Page 212 of Stand: Part One

“Come on, dude. It’s not worth it.”

Daniel growled a series of inaudible grumbles as he reluctantly went with Scott.

“You too, Sloane,” I added sharply. “And take Camaro with you.”

Sloane nodded and whistled for Camaro to follow her, a huffed groan leaving the dog’s mouth as they both turned to leave. When the doors slammed shut, I realized two showdowns with my wife in the last twenty minutes was a new record for us. And it made me want to fucking strangle her.

“What exactly did you think you were going to accomplish with that little stunt just now?”

She cocked a brow at my question. “You finally revealed your twisted little secret,” she answered bluntly. “I thought it was only fair for me to do the same.”

“That’s not what I asked you,” I replied sharply. “What were you hoping to achieve by revealing that letter? Fuck up my world? Is that what you thought you were doing?”

Jaden shook her head. “Sometimes all it takes is planting one little seed. And it seems like it’s already taking effect. I can see it in your eyes.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I snarled, damn near ready to do something I might actually regret later.

Jaden stepped forward, dropping her arms to her sides, and glared up at me without fear.

“You seem to think that making me a mother to your children is a foolproof plan in ensuring I’ll never leave you. That I’ll stay for them. That I’ll learn to accept and return love, for them. But as you can see, your own mother has already obliterated that little theory into dust.”

I snatched her throat in my hand and ripped her toward me, squeezing just enough to bring that fear back into her pretty eyes.

“Three and a half years, Jaden,” I growled. “Three and a half years. That’s how long I’ve owned you. And you’ve waited until now to try to leverage that little piece of information? For what? Did you really think it was going to change my mind? That your duties as my wife would suddenly vanish?”

She huffed a humorous laugh. “Of course not. You’re too damn stubborn for that,” she rasped, her jagged voice vibrating against my palm.

“Then what, princess? What did you think revealing my mother’s insanity would prove? Other than the fact that you’re a conniving little brat bound for a world of misery in the next five minutes.”

She exhaled sharply through her nose, her eyes shadowed with the doubt she failed to conceal.

“You’re trying to achieve something by force under the false impression that I’ll change my mind and become more content with my life if you make me a mother,” she argued back, even as her jaw trembled against my hand. “But that’s not what’s going to happen. If anything, Darren, you’ll just make me more dangerous.”

I smirked at her little threat, somehow missing this kind of twisted psychological sparring only she and I could share. The turbulent delusions of her mind always had me intrigued.

“And how do you figure that?” I asked.

She paused for a moment as her hazel eyes swirled with a storm of chaos aimed directly at me.

“Because the most dangerous weapon on this planet isn’t nuclear power, armies, or even money, Darren,” she murmured softly, her gaze hardening with a ferocity I recognized as the threat it was meant to be. “It’s a mother’s love for her child. And you just handed it to me on a silver platter.”

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To be continued in Part 2

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