“Because we’re besties, obvi,” Elena added, grinning conspiratorially my way.
At this point, I wasn’t even sure that was an exaggeration.
Silas hesitated, narrowed attention pitching between us, before he shook his head and turned on his heel and walked out into the shop, Elena’s overeagerness robbing him of a response.
Then she laughed. “God, he’s so easy to rile up.”
“It’s only because he cares about you.”
Elena swayed Kai as she strode around the high counter, a smirk lighting her pretty face. “Ah, how the tables have turned. Now you’re the one sticking up for him?”
“Me? Sticking up for him?” I hooked a thumb toward the shop. “No way.”
Kai mimicked me, giggling as he gurgled, “No way!”
Crap, this kid could melt the polar icecaps.
“I just want the best for you.” I shrugged, like it was no big deal that I meant it.
“You want me to have a little of thatgood?” She wagged her brows the way she’d done earlier in the kitchen.
Amusement had me shaking my head as I plunked myself down in the chair in front of the laptop.
“And whatgoodis it you’re looking for?” I deflected.
Elena pulled up another chair and plopped Kai onto her lap. “I want to own a gift shop. Maybe have a man who looks at me the way my brother looks at you. You know, the simple things in life.”
I could feel her rolling her eyes, like the thought of them was impossible.
With Silas, they just might be.
My mood turned serious as I looked across at her, taking us back to our conversation last night. “Are those some of the risks you’re willing to take?”
Air puffed from her nose, and I saw the flash of sorrow blanket her. “They are, but I doubt anyone would be brave enough to take one of those risks on me.”
I reached out and squeezed her hand. “I don’t think your brother would stop you from finding joy, Elena. He might be protective, but he’s not cruel.”
Well, at least toward her. I had a hunch the man could be sadistic.
“I think everyone around here is too terrified to find out.” Her breath hitched when she said it, and I was sure she wasn’t speaking ambiguously, but about someone specific.
“I doubt I’m worth dying for.” She attempted to play it a joke. I fully knew better.
“I’m pretty sure you’re worth everything, Elena. Don’t you dare give up on what you want. No matter what happened in the past.”
Kai was all snuggled up under her chin. Her chin that wobbled.
I probably shouldn’t have pushed, but I couldn’t help myself as I glanced over my shoulder to make sure we were in the clear before my gaze was back on her. “It’s related, isn’t it? What’s going on with me and what happened to you?”
She blanched, and she sniffled against the emotion. “I don’t know that for certain, Brinley. Silas doesn’t let me in on those things. He says it’s safer if I don’t know what’s going on.”
She hesitated then rushed, “But everything changed after I was held hostage. Silas quick to pack us up and move to another state. Now everything is more hushed, the guys always whispering and glancing my way, the secrets feeling like they might suffocate.”
She let go of a heavy exhale. “My brother has always been on edge, but there is something even more rigid about him now. And with you being here…”
She shrugged a little, but it wasn’t indifferent, her eyes pinching in urgency. “They’re really bad people, Brinley, and if it is related, then you are in the right place. My brother won’t let anything happen to you.”
I didn’t mean to feel deflated when she admitted it. I hoped that maybe I could glean something from her, some idea of what the hell was going on with Dereck, but I didn’t want to manipulate or use her, either.
