Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 114647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
I could make out a shoulder rig over his big burly shoulders as well, most likely hiding the same hand cannon I’d seen him sporting the last time I’d seen him. His hair was buzzed close to his scalp, but it did nothing to hide the silver lines of his hair. His beard was cropped close to his jaw, giving him a rugged appearance.
His arms were crossed closely across his chest, and he was looking at Shiloh with no short amount of love in his eyes. That look changed once his eyes turned from her to me at my greeting.
“I see you finally got back out here, boy. It’s good to know you haven’t lost the touch.” He said, nodding towards the range.
How he knew that I’d gotten a good shot, I didn’t know. From my naked eye, I could barely make out the bullet hole that ripped through the middle of the target. Directly in the center of the 0 at center mass. I could most certainly tell when I had my eye at the scope, but he didn’t have anything but his eyes. Although they were cold and calculating.
“Yeah,” I answered when I could think of nothing else to say.
“May I speak to you in private for a moment, James?” Silas asked.
I nodded in affirmation, and Silas’ sharp gaze turned pointedly in Shiloh’s direction.
“What, you want me to leave?” She asked in mock outrage.
“No, we’ll go.” Silas said with exasperation before turning to leave.
I gave Shiloh a raised eyebrow as I passed.
Once I’d passed her, I followed Silas in the direction of his bike that was parked at the end of the rifle-designated area.
“Hey, can I shoot your rifle?” Shiloh yelled towards my back.
“No!”
Both Silas and I yelled back in unison.
“That girl is curious, so we better make this quick or she’ll shoot it anyway.” Silas laughed.
I didn’t say anything, just waited for him to tell me what he needed.
After years of being friends with Sam, of hearing all the stories of how he’d suffered when he was younger, I didn’t know how to handle what I’d learned last night. Didn’t know how to proceed. Whether I should tell Sam what I’d learned. Whether I should tell Shiloh.
“Sebastian told me he informed you last night. I need to make sure you keep that shit quiet, or a lot more than just my life will be at stake.”
“I understand. Although, I’m not sure it’s conducive with having a life with your children.” I said carefully.
“You don’t think I don’t know that? Why do you think I’ve alienated myself from them? I’ve made sure that they’re not in my life for their safety, not mine. Do you think it doesn’t kill me? Fuck.” He hissed.
I winced at the despair I heard in his voice. “As an outsider to this, I can tell you that they’re grown adults, and they deserve to know.”
Silas’ fingers crossed and linked behind his head as he paced back and forth.
“They already hate me. There’s no reason to make it known to them. Them understanding the truth won’t change the fact that I ignored them their entire lives. Protected them, yes, but been there for them when they needed me? No. It’s too late.”
“It’s not too late for your grandchildren. Pru, Piper, and Phoebe are young. They don’t have a grandfather. They could really benefit from having one.” I explained.
“Yeah, I don’t think Sam is going let me get near them, even after he hears why I’ve done the things that I have.”
“He may not at first, but, eventually, he’ll understand. He may not like it, but he’ll know that at that moment in time, that he wouldn’t have done anything differently.”
“Maybe,” he hesitated. “I have one last assignment that I’m working on, and then we’ll see.”
“I’m not keeping anything from them if they ask. I won’t just outright tell them. However, when they ask, and I know that they will, I’ll tell them everything I know.” I said carefully.
He nodded in understanding, and swung his leg over his ride. Starting it up, he was about to put it into gear when Shiloh cried out for him to wait.
He turned off the engine, and turned just in time to catch Shiloh as she threw herself into Silas’ arms.
Silas’ muffled, “Oomph.” Made me want to smile, but I held it in check when I caught the look of adoration that crossed over Silas’ face.
“I love you, daddy.” Shiloh whispered to him before leaving back the way she came.
“She knows.” He said with a disgusted sigh.
“Yep.”
“Watch over her. She’s going to open a big ass can of fucking worms if she doesn’t keep her nose out of my business. I can’t afford the distraction right now.” He growled.
I looked at him pointedly, and he sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I know. Just try your best.”
“Always.”
***
“When are you going to tell Sam?” She asked quietly.
“I’m not. Well, not yet. We’ll see if that changes in the future.” I sighed.
“Alright.” She agreed.
She agreed so nicely, that I knew Sam would know before the week was out. It just wasn’t sitting well with her. Her conscience wouldn’t let her keep this from him. Which I guess was for the best, because I was having doubts about telling him myself. Maybe it’d be better to come from his own sister, rather than his brother in law.
“Just wait till I’m not there to do it. I’d rather not have my ass kicked, if it’s all the same to you.” I said.
“Yes, sir.” She said, saluting me.
“What movie are we watching tonight?” I asked instead of confronting the sarcasm.
“Frozen.” She explained.
I grimaced. That was Janie’s favorite movie, and I watched it no less than twice a day.
“What if I don’t want to watch that?” I asked.
She laughed. “Well, I guess you’d have to take that up with your daughter. I promised her ice cream and Frozen yesterday if she’d give it a try at her mom’s. Since she did so well, I figure we owe it to her.”