Scream in the Wind (Paranormal Peacekeepers: Book Two)

Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

Grace

I remained silent as a stone all the way from the Smith property to the hotel. If I opened my mouth, I knew nothing but anger would drivel out. There were few things in the world I hated more than being treated like a child, and the entire team was handling me with kid gloves.

As soon as we reached our floor, I left Miles behind and stormed to the room. My hands shook as I slid my key card through the slot, but I managed to push my way inside. Spinning around, my hair blew out in an ebony fan as I kicked the door shut. Miles barely stopped it with his knuckles before it could collide with his face, and he flung it open with his fist, rage blazing in what used to be patient, tranquil eyes.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Oh, where should I begin?" I laughed humorlessly.

"I'm serious." He grabbed my shoulders and shook, which only served to escalate my annoyance. But not because he was laying hands on me. No. I was ticked because I could feel him holding back, still protecting me. "You're not acting like yourself. You're moody, you're withdrawn, you've been lashing out at everyone around you. This isn't like you, Grace."

I chuckled and rubbed my tired eyes. "How do you know this isn't me, huh? Maybe beneath all the rubble, maybe this is who I really am."

"No. It's not," he insisted.

After dropping his hands, he left me to sit at the edge of the bed. His hands plunged into his hair, tugging at the ends in exasperation.

It was only then that I realized I was at war with myself. Part of me wanted to go to him, to apologize and repair any damage I might have done. But a whole other part of me - the part that was winning - wanted to run from the room.

When his pleading eyes met mine, I had to look away, too conflicted to make eye contact, scared he might see something I didn't even know was there.

"Your spirit sense is stronger. You're bleeding. You're having nightmares. And now- now you're passing out? What is it going to take for you to admit that something is wrong?" He sighed heavily and squared his shoulders. I could read his body like a book and I knew he was working up to something big, so I waited for him to drop whatever bomb he was concealing.

"Maybe you should take a step back for a while," he said softly, casting me a hesitant look.

The anger I'd been fighting so hard to contain finally came out in full force, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

"Step back?" I said through clenched teeth. "Miles... for once in my life, I'm exactly where I want to be. There's nothing you can say or do to make me step back."

Anger that dwarfed mine flashed across his face as he stood to his full height. He towered over me, hands clenched at his sides. Intimidation wasn't something he used against me, not ever, but he wasn't pulling any punches.

"You're a stubborn little shit, you know that?"

My head jerked back in surprise, but I had a whole arsenal of battle-ready words at my disposal, and I cocked the hammer.

"You know what? I think you should stay in Triple Oaks." His whole body jerked, as if I'd physically struck him. "I think you should head off to college, lead a normal life, meet a nice girl, and settle down. You know, the whole American Dream? All that shit that normal people want. A minivan in the driveway, two-point-five kids, a Labrador retriever, a freakin' white picket fence, the works! And I think you should stay the hell out of my business and out of my head."