Page 28 of Cruel Betrayal

“I’m not going to keep you chained forever.” I look at her.

I know she’s going to try and manipulate me. I can’t blame her for that. I would try and do the same if I were in her position. I’d do everything I could to try and get free.

Jade takes another bite of the fries. “Why do you follow me?”

“You don’t think it’s weird?”

Her lips press together like she’s considering how to answer that.

A slow smile spreads across her face. “I think it’s sweet to know that someone out there cares for me.”

She’s lying.

I can tell by the way her gaze drops from mine. I’m sure she’s pretending that she’s shy, especially with the blush coloring her cheeks, but I’m not stupid enough to fall for that.

It’s fine, though. In time, she’s going to see that we belong together. She’ll want to be with me. And once she sees what life could be, once she’s willing to play by my rules, I know she’s never going to leave.

Because no matter how much I threaten to kill her, that is not really what I want. I’m sure I could, if I had to, but it would kill me to do it.

“If you’re related to Zoe, you’re related to Noah, too?”

“Through marriage, but not really.”

Jade hums and nods. “And if that’s true, then, what are you going to do when this shitstorm comes to a head and he dies?”

“He’s not going to.”

Amusement flickers in her gaze like she knows something I don’t. “Let’s say the choice was between me and him. You call me love and you want to make me happy. So, if there has to be a choice, who will you save?”

“I’ve had enough of you trying to manipulate me and root around for information for one day.”

“I’ve barely asked you anything.”

“And that’s why we’re done for the day.” I grab the garbage from her, half-expecting her to try and attack me. “We’ve got a date tomorrow night, love. I’ll see to it that you have something nice to wear.”

As I shut the door behind me, I’m still not sure about my choice to take her to the party tomorrow.

People are going to see me with one of the Lyndes, and whispers of it will get back to Noah. However, this might be what I need to get him to believe that I’m on his side. Because I am.

After what the Lyndes have done against our family, they deserve to die.

But if Noah believes that Jade is on our side, that she’s cut her ties with her family, he may just allow me to keep her.

Chapter Nine

JADE

Tonight could bethe chance I need.

I haven’t opened my eyes yet. I don’t see the point. I’ve lost all track of time with the lack of light in the room.

The chain isn’t long enough to leave, and I’ve tried and failed to pry the board off the window, the tiny crack at the bottom visible.

But even that crack is useless. I can only tell whether it’s day or night, and it’s driving me insane.

Finally, I force my eyes open. I have to start looking for a way out of this. If trying to manipulate Ezra fails—and it seems like that is the case—then I need to have another plan in mind. I need to figure out how to get back to my family.

As I look around the room, taking in the utter lack of furniture other than the bed and the nightstand, I want to scream. I don’t think anybody would hear me, though.