“What’s going on in that pretty little headof yours now?” Darren suddenly asked me.
“Nothing,” was on the tip of my tongue. Butthere was no use in lying to him, especially when he wantedhonesty.
“I was just thinking about the family youmentioned yesterday and wondered how they would feel knowing howthey were brought into this world ... by force,” I said turning tohim for the last part.
I studied his reaction, but he had one hellof a poker face as he considered my words.
“By the time that happens,” he began, “itwill be of no concern to you.”
What the fuck was that supposed to mean?
“Why would it be of no concern of mine?” Icontinued the conversation after swallowing. “The children youexpect me to have will want to know how their mommy and daddymet.”
“And I will tell them the truth,” he saidtaking a bite from his dinner.
I was completely unprepared for thatresponse; that he would actually tell his children that he hadkidnapped their mother, had intended to sell her to anunsuspecting buyer, purchased her himself, raped, beat, and trainedher to his liking and then forced her to marry him and give birthto them. Yeah, that sounded like a real happily fucking everafter.
“What? You can’t subject a child to thatkind of knowledge. They won’t be able to handle it.”
“I can and I will, Jaden,” he said veryseriously, glaring at me with his piercing eyes. “Who do you thinkwill be taking over the family business when I retire? They willneed to know these things so they can understand and respectit.”
My eyes widened in disbelief. He wanted sonsso they could be monsters just like him. I couldn't believe what Iwas hearing. The fact he was even considering his line of worksomething worth being called the “family business” made me sick tomy stomach. I was quickly losing my appetite.
“And what if we have daughters?” I asked,perplexed.
“I don’t expect to have any, but if we do,they are not to be concerned with it. They don’t belong in thatline of work. If we do have a daughter, I plan to marry her off assoon as possible.”
My face revolted in disgust. What the hellwas this, the 1800s?
“That's it? Just marry her off as if she’sincapable of deciding her own life? What if she wants to go tocollege or travel the world?”
“She’ll do what her father tells her andthat will be the end of it. Just like you will.”
“And what if all we ever have are daughters, huh?”
“Then I will keep breeding you until yougive me what I want.” He stared at me very seriously.
And that was what broke the final straw ofthis conversation. I shot up from my chair and leaned over towardhim, slamming my hands on the table.
“I am not some fucking steed you can just breed at your goddamndisposal!” I shouted at him.
Dangerously calm as ever, Darren slowly rosefrom his seat, a vicious glare in his eye as he rose to his fullheight and towered over me.
“Sit. Down. Now,” he ordered, his voicesmooth and deadly, and it made me want to tremble. I glared backhard, wanting to retaliate and thinking of all the ways I could,but I didn’t want to end up back in my cage again. With the lookDarren was currently giving me, it was definitely on the table if Ididn’t shut up.
“You’re a fucking monster,” I retorted andsat down before shit got any worse than it already had.
I couldn’t hold it back; my anger wasseething through my veins as he spoke about the future family Iwould never give him.
“That may be, Jaden,” he said still standingover me, “But I am the fucking monster you will respect and obey ifyou ever want to enjoy the rest of your miserable fucking life withme.” He was seething now, just as I was.
I wanted to cry at that moment, thinking ofall the horrible things he would inevitably put our would-be familythrough. I couldn't let that happen.
“Now, keep your stubborn mouth shut andfinish your dinner,” he said and that was the end of theconversation.
We ate in silence until both of our plateswere clean, but the fierce tension that surrounded us refused tocease.
“Come on,” he said calmly, rising from hischair. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“I’m really not in the mood.”
“Excuse me?” he said, another warningemanating from his glare.
Oh, right, I forgot I don’t have a choice inmy daily activities anymore.
I stared at him hard, crossing my armsover my chest and glaring sostrongly until I felt like my bitch face had cemented permanentlyinto my features. I hated him so much, and I wanted nothing morethan for him to feel just as shitty as I did. I wanted blood and lots of it.
Darren shifted, raising his eyebrows insurprise at my sudden rebellious manner, but they could touch theceiling and I wouldn’t give a fuck. Unsatisfied with my defiance,he grabbed my chair and roughly turned it toward him. My heartskipped a beat, but I kept my cool as he wrapped both hands aroundthe armrests and lowered his face only inches in front of mine.Dark eyes stared me down like a lion ready to pounce, but I justmet them head-on.
“You wanna spend the rest of your night backin that cage?” he asked me.
Did I? At least then, I’d be away fromhim.
I glanced away from him, sighing heavily asI considered giving in to his demands. I really didn’t want tospend another second in that freezing cold, tiny-ass cage. A walk with him couldn’t be thatbad. I hoped.
“No, I don’t,” I finally admitted, turningback to him.
“Then get
