Last thing I needed were reminders of that stunning face.
“Oh my God, Meems. She’s soooo pretty.” Elena groaned it toward the ceiling. “Wait until you see her.”
My eyes narrowed. “And when did you see her?”
Elena had been instructed to leave Brinley Webber alone. Knowing Elena, she’d have her upstairs in her room braiding her hair or some shit, and she needed to know Brinley was not her fucking friend.
After what happened to Elena a few months back, you’d think she’d be more cautious. Realize she couldn’t be stepping out and inviting people in.
My sister was far too fucking trusting.
Innocent.
And my enemies were all too willing to take advantage of that.
A blade of guilt stabbed into my spirit.
I never should have let it happen, and now…
“Um, how do you think I saw her? Did you think I was just going to stay in my room?” She widened her hazel eyes like I was dense.
Of course not. It wasn’t like she ever listened to what I said.
“But don’t worry. I made sure I was set up in prime position to get a peek at her without drawing attention to myself when you showed her to her room. Out of sight like you told me.”
She gave me a sass-filled look that declared my rules were ridiculous. Then she arched an accusing brow. “She didn’t seem to like you all that much.”
Brody laughed as he set the milk onto the counter next to Meems. “What sane woman does? Why all these passarounds try to catch Silas’s eye, I’ll never know.”
“Now, none of that,” Meems scolded. “We’ve got little ears in the house.”
I glanced at Kai who was sweetly oblivious, back to sucking at another orange slice that had been set on his tray.
“Want you all to keep your distance from her,” I warned as I strode around the counter, heading for the coffee pot. “Know you want to make her feel welcome, Elena, but this isn’t playtime.”
“You don’t need to talk to me like I’m five, Silas,” she spouted back. “I know it’s not playtime, but I don’t see anything wrongwith her feeling like she isn’t alone while she’s here. You could at least be nice to her.”
“There’s no need for her to like me,” I grumbled as I filled a travel mug full of dark brew.
Steam billowed out from the top, and I took a sip of the hot liquid, that first hit soothing my senses.
I turned to my family.
Gaze pointed. “My only concern is her safety, same as the rest of yours. I expect you to respect that.”
“So you plan on keeping her in a box the way you do me?” It was a straight accusation from Elena.
Frustration huffed from my lungs. “I don’t keep you in a box.”
“Twelve-foot-high walls in a perfect square around ten acres.” Elena lifted her hands like she was juggling an equation. “Seems to me the property is quite literally a box.”
I sighed, not in the mood to argue with her. “What I plan on is you keeping your distance from her. I don’t need this situation any messier than it already is. Have enough on my plate without having to worry about what she’s up to, or what you’re up to, for that matter.”
Hated that it looked like hurt that bunched up Elena’s brow, but fuck, she had no idea the burden that was sitting on my shoulders.
My head barely above water.
Meems must have picked up on my agitation because she shuffled over to me.
