Free Forgotten Truths (The Forgotten Truths Series) by Justine E. Domke

called Andy. And second-“
    “She’s had a pretty long day, Captain. I thin k I should just show her to bed,” James interrupted as he came around the table. He stopped next to me and gently placed his hand on my back before applying pressure. “Aren’t you tired?”
    I looked back and forth between them. But before I could say anythi ng, James applied more pressure. I stumbled before I caught myself and turned back to James with a glare. He looked a little surprised, but before he could say anything, I whirled around and stormed out of the room. I was halfway up the stairs before he caught up to me.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push you. I was just trying to get you out of there faster.”
    “Did you think I was going to say something inappropriate?” I asked sarcastically but kept going.
    “No, it’s just that, well, he doesn’t need to know about your past.”
    I stopped abruptly, and he bumped into me from behind. Slowly turning around, I looked up at him. “Why?”
    “Well, he… uh...” He reached his hand up to the back of his head and stroked his hair. “He won’t understand your background. He might not-“
    “Might not what?” I stepped closer to him, as close as I could get. I could feel his breath on my face.
    He shook his head. “Look, it’s just not a good idea to tell him you’re the daughter of a pirate. He’ll probably have a heart attack.”
    “Why?” I wasn’t going to back down.
    “He was a captain of a ship, Andrea. What do you think a good portion of his duties were?”
    I could feel my anger boiling inside of me. “I have told you before, don’t call me Andrea.”
    He leaned forward so that hi s nose was almost touching mine. “I will call you what I want. It’s your choice to respond to it.”
    “And what did you mean by ‘what do I think his duties were?’” I hissed.
    He gave me a look but kept his voice calm. “What do you think?”
    I thought for a minute before it hit me. I leaned back a little. “He attacked pirate ships?”
    He nodded slowly.
    “And you think he’d do something to me if he fou nd out I was a pirate?” I asked. I started to feel hesitant about being here.
    “You’re not a pirate.” He studied my expression.
    “Oh yes I am.” The anger returned as I turned around to take a step, but he grabbed my arm.
    “Just because you lived on a pirate ship does not make you a pirate.”
    I spun around and went to punch him, but he dodged it. He used my movement to pull me into him. In only a second, my back was to his chest and his arm around my waist. He trapped my hand in his so I couldn’t swing at him again. He lifted me slightly, just enough to where my feet brushed the carpet. I struggled against him, but he dodged everything I threw at him. He carried me the rest of the way up the stairs and then down the hall to the room we’d been in earlier. By the time we got there, I was in a full panic. I whined and whimpered as I kicked and jostled him, but he still managed to get me in the room and close the door behind me.
    “Let me go!” I screamed, not that it helped.
    “Calm down first,” he said quietly in my ear.
    “Put me down!” I was crying. Rarely had I ever felt so helpless. I had been successful in avoiding this type of panic for years, which was probably why it felt so out of control.
    “Calm down.”
    “Let go!” I cried even louder, the panic obvious in my voice.
    He set me down although I had no feeling in my legs. I started to collapse, but he caught me.
    “Andrea!”
    He set me down on the bed where I immediately curled up into a ball. I buried my face into the comforter and continued to sob. I felt his hand on my head as he stroked my hair. I reached back and ripped it off.
    “I’m sorry! I didn’t know you’d react like this from carrying you. What can I do?”
    I felt my body slowly start to relax and after a few more minutes, I felt the fear and panic start to leave. After another few minutes still, I was