Page 48 of Forged in Flames (Made of Steel 2)

"He's broken almost every bone in my body."

Eli held me as my body started to shake. Emotion washed over me like a wave. I stepped closer to him and let him wrap his arms around me. He ran his hand up and down my back, trying to soothe me.

"He raped me, Eli."

His hands froze on my back.

"He put his hands around my throat until I couldn't breathe..."

"Okay. We'll do it your way."

I lifted my head. "You could lose your job."

He wiped my tears away with his thumbs. "I know you don't think I care about you, but I do. And if him rotting in a jail cell isn't justice to you...then we'll do it your way."

"You should be arresting me. I just told you I was planning to commit murder."

"And I told you that I was on your side."

I shook my head. "I'm impossibly bad at forgiving people."

"I have time to wait."

I closed my eyes and pressed the side of my face against his chest. He might have all the time in the world. But I was running out of it. I held my breath for five seconds. And I let the feeling seep in that at any moment, those seconds could be my last.

Chapter 20

Monday

I stared down at the inscription that my father had written for what seemed like the hundredth time.

Summer,

I hope that I'm beginning to instill in you a joy of reading and a sense of adventure. Just remember that one day, your real life will become an adventure even greater than the stories you've read. When that time comes, I know you'll embrace it. You may not have a scar on your forehead, but I know you're destined for great things. Never stop believing in the impossible.

Love always,

Dad

My eyes pooled with tears. When I had read this just a few weeks ago, I truly felt like my life was starting over. Like I could be anything I wanted to be. But that wasn't true. My adventure was coming to an end, not beginning. I ran my fingers across the words. And the impossible that he was referring to was now my revenge. I had somehow turned the most optimistic inscription into something dark. This wasn't the adventure my parents would have wanted for me. I knew that. But I was going to do it anyway.

I shoved the worn copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone into my backpack. Going against the words almost felt like a weight was on my shoulders. I shook away the thought. It wasn't as if I could disappoint someone who was dead. The thought made me feel numb.

I zipped my duffel bag shut and pulled it and my backpack onto my shoulder. Even though I kept telling myself this was temporary, I had a feeling it wasn't true. I looked around at my dorm. Most of my stuff was still there, but everything that really mattered to me was either in my duffel or backpack. I couldn't stay in this room when I didn't know who else had access to it. And I did feel safe in the vigilante's apartment. I needed to at least stay there for a few days until I got my head straight.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out and stared at the text from V. "The meeting of The Four starts in half an hour. I picked up a few things in case you'd like to spend the night again."

I slid my phone back into my pocket. I hadn't told him that I was planning on staying awhile yet. From our conversation this morning, I knew it's what he wanted. But I wasn't staying because of the reasons he probably thought. I was pushing any romantic thoughts about both V and Eli to the side. There were more important things in my life than that. And I didn't have enough energy to waste on something that would never pan out anyway. There was no future for me.

The door to my dorm room clicked closed behind me and I walked down the hall. As if we were still kids, Miles seemed to sense my presence, because he stepped out of his dorm at the exact same moment as I was passing by his door.

He smiled out of the corner of his mouth.

It felt like a stab in my heart.

"Going somewhere?" He eyed my backpack and duffel bag.

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