Page 43 of Stand: Part One

“So then what is he waiting for?”

Darren’s jaw tensed at my question, his gaze darkening as he looked down at me with suspicion. I was pushing it. The pause was enough to make me drop the question and continue walking, but after a few moments, he indulged me.

“It’s difficult to engage in a war when I’ve cut off half of his resources,” he answered.

I frowned. “What about the other half?”

“Insignificant.”

I furrowed my brows at that. “So then what are you waiting for?” I asked, turning to look up at him. If Matt was weak, then why wouldn’t Darren take advantage of that and finish him before he could find new resources?

Darren sighed as we turned around to walk back toward the house.

“It’s not realistic, but I’m actually hoping he’ll eventually come to his senses and realize his pursuit of Daniel is hopeless. I honestly have no interest in engaging beyond reminding him of who he’s up against. He knows he can only sustain so much retaliation from me before he’s annihilated.”

I nodded, knowing full well there was more than he was letting on. He was at war with a man he had once trusted, and he didn’t want to have to kill someone he had considered a close friend. I could understand why he was waiting.

“I can understand not wanting to kill someone you once considered a friend.”

Darren scoffed, rolling his eyes at my assessment. “There’s no such thing as friends in our world, Jaden. There are allies and enemies, nothing else,” he pressed, his voice firm. “I don’t want to have to kill Matt because it would be a massive pain in the ass that I’d rather avoid. There are better ways to spend my time and money than on a fucking war over his bitch cousin.” He chuckled to himself. “Actually, it would be easier for me to just annihilate his whole family and remove his obligation entirely. You don’t have to answer to the dead.”

I arched a brow at his disturbing morbidity. “You know, it’s a little off-putting how easy it is for you to consider wiping out entire families as the more convenient option.”

He shrugged, a smile of amusement tugging on his lips. “It’s second nature when you’ve done it as many times as I have.”

I scowled at the implication. “I know. You certainly didn’t think twice about it when you went after my family.”

I could feel the instant glare from his eyes like I’d been slapped by it. Ignoring his reaction was a mistake when he grabbed my arm as I tried to continue. Yanking me back, I kept my face passive like I hadn’t just beaten the bear with an entire fucking tree.

“I’m sensing a tone of ungratefulness over the fact that they’re all still currently breathing,” he growled.

“Except one,” I countered.

The video of my uncle’s death was still a vivid memory in my mind and it made me sick just thinking of it.

“Actions have consequences, Jaden. I thought you understood that by now.”

I matched his energy, my lips forming a tight line as I felt my confidence swell into complete idiocy.

“Yeah, they do, don’t they? I’m curious what action I’ve committed that has you still looking for my mom and brothers.”

I purposely left Jason out of the bunch. I wasn’t brave enough to even mention his name in front of Darren. I might be a lot of stupid, but I wasn’t that stupid.

He didn’t react to my accusation. He just cocked his head and stared down at me. “So you prefer not to know what happened to them? If they’re even safe? Or alive?”

At least he confirmed that he was still looking. Jason was clearly doing a damn good job keeping them hidden from him. He should be proud.

“You told me to forget them, remember? And I did because apparently you’re all the family I need,” I said sweetly, dragging my finger down the middle of his bare chest.

He could easily taste the sarcasm in my words, but at least the first part was true.

“Such a devoted little wife,” he practically purred, his eyes turning cruel enough to send a chill up my spine. “But I have a feeling once I bring them back to you, you’ll appreciate my efforts.” He then returned us back onto our path toward the house.

“What would you even do with them anyway? Keep them as pets?” I shot back.

A ghost of a grin slid up his face, that dangerous look in his eye making my stomach clench.

“I don’t know,” he answered casually. “I guess that’ll depend on how well you behave.”