Page 94 of Cruel Betrayal

He leads me to a shaded spot beneath a tree. “Tag! You’re it.”

Since when do I look like the kind of guy who wants to play tag with sticky children?

A dozen or so children start running all at once, headed in opposite directions.

Jade stands off to the side, and when her gaze meets mine, I know there’s no backing out of tag, even though I want to. Instead, I take off running after the children, picking the slowest looking one and tapping her on the shoulder.

What I didn’t take into consideration is the way she tags me back and dashes away again.

I chase the kids down, tagging one after the other, but it seems that they’re all working against me. Based on the giggles coming from Jade as she and some of the others watch, I’m pretty sure she put them up to this.

By the time the game is done and food is ready, I’m starving.

I head over to grab a burger, picking a spot at one of the seats scattered around the pool before sitting back and relaxing.

Parties with the Rinaldos aren’t like this. There’s far more drinking and plotting.

Not here, though. They actually seem to be enjoying each other. They’re not trying to fight for dominance or scheme their way into Noah’s good side.

These people all seem to enjoy Aiden. None of them want to challenge him.

And then there’s the way they all huddle close together, whispering and sharing secrets. Or the way they break out into huge bursts of laughter, calling over whoever is around them to join in on the fun.

They operate as a family.

The more I watch it, the more I’m sure I’ve never had a true family. Not one like this, at least.

Is this even something I want?

They’re all in each other’s business, and they want to spend time together. They fight like hell, but there’s loyalty here.

Jade’s happy here. She’s not worried about if someone is going to kill her.

The Lyndes have taken in enemies before, and they’re still standing.

Zoe comes over and sits down beside me, facing me and leaning in to steal a chip from my plate. “So, you’re thinking of turning your back on Noah.”

“You sound like a bad self-help pamphlet.”

“Probably am. I don’t think much I’m going to say to you will help things, but I think you should at least consider all the options before making a decision that’s going to change your life forever.” She pops the chip into her mouth.

“Why did you choose to go?”

She sighs, crossing one leg over the other. “Noah has never been the kind of person you think he is. He’s always two steps ahead, and he has no issue with killing the people closest to him. He’s brutal, and it works for him, but I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life waiting for him to stab me in the back when he was done with me.”

I take a bite of my burger, hot oil from the cheese dripping down my chin. I swipe it away and put the food to the side. “I don’t know if I can give up everything for that.”

“You gain more than you lose.” She motions to the family laughing and playing games. “It’s odd to see a family so dysfunctional actually function and love each other, but they do, and I think there’s something nice in that.”

“I don’t think I belong here.”

“Then why bother setting this up?” Jade’s voice breaks behind me.

I turn and face her, pulse pounding in my ears. “I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but this isn’t the kind of person I am.”

The gates come down around her, blocking off what little warmth she’s given me today. “Then I guess once you’re finished your food, you should leave.”

She spins and walks away, saying something to Aiden in passing.