Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I ignore that urge to turn back around and run into the closet.
"We don't have to do this," Beck says before we get to the mouth of the hallway leading into the living room. "We can try another day."
I almost take him up on it, but I know that would make me a coward. I hate that Nathan's voice is both my punishment and the one I hear when I know I need to be brave. I don't think there will ever come a time in my life that I'll be rid of him completely.
Chapter 15
Newton
If Brielle wanted to ease into being around people, she chose the very wrong time to gain enough courage to leave the room.
She spent the day nervous. I can't count how many times while we were watching television that she shifted in the closet. I even got up and moved the armchair in case she wanted to sit in it rather than behind me where she has spent the last week. She only came out of there twice to go to the restroom.
Evenings at the clubhouse house are always a little hectic. The people who aren't Cerberus are coming in from work. Many of the women are involved in community events, meaning they have Cerberus members along with them. Some have shops here at the clubhouse but have to leave regularly to get supplies. Devyn often makes deliveries for people in the community who have placed sewing orders with her.
I know that Oracle and Beth went for a bike ride earlier today. I know I called it an ambush this morning when discussing it with Brielle, but this is really the only way I can see them getting the chance to talk. Throughout the day I've considered it more of an “oh, you're here and I'm here, let's talk” situation.
There isn't anyone in the living room yet, but Brielle hurries past the door into the kitchen. There's a huge open window on one wall of the kitchen that allows platters of food to be passed through easily when there's any sort of gathering here. I can feel several pairs of eyes follow us as we pass it. No one slinks into the kitchen to talk to us, and that isn't even a conversation I had to have with my teammates. They're all well aware of the way she's struggling, and they have enough training to know that doing too much too soon could set her back.
"Any spot you'd like," I tell her when we step closer to the grouping of sofas on the front wall of the clubhouse.
Unsurprisingly, she takes the seat in the corner, eyeing the spot next to her.
"May I sit beside you?" I ask rather than just assuming that's what she wants.
"Please," she says, a certain level of desperation in her voice.
I don't sit close enough for our thighs to touch, but I'm definitely in a position to be the first line of defense if anyone tries to approach us.
I pull in a deep breath, letting my chest puff up a little that she sees me as a protector, despite knowing there's no one here that would dream of ever hurting her.
The front door opens several times. First, it's Drake coming in with Boomer. They each nod in our direction, hands locked together, before they disappear into the kitchen.
"That's surprising," she whispers.
"Drake works at the local bar," I explain. "According to Boomer, he's the Cerberus member, he's the best thing that’s ever happened to him."
There's a warning in my tone, and I know Brielle has had enough life experience to understand the meaning. Any opinions she might have against a same-sex relationship won't be tolerated.
"I guess I didn't realize how progressive the club is," she says, looking at me. " I can tell by that tone in your voice that you think I might have an issue. Let me be clear that I don't."
"I know Nathan was an evil man," I explain.
She freezes beside me. I haven't mentioned his name once since she got to the clubhouse, but I'm not foolish enough to think she’s forgotten the man. There's no level of safety that would ever be capable of making that happen.
"He was," she quickly agrees. "But even as heinous as he was, he didn't have an issue with same-sex relationships either."
I know it must hurt her to admit that although the man had flaws, there was at least an ounce of decency in him.
I look over when the front door opens again, knowing we aren't going to get a simple nod this time.
I give Kincaid a light smile as he approaches. Instead of standing over us, he takes a seat on the coffee table in front of us.
"It's good to see you out here, Brielle," he says to her.
She's stiff beside me as she nods.