Fallen Into Hell: Fallen: Book 2 by Layna Snow (best books to read all time .TXT) 📗

just finally able to dress, getting clothes from the guys. She wasn’t going to take them off now. She was awkward while naked, at least like this she felt a little more composed. Not that she looked great or anything, but you had to appreciate what you had. As her Abuela often said.

But, for all that meanness, Sophie was sure that Adrian was right. Thane could probably do a lot more harm. She’d seen him take on so many Demons. She knew that he was capable of overpowering the other man. And if Adrian was to be believed, that Thane was thousands of years older, then he would have the skill to do major damage.

Why was he holding back?

Could it be that the emotionless being in front of her actually felt something towards Sin? Could he be reluctant to engage fully to avoid hurting him? And why did that make Soph feel hopeful? It had nothing to do with her, it wouldn’t affect how Thane felt about her!

But… could he be worried about frightening her? She didn’t want to be selfish and contemplate that possibility but it created enough warmth inside of her that she couldn’t ignore it either. And that dichotomy just left her confused.

Either way, she wouldn’t think of it now. There was nothing she could do about his potential feelings.

Sophie could, however, do something about the physical future. She was here to get help, information and resources, but she hadn’t even thought about the skills that they could teach her. If they could show her how to defend herself, she’d have better luck fighting Demons. It would also help her if she was ever held at gunpoint again.

Standing, Sophie waited for them to take a break. They were about due for one anyways, having been fighting for a half hour already and in fact, it didn’t take long for them to stop, Sin breathing heavily with a smirk on his face, while Thane stood impassive.

“Was there something you wanted, hot-stuff?” When she didn’t answer right away—because, heck, how could she?—he continued to talk. “We don’t have all day.”

Well, wasn’t he in a cranky mood? Soph thought as she watched him. His brows were lowered and he no longer smirked at her. He had no reason to be annoyed at anyone. He was free to come and go as he pleased. He didn’t have to be worried about being Demon-chow if he was alone.

She needed to have that skill. It would help in the future, and it would help now. It would be nice to know that she could kick some butt if she really had to. She never wanted to be at someone’s mercy again.

She put up her thumb, the nail facing the guys and touched the thumb to her chest, signaling ‘self’. Then put her closed fists up to her right shoulder, the left over the right one, the sign for ‘defence’. It happened so fast, automatic that she almost forgot that they didn’t know ASL.

Well, that’s bright, Soph.

She could have bonked herself on the head with her hand. Of course they didn’t know it. She took for granted what people in the small community did for her so that she could communicate with them. It just reminded her of how much she missed that little town.

“What the hell does that mean?” Adrian asked, his eyes wide and surprised as he watched her.

Sophie rolled her eyes. It was so difficult to talk with them, and she wished she could just open her mouth and say things like a regular person. Instead of she’d have to find another way to get her point across.

Putting her fists up again, this time in what she considered a fighting stance, one foot in front of the other, she mimed a few punches. And she thought they were pretty great.

At least she didn’t fall over!

The noise that greeted her wasn’t clapping or cheers, or even sounds of understanding as she had hoped, but laughter. Of course, it had come from Sin. Thane wasn’t making any noise at all, just looked somewhat disappointed.

“So, you want to learn to fight? Well, I don’t think that’s such a great idea. You’ll be a menace to yourself and everyone around you.”

What the heck did that mean?

She glared at him. The only way that she could express her anger.

If he wasn’t going to teach her to fight, then she’d have to learn another way. She was not going to be a victim anymore.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she stared him down.

This was a part of what she bargained for. She wanted help and would get it from them. She wouldn’t let them take over her life completely. She wouldn’t let them distract her from her ultimate goal.

Even though a weak voice whispered in surprise and about her bold moves, she felt no fear. She would never act this way at home, but for some reason, she was sure that they wouldn’t hurt her if she stood her ground.

“I know what you’re thinking, girly, and I’m not going to fall for it. I think you’re missing the point here. You’re supposed to do what we say. You’re supposed to let us protect you. Not go looking for danger.”

He was right, in theory, nonetheless she wanted to know how to protect herself. She wasn’t going to give up everything she wanted for these three weeks. She could always get out of this relationship.

If they wouldn’t hold up their end of the bargain, then she didn’t need to hold up hers either!

“Fine,” Adrian said when she didn’t break eye contact, “We’ll show you some stuff but we don’t want you to have to use it, so it’s only for emergencies. Kay? It’s not really enough to go against the baddies down here. That would take too long, and