“We don’t need to talk about that right now,” I say. “You should be resting.” I can’t help my eyes from trailing over her too-thin body. “And eating.”
Her cheeks go pink and she glares at me before turning to Pascal. “What do you want to know?”
A pause that speaks volumes before he replies dryly, “Whatyouknow.”
“Did Brooks tell you what I told him?”
A nod.
“Then I guess you know what I know.” She spins on her heel, disappears into the hall.
“Where are you going?” I call.
Her head pops back into view. “Home.”
Then she’s gone again.
Pascal’s eyebrows lift as he glances in my direction.
“I know,” I mutter, and I’m already moving, brushing by him and intercepting Briar just as she reaches the front door.
Christ, this is getting old.
I snag her shoulder?—
And promptly find myself pinned face first against the wooden panel, my arm pulled back with enough force that pain is rippling along the front of my shoulder, that I know one wrong move will leave me with a dislocated joint.
“Don’t touch me,” she grits out.
“Briar,” I say, reaching back with my other hand and grabbing her wrist. Not tightly, but firmly enough to ground her in the here and now. “It’s me.”
She hisses out a breath but doesn’t release me.
Not for a long moment.
Then her hands open and my arm is free.
I slowly turn to face her, but I don’t move away from the door. This new Briar can kick my ass, but threat of dislocation or not, I’m not just going to let her walk out.
Ican’t.
“You can’t grab me like that,” she whispers, gaze on her feet.
“I’m sorry.”
She looks up, eyes going wide. “You’re sorry?”
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” I say, uncertain of her tone. I can’t read it. She’s not mad, exactly. It’s more like she’s…astonished? “It’s not safe for you to leave,” I explain.
“You’re sorry?” she asks again.
“Yeah, baby. I—” I shake my head. “This is a mess and it’s complicated and it’sdangerous. I can’t let you leave.”
She opens her mouth.
“But more than the danger, than not knowing what’s happening and who these fuckers are that hurt you…it’s that Ican’t let you leave.”
“You had no problem doing that five years ago.”
