinking I shouldn’t have. I don’t think he’s happy with me.” Her shoulders lifted up and went back down as she blew out some air. “Do you think… I shouldn’t ask. Never mind.”
I shifted closer to her. “What? Tell me.”
Her eyes latched onto me, sharpening. A keenness showed. Her smile stretched. “Steele took my phone from me—”
Lie. My dad took her phone.
“There’s a friend I need to contact. He’ll know what to tell me to do. Plus, I kinda told some of his secrets and they weren’t all mine to tell. You know? So stupid of me.” She rolled her eyes at herself, her mouth curving up. Being wry.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Do you have your phone on you?” She leaned forward, her hands folded in her lap, but I saw how she was holding onto her pants. Tightly. Desperately.
I went over to the desk and pulled out some paper and a pen.
My eyes caught on something else inside the drawer.
I hadn’t known what I was going to do when I came into this room, but there was something pulling on me. Calling to my darkness, asking to be let out. And Brinna, I lifted my eyes to her. She was watching me, but she wasn’t worried about me.
She was thinking ahead, plotting. Thinking about her next move? How to get out of the trouble she was in?
I took the paper and pen to her. “I don’t have my phone on me but write what you need to tell him and how to get in touch with him. I’ll send your message. I’ll do it right away. They won’t know I was even in here talking to you.”
She grew cautious, studying me.
I wasn’t lying. I would get the message to the guy.
She must’ve read the truth on me because she took the paper. As she wrote, she told me, “This is his email. He has a phone available to him, but he can’t always use it so send the email ASAP. He’ll get to that first and he’ll call when he can.” She hesitated, her gaze darting to the door. She bit down on her lip. “I’m—I’m, huh, I’m not sure when I’ll get my phone back.” A sardonic chuckle spilled from her, pulling at the corner of her mouth. “Steele’s really mad at me, but everything I’ve done is for him. I’ve protected my little brother all my life. You get that, right? You have a little brother and sister.” Some darkness shone in her gaze.
“I get it. I do.” I wasn’t lying.