months, you wouldn’t even tell me where we were until I finally found out for
myself.”
“I said you could ask. I didn’t say I would answer.”
I scoffed, smothering a laugh at the back of my throat.
“But you’ll never know what information I will willingly give you until you ask,”
he continued, that knowing shark grin playing at the corner of his lips.
“Fine,” I said, trying to calm myself down. “Please … tell me what did you did do
with the foxes?”
“Your foxes, along with all the other wild animals deemed threatening, have
been relocated to a wildlife sanctuary where they can live in peace without the
disturbance of humans.”
I could feel my eyes beginning to water as shock took over. He’d spared them.
He had actually chosen life over death for the first time since I’d known him. I
gulped back my anxiety, my dry throat burning with fear as I looked up at him.
“I didn’t know you were capable of administering mercy to innocent animals
with no purpose,” I murmured cautiously.
His glare was absolute malice. “Believe it or not, I can be, and I did so to spare
you the pain of knowing they were killed to keep you safe. It would have been a hell
of a lot easier, but no, I let them live for you because I know it’s what you wanted. It
was either you or them, Jaden, and I knew you wouldn’t have the heart to make that
decision, so I made it for you so you can continue to safely enjoy the woods that you
clearly love so much.”
I let my eyes slowly falter from his, too angry to hold them up anymore. I was so
pissed, but I was even more pissed off because, in a way, he was right, and I didn’t
want to admit that. I was thankful he had them relocated and not killed, and even
more surprised he’d done it to keep me happy. And what made me even angrier was
that I understood why he did what he did because if it had been my child out there, I
would have probably done the same thing. The only difference was I wasn’t a
fucking child, yet he kept protecting me like one.
Darren could see the turmoil rotating in my eyes and finally took back my
attention.
“Now, I want an apology for your outburst, and then you’re going to thank me
for not killing the foxes and providing you with a safe environment to make peace
with your miserable life,” he growled.
I pursed my lips before blowing a piece of loose hair from my eyes. His hand was
still wrapped around my throat, reminding me I wasn’t going anywhere until he got
what he wanted, as per usual. Fucker.
“I’m sorry for my outburst,” I said, biting into the back of my tongue to feel the
sting. “And thank you.”
“For what?” he pushed, the intensity in his gaze growing.
I tried to suspend the huff I knew was ready to reveal itself and likely piss him
off even more. “For not killing the foxes and providing me with a safe environment
to make peace with my miserable life,” I grumbled.
“You’re fucking welcome,” he snarled. “Now, get your ass upstairs and wash up
for dinner. I want you in heels tonight.”
I grimaced but didn’t argue. I bit my tongue instead until I was all the way
upstairs and safely in my room, slamming the door behind me while Clive and
Owen stayed outside.
I couldn’t believe how hard I’d lost that argument. Normally, I had valid points
and could easily spar with Darren until he got fed up with my disobedience and
silenced me for the night. His word was law but only because his laws made sense
in his own twisted mind, but this time, for once, he actually had a valid point. Any
wild animal was dangerous; I knew this, but all those foxes were was just another
taste of freedom I didn’t want to give back. I wanted interaction. I wanted the
distraction, anything that could take my mind away from the hell I was living in. I
was looking for ways to make my life tolerable … until I figured a way out of here.
However the fuck long that would take.
After washing up for dinner, I changed into something nicer and pursed my lips
when I tried to decide what stupid heels to wear. I didn’t typically wear them. They
were uncomfortable and impractical. The only thing I liked about them was the fact
that they gave me a few extra inches in height but big deal. I was still short as fuck.
I decided on a nice compromise and selected a pair of lacey pink wedges to go with
my light pink frilly strapless sundress. The floor-length mirror confirmed how
ridiculous I looked. I wanted my black Converse, skinny jeans, and my black leather
jacket. I missed looking like me. Not this fake frilly bullshit.
When it was time, Clive and Owen escorted me down to the dining room, where
Darren was already waiting, typing away on his smartphone. The moment I entered
the room, his eyes immediately went to my feet to make sure I’d obeyed him. His
brows furrowed with what was probably anger. I quickly sat down before he could
linger on them for too long.
He finally
