Page 23 of Survival

Fuck him. If he was going to pull me, then I wasgoing to push him right back.

Slowly, like that of a predator, Darren rose fromhis chair and leaned over the table toward me. His eyes blazed withan intensity that I didn’t want to challenge, but I knew I couldn’tback down. I felt my body tense as he stared me down.

“Do you think this is a game, Jaden?” he asked meseriously.

What an excellent question …

I leaned back in my chair, relaxed as fuck, as Ianswered his dumb-ass question.

“Of course, this is a game,” I shot back. “It’salways been a game, and it always will be a game until someonefinally breaks. And I don’t plan on losing.”

He lunged forward, but I was already out of my seat.By the time he walked around my chair, which I had deliberatelyleft in front of him, I was already on the other side of thetable.

“Breaking so many rules already …” He shook his headat me, the promise of punishment in his eyes.

“Yeah, because you’re such a fair player as it is,”I retorted, gripping the edge of the table. This was going to turnugly real quick.

“You were nearly late, your hair is still wet, andnow, you’re running from me again. Please explain to me why Ishould be fair right now,” he challenged.

I squared my shoulders and practically slammed mypalms on the table in frustration.

“Because one, I was not late. I was right on time.Two, my hair may be wet, butatleast,I cared enough about your rules to do something withit instead of leaving it down, and three, if I were running, Iwould be out of the house by now.”

“And now we can add back talk to your list ofoffenses.”

“Offenses?! How about defenses!” I nearlyyelled.

“Enough, Jaden!” he roared, and I felt my insidesquiver as my resolve shrank a bit. His voice could terrify andliquefy me all at the same time. “I’m going to give you to thecount of five to get your disobedient little ass back over hereoryou can make your punishment that much worse by making mecome and get you.”

I gaped at him, fear growing in my belly, but myfeet felt like they were stuck in cement. I couldn’t move. I didn’tknow if it was because my body was physically protesting or if fearparalyzed me, but the promise of that threat had my psycheconflicted as fuck.

“One …” he began, tilting his head to the side as hewatched me. I didn’t move.

“Two …” I could hear my heart begin to pound as theblood rushed through my veins, anxiety beginning to spike.

“Three …” My breath felt heavy as I realized I stillhadn’t moved a muscle. I couldn’t think clearly. All I knewwas—punishment or no punishment—I didn’t want to be anywhere nearhim.

“Four …” He emphasized the word, warning me I wasone number away from probably getting my ass beat. I felt my kneesbend in anticipation, and instantly, I knew I was going to make himchase me again.

“Five.”

And just as if a starter pistol had gone off, I ranbecause as soon as the word left his lips, heleapedacross the table faster than I thought aman of his size could accomplish. I didn’t even make it out of thedining room before he caught me by the arm and spun me around.

I let the momentum benefit me as I brought my fistup and decked him right in the face as I turned. My knuckles pulsedwith a sharp pain at the contact, but I didn’t even register it asadrenaline coursed through my veins. And apparently, neither didDarren as he ignored my hit and dragged me back toward the table bymy arm and braid.

He slammed me down on the table, face first so thatmy feet dangled, and held me there by myneckwhile he bent down to my ear.

“What did I tell you about running last night? Whatdid I say would happen?”

I didn’t say anything, just fought against him as Itried to maneuver and wriggle. Nothing worked.

“What did I say, Jaden?” he roared down at me, and Iflinched at his tone.

I sighed heavily in defeat. “That you would catchme.”

“And what did I just do?” he asked vehemently.

“You caught me,” I admitted, rolling my eyes. As ifI needed to say it out loud.