Libra Ascending: An Epic Urban Fantasy Romance (Zodiac Guardians Book 1) by Tamar Sloan (top ten books of all time txt) 📕

shaking from the vision, she’d grabbed Mrs. Sinclair’s wrist and, right there in the middle of the rose garden, pleaded, “Get as far away from this man as you can. He’ll hurt you.”

Mrs. Sinclair’s mannequin smile faded, confusion barely pinching her botoxed face. “I beg your pardon?”

“What are you talking about, girl?” Mr. Sinclair’s charming façade melted, an edge in his voice feeling like a threat.

Brielle couldn’t take it. The guilt and shameful glee and need overwhelmed her, coupled with her own fear and desperation to prevent future brutality. Tears streamed down her face as she turned on Mr. Sinclair, her vision blurring.

“How could you?” she cried. “What kind of person could enjoy hurting others like that? Especially those who trust you and care about you? If you adopt me, will you beat me, too?”

Mr. Sinclair’s face was a mask, but Brielle could see the terror and rage in his eyes. He looked at his wife, whose concern and confusion were evident in her wide gaze. Grasping her arms, his face had softened. “Darling, I assure you, I have no idea what this girl’s talking about.”

Sister Agatha strolled toward them, her smile faltering as she approached. “Is everything alright here?”

“What sort of orphanage are you running, Sister?” Mr. Sinclair barked. “I thought I’d have better luck finding a respectable child at an old-fashioned orphanage than a group home, but your kids seem to be just as perverse.”

Sister Agatha looked at Brielle, who was frantically shaking her head in denial, and her thick brow furrowed in concern. “What happened?”

Mr. Sinclair straightened his shoulders and adjusted his tie. “This girl accused me of doing terrible things to women. I shudder to think how she even knows of such things. If you have no more wholesome young girls at this institution, I don’t think—”

“Slow down, Mr. Sinclair,” Sister Agatha cut him off. “While I can’t account for whatever Brielle said without further investigation, I can assure you that we raise these children with the utmost care and discipline. If adoption is truly something you want to pursue, I can’t in good conscience let you leave without at least speaking with some of the other girls in need of a good home.”

Mr. Sinclair smoothed his suit over his torso. “Very well. And how will you punish this one for making outrageous accusations?”

Sister Agatha regarded Brielle with a look of curiosity, and Brielle couldn’t tell whose side the Sister was on.

“I will speak with her in private, but I think for now the missed chance at being adopted is punishment enough,” Sister Agatha said. “Brielle, wait for me in my office. Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, if you’ll follow me back inside, I think I know just the girl who would be perfect for your family.” She waved an ushering hand toward the orphanage, inviting the Sinclairs to follow her.

Brielle had rushed to Sister Agatha’s office as instructed, preparing her words of protest and explanation.

When Sister Agatha finally entered the room and closed the door behind her, she sat beside Brielle rather than on the other side of her desk. Her face was stony and unreadable, and Brielle was certain she was about to be punished. It was so unfair!

“Sister, I don’t know how to explain it, but I know what he did.” Brielle’s words came out in a high-pitched flood. “He’s a bad man! You can’t let him adopt any of the girls here, please!”

Sister Agatha put a comforting hand on Brielle’s shoulder. “I’m only going to ask you this once, and I need you to be honest with me.” Her eyes locked on Brielle’s to stress the importance of her question. “Did Mr. Sinclair hurt you or touch you inappropriately?”

Brielle frowned and shook her head ever so slightly. “No, but…Sister, I saw him hurt others.”

“What do you mean you saw?” Sister Agatha asked. “Did he hurt any of the other children here?”

“No, he hurt his girlfriends,” Brielle insisted. “I saw him do it, in my head. And if he adopts any of the girls here, he might do the same to them.”

Disappointment deepened the wrinkles on Sister Agatha’s face as she closed her eyes and sighed. “I don’t know where this is coming from, Brielle. But I think it means you’re not ready to be adopted. And it’s unfair of you to try to take that same chance away from others.”

“Sister, that’s not what’s happening,” Brielle protested, getting more and more desperate. She couldn’t explain how she’d seen what Mr. Sinclair had done. It was crazy. No one would believe her accusation without proof. But she couldn’t just sit by and let someone else fall into his clutches. “I want to be adopted more than anything. You know that. Which is why you have to believe me when I say that Mr. Sinclair is a bad man.”

“How do you know that, Brielle? Have you ever met him before today?”

“No.” She shook her head slowly.

“Have you seen or read anything about him in the news?” Sister Agatha continued.

“No, but—”

“Then how do you know?”

“I just know,” Brielle shouted, slamming her hands on her lap. “Please, you have to believe me. You know I wouldn’t lie.”

Sister Agatha looked at her for a long moment, then rose and rounded the desk to sit in her usual chair on the other side of it. “I’m sorry, Brielle. The Sinclairs are a very prominent couple, and they can offer some needy orphan a good home. Without proof they are unfit parents, legally, I can’t do anything to prevent them from adopting her.”

Her? Oh no, they’ve chosen someone.

“Who?” Brielle asked, mouth suddenly dry.

“Your friend, Cassandra.”

The bell rings, and Brielle gratefully comes back to reality, eager for a more engaging class that would keep her from reliving the past. She’d quarreled with herself over that incident for years. Should she have not said anything? After all, her actions came to no avail; the Sinclairs still adopted her friend. If she’d just made them dislike her without upsetting them or Sister Agatha, maybe