Page 67 of Stand: Part One

Deciding now was a good time to finally collapse, I laid on the floor next to her and stretched out my legs. They felt like they were currently made of jelly, but I knew the feeling would pass if I gave them the break they needed.

Ever since Darren had finally rescinded my stupid training wheels, progress for my full recovery had been consistent and well-maintained. My muscles were slowly recuperating, my strength and balance returning, my coordination and flexibility back to their previous ability.

I still wasn’t exactly in fighting shape yet since I hadn’t started impact training, but at least I could walk a full flight of stairs again.

My mood had skyrocketed as the days passed, and I rubbed it in Darren’s face every chance I got to make sure he knew how well I was doing. He couldn’t refute my success, even if he wanted to, and for the most part, he’d been pretty supportive lately, even if he secretly wished he could keep me bedridden.

But this whole week, he’d been extra broody and short-tempered, snapping at just about anything and it was getting on my nerves. That usually meant he had too much stress building up and he would need an outlet soon or someone would get killed.

And there was usually only one way for me to resolve that.

Ugh. Good thing I’m limber again.

After about a thirty-minute rest and stretch session, I somehow felt good enough to run a damn marathon. Camaro had also woken up and was nudging my knee for attention. I smiled as I ruffled her ears and kissed the top of her boney head.

“How about we go for a walk? Maybe through the trees? We haven’t been down that path in a long time.” At the word ‘walk’ Camaro immediately jumped to her feet with a confirming bark. I chuckled at her excitement. “Okay, let’s go.”

Making our way through the house, we headed out into the backyard, the salty ocean breeze catching my hair while the sun, in spite of the grey clouds building in the distance, shined brightly overhead.

“Come on, Camaro,” I said, turning and heading for the tree line, picking up my pace quickly into a light jog.

I made it maybe ten feet in before an electric shock struck through my body, eliciting a sharp yelp of pain. I instinctively stumbled back, disbelief and fear punching me in the gut at the familiar agonizing sting of electrocution.

What the hell?

I paused, my eyes darting in every direction, wondering if Darren had intentionally activated my shock collar or if I had unknowingly breached a boundary. My shock collar hadn’t been activated like that since my time in the basement when Darren used it as a tool for punishment and manipulation rather than a deterrent. My body shuddered with anxiety at the memory.

Shaking it off, I took a tentative step forward and felt my collar vibrate with heat, the only warning sign alerting me that I was approaching a boundary. But why would Darren ban me from going into the woods? I’d never been banned before. And why wouldn’t he tell me beforehand?

Instantly pissed off and wanting an immediate answer, I stormed back up the property and made my way toward Darren’s office. I knew he was having his weekly meeting with Clive and Owen, so I wasn’t worried about bypassing the guards at his door and marching right through.

“Mrs. Davis, wait!” they shouted after me.

Three sets of angry eyes landed on me at my sudden interruption, but while Clive’s and Owen’s remained unfazed, Darren’s flashed with concern.

“Sorry, sir, she just burst through,” explained one of the guards as he followed me in to stop me. Darren lifted his hand dismissively, and the guard immediately retreated, closing the door behind him.

“What’s wrong?” Darren asked me, his eyes scanning my body up and down.

“Did you reduce my boundary line of the property?” I asked, my tone accusatory.

Clive tsked at my question. “Ouch,” he muttered quietly.

Darren paused for a moment, his gaze locked on my neck like he was making an additional assessment.

“Yes,” he finally answered.

I frowned, though I really shouldn’t have been surprised. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want you going through the woods right now.”

“Since when?”

He furrowed his brows, the warning glare in his eyes an unfriendly reminder of my place here.

“Since you regained the mobility skills of a toddler. The last thing I need is you wandering too far and finding stupid ways to hurt yourself. Like tripping over shit or climbing fucking trees, for example.”

I leveled him with my own glare, deliberately mocking the absolute nonsense that just came out of his mouth.