Page 44 of Stand: Part One

I groaned at that, not surprised. “See, that’s exactly why. You’re just going to use them as leverage over me.”

Darren practically snorted. “As if I even need to resort to leverage anymore,” he said darkly. The subtle threat and insult lingered in the air, and it made me want to throat punch him for it.

I sighed, letting the defeat in my voice ring high enough for him. “I’d rather you just leave them where they are. I don’t want them to be subjected to this life. It’s too dangerous.”

“What makes you think they would be?” he asked, genuine curiosity in his tone.

I furrowed my brows in confusion.

How could they not be?

“By association?” I exclaimed like it was obvious. “That’s all it takes. Your world is cruel and violent. I don’t want them getting sucked into it.”

Darren hummed in acknowledgment. “We can cross that bridge when we get there.”

Not if I destroy that bridge first.

I groaned internally, suddenly feeling drained. The man was exhausting, and I didn’t want to waste any more energy sparring with him. No matter how much he enjoyed it.

We continued to walk through the water until we made it back to the dock, my therapy ending for the day. As much as I wanted to stay, I didn’t push or complain when Darren lifted me in a beach towel and carried me back into the house.

A few days before, I managed to convince him to put a lounge chair out on the balcony so I could get more fresh air and sunshine. Instead, I got a round daybed with a canopy that fit neatly in the corner of the balcony.

Now that I was walking in water, Sid encouraged me to use my crutches instead of the wheelchair if it was for shorter distances. I could tell Darren didn’t like it because I was still a fall risk, but if Sid said I could do it, he wouldn’t object. My bones had healed, so I wasn’t that fragile anymore.

So after rinsing off the salt water and changing into a comfy maxi dress, I set my crutches against the brick wall of the house and laid out on my new daybed with Camaro next to me, pretending to read a book.

After everything Darren had told me this morning, I couldn’t focus on anything else. He wasn’t exaggerating when he said this place was a fortress. And that complicated things. A lot.

If Kayla did make it out, I had no idea what she did next. If she ran away with the money from my ring and created a new life for herself, which would probably be the smartest decision. I couldn’t blame her if she wanted to leave all of this bullshit behind and never look back. Especially after tasting all her newfound freedom.

But on the small off chance she did look for Jason, if she was even able to find him, then I hoped she had managed to get him that cloaking device. She could provide him with plenty of valuable information and then disappear forever. There was no need for her to stick around if she didn’t want to.

If she did all of that, then there might still be a future for me, one I could actually live with.

But if she decided to stay and assist beyond her recollections, then she and Jason would spend the next several months likely planning a suicide mission.

Or…shit…for all I knew, the two of them could fall in love and just completely forget about me. Now wouldn’t that be a plot twist?

Either way, if they wanted to attack Darren, then they sure as shit couldn’t do it here. This meant the only way I was ever leaving this property was if Darren let me, and in my current predicament, that wasn’t happening anytime soon.

But if there was ever a chance of sabotaging the system, then I needed to learn that system as best I could. I needed to learn exactly how the bombs were triggered, where they were located, and if I could disable them and the defense missiles.

God, that would fucking take forever…

The thought alone was exhausting. But if I was being honest with myself, none of it was possible until I got my ass up and walking again. I needed to focus on that first. I wasn’t any good to anyone in this condition.

I still cannot believe I got shot during a fucking training exercise.

But at least it came with a silver lining and halted Darren’s family planning in its tracks for at least another six months.

Speaking of family…

I didn’t want to consider the other issue of Darren still hunting down my family. I knew the only reason he was still doing it was because of Jason. It wasn’t just a matter of control anymore. It was about pride and ego.

Jason had thwarted his efforts for so long, I doubted anyone could compare. It was another challenge Darren would obsess over until he conquered it. He wouldn’t stop until they were found.

While I knew exactly what he would do to Jason if he ever did find them—the thought sent shivers down my spine—but what the hell would he do with my mom and brothers? Bring them here to live with us? Put them up in some other compound? Make them work for him?