Page 115 of Survival

“Doesn’t seem thatway. Otherwise, I’d have a lot more phone calls to answer thismorning.”

“Clean it up ifyou do. I don’t need anyone else snooping into mybusiness.”

“Will do.” Hagennodded.

I heard the frontdoor open and the sound of struggling caught my ears. I turned tofind Eric dragging Jaden by her upper arm as she fought to keep upwith him in her little flats. When they reached us, she yanked herarm out of Eric’s grasp and turned to me.

“What is this?What’s going on?” she asked me with a much harsher tone than sheshould have.

“Do you know thisman?” I asked sharply, pointing at the gardener who began to shakeuncontrollably.

She looked downand her eyes lit up with fear, shock, and recognition. Oh yeah, sheknew him. She knew him far more than sheshould.

“No, I don’t knowhim,” she said with an attitude. “Why would I know him? You don’tlet me talk to anyone.”

“Well, hecertainly thinks he knows you. In fact, he knows you so well thathe seems to think you’re a missing person,” I said verylightly.

“Well, I canimagine why hewouldthink that,”she replied.

Without eventhinking, I grabbed her throat and roughly pulled her to me. Herlittle hands wrapped around my wrist as she fought for balance andground. “This stupid fuck decided to take it upon himself to reportyou to the police.” I watched her for a minute to see how shereacted. “But for all I know, you could have told him to go to thepolice for you. Is that what you did, Jaden? Begged this man tohelp you escape?” I practically roared at her. Her eyes lit up inpanic.

“No! No! I swear Ididn’t do anything!” she pleaded back. “Why would I even bother totell him that when I know the police can’t helpme?”

“I don’t know,Jaden, someone obviously put the idea in his head,” I growledmenacingly.

“I swear I’venever spoken a word to him!”

“You expect me tobelieve that?” I snarled. I was so close to snapping, it almostfelt inevitable.

“Yes! I swear toyou I never asked him to do anything. Please,Darren,don’t hurthim. He didn’t understand what he was doing.”

“Oh, no. Thislittle fuck knew exactly what he was doing. He was trying to takeyou away from me, and that, princess, simply will notdo.”

I released Jaden’sthroat, watching as she stumbled back only a little before Scottcaught her shoulders and forced her to still. I then hauled aroundand kicked the stupid Mexican fuck right in theface.

“No!” Jadenscreamed behind me. “Darren, stop it!” I sensed the lunge of herbody as she moved to stop me, but I ignored her, knowing full wellScott could handle her.

The gardener fellback with a grunt as I got on top of him and started pummeling hisface with my fists. Fury flowed through my blood as I released myrage onto the guy’s flesh. Just who the fuck did he think he was?Her savior? I didn’t fucking think so.

Jaden continued toyell and cuss as she began to fight with Scott to get at me, but hewas steadfast. I punched the guy several more times, shattering hisnose and cheekbones before standing up and addressing myguards.

“Kill his family.And bring him to the shed.”

“What?! No!” Jadenscreamed and fought harder with Scott. “You can’t fucking do that,Darren. They’re innocent!”

“And you,” Iroared as I grabbed her throat a second time and began draggingherbackwardwith me tothe shed. I was so pissed; I could have snapped her in half withease. “You can kissyourfamilygood-bye.”

ChapterThirty-Three

Torture

“What?! Darren,no! Please, listen to me!” I screamed in absolute shock and panic.“I had nothing to do with-”

“Shut up,” Darrencut me off, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ve heardenough.”

“No! Just listento me for one sec-”

Darren yanked meto him by my throat as he squeezed tighter than ever, practicallylifting me off the ground. “If I hear one more fucking word comeout of your mouth …” He didn’t have to finish his threat, justglared at me with the promise ofsomething evenmorehorrible than what Iwas already going to experience. I gulped back my tears and justlowered my watery eyes to the ground. “Now move,” heordered.