Page 89 of Survival

Word would get out quickly that I hadacquired a slave, but no one knew how precious that slave was to me… until I made it known and married her. Once that word got out,Jaden would officially become a target and that risk worried memore than anything did. But I refused to allow my enemies controlover my life. Jaden would be well protected on and off the estate.I would not allow the fate of my mother to repeat itself withJaden. I would burn the world first.

***

~*~

I woke up to the feeling of lips on my faceand hair. They were soft and gentle, and I nudged my face intoDarren's chest as I tried to escape them. I didn't want to wake up.Waking up meant I was back in my nightmare.

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” he said softly.

I groaned against him, protesting like alittle kid who didn'twantto getup for school. I was warm and comfy, and I hated it with a passionwhen someone woke me up. Especially now, when this feeling was hardto come by.

“Come on,” he said, sitting up and forcingme to rise up with him. “It’s time for dinner.”

I stretched my arms and torso only toremember that the only thing I was wearing was a torn to shredsdress, and I immediately closed the ends together inembarrassment.

“Can I change first? Please?” I looked up athim with hopeful eyes.

“Fine, but you’d better make it quick,” hesaid, holding out his hand to help me off the couch.

We left the basement, and Darren headed overto the dining room while I ran upstairs to find some clothes thatdidn't resemble that of a homeless person. As I looked in themirror trying to wake myself up, I suddenly thought of Kayla again.She had been popping in and out my mind for days, and I missed herlike crazy. She had made our days back at the warehouse bearable,and now, I had no one to cling to. I wondered where she was at thisexact moment. Was she in pain? Was she scared? Was she even alive?I had to know. It would drive me crazy until I got my answers, andI hoped Darren would oblige me.

I ran back downstairs in a pale pinksundressand didn't bother withshoes as I made my way to the dining room. I passed a guard whostood just outside the dining room, noticing I had seen him atother posts before.

As I sat down to the small plate of lasagnabefore me, my appetite was nowhere to be found. Sleepiness did thatto me. I took tiny bites with Darren’s giant silverware and sippedon water, but I knew it would be a matter of time before Darren gotangry. Maybe I could distract him withconversation.

“Darren?” I said, fiddling with my fork.

“Yes?” he said, peering over at me.

“I want to ask you something—something thatis very important to me—and I’m really hoping you’ll answer, eventhough I know you don’t have to and probably won’t. But I reallyneed to know,” I said carefully.

“What is it?” he asked as he took a sip ofhis red wine.

“What happened to Kayla?”

His brows furrowed as he considered myquestion.

“Who?” he asked, as he set his glassdown.

My eyes lit up with disbelief and outrage,my hands falling into my lap as I clutched my fork with an irongrip. But I worked hard to keep it in check.

“Kayla,” I pressed. “The blond I befriendedat the warehouse?”

“Oh, right,” he said with obviousindifference. “What about her?”

“I want to know who bought her,” I said

“And what business of that is yours?” Darrensaid, turning to me with that warning glare in his eyes.

“I just want to know if she’s okay,” Ireplied quietly.

“Kayla is no longer your concern, Jaden.I’ve told you that already.”

“I can’t just pretend I don’t care abouther. I’m not asking for a name, I’m just asking for a type.”

“A type,” Darren repeated, eyeing me.

“Yes. On a scale of one to ten, how sadisticis the person who bought her?”