Page 90 of Survival

A dark evil chuckle rolled up Darren’sthroat, and it made me sick to my stomach. I didn’t like the soundof that.

“You really want me to answer thatquestion?” he asked with amusement in his eyes.

“Yes,” I prodded.

He laughed again like I was going to regretmy decision.

“Let’s just say I know Kayla’s buyer on avery personal level, and she will be spending most of her time onher knees.” Darren flashed a sadistic smile, one that practicallybegged me to challenge him.

A tight line formed on my lips as I feltboth my handsgripmy fork andpressed my hands together as hard as I could, the only thing Icould do not to bite Darren’s head off.

How. Fucking. Dare. He.

“Oh, come on, Jaden.” He laughed, amused bymy anger. “Smile. I’m sure Kayla is having the time of herlife.”

I brought the fork back up from my lap, nowbent into a perfect curve, and placed it in front of my mouth,imitating a smile. Darren snatched it out of my hand with anagitated grimace, bent it back into place, and banged it down onthe table beside my plate.

“As I said,” Darren began, returning to hisplate, “Kayla is no longer your concern. Now, finish your dinnerand stop bending the silverware.”

I had zero interest in doing either.

After dinner, we retired to Darren’s bedroomand watchedMr. & Mrs. Smithin his bed. Technically, Iwatched it while he read some proposals from whateverotherillegal business he was probably running. When I calledhim out on it, I did not expect the reaction he gave.

“Jaden, I’m only going to tell you thisonce,” he said with a very serious tone, eyes glaring at me. I feltmy heart quicken. “Don’t ever ask me about my business. It doesn’tconcern you and it never will. Understand?”

I furrowed my brows and gave him a look.Well, someone was secretive.

“I just have one noninvasive question,” Isaid as I glared back at him.

“What,” he said with that stupid warninglook in his eye.

“Just how exactly do you sleep at nightknowing you’ve destroyed the lives of so many young girls?” I askedangrily. I probably shouldn’t have said it like that, but hewas beingan asshole now.

Leaning toward me,hespoke with more conviction than God and stared directlyinto my eyes, sending a chill down my spine. “Like a baby.”

I shook my head at him, disgusted by hislack of empathy for the misery of others; misery he created for hisown selfish desires. Turning back to the TV, I laid on my stomach,resting my head on my armsand just stared at the floor,wallowing in a shadow that threatened to consume not onlymebut also everyone else who camein contact. Darren was a goddamn disease that needed to beeradicated. Quickly.

How could he be so cruel? To have no regardor consideration for human life and revel in the destruction leftbehind in your wake. I truly belonged to a monster, and thecomprehension of it made me sick to my stomach.

“I’m going to go to bed if you don’t mind,”I said getting up. “I suddenly don’t feel well.”

“You’re sleeping with me tonight, Jaden,” hesaid, his eyes still on his paperwork.

I turned around and scowled at him. As if Ihad any interest in sharing a bed with him tonight, especiallyafter what he had just revealed.

“CanI, atleast,go change and wash up?”

“Ten minutes,” he said. I nodded and headedout of his room. Relief flooded me, but it was only for a briefmoment.

In eight minutes, I had washed up andreturned in one of my lacy nighties. I was back in his bed beforehe had even moved.

“I knew I would like those on you,” he saidsmiling at me as I entered the room. “But it hits the floor whenthose lights go out.”

Yeah, yeah …

I didn’t say a word as I walked around tothe other side of the bed, pulled back the covers, and climbed in.Settling against the pillows, my back facing Darren, I curled theblankets around me until I was nothing but a ball of warmth andJaden.

After a few minutes, Darren got up, used thebathroom, took off his shirt and pants, and climbedintobed with me. His arm reached over, pulledme all the way toward his side, and removed my nightgown beforetucking me against him. Burying his nose in my hair, he inhaleddeeply and relaxed against me, resting his chin on top of myhead.