Survival

by J Marie

  “Then why did you react the way you did when you saw what was happening to that stupid fuck of a gardener,” Darren practically growled.

  “Because I was the cause of it,” I replied. “He was only trying to help me and look where that got him. I could probably watch any one of your guys get tortured all day. Hell, I’d probably help. But when it comes to someone who’s innocent, that’s a different story.”

  “You better be careful what you wish for, Jaden,” Darren said as he sauntered back over to his seat, his eyes never leaving mine. “I might just take you up on that.”

  I gave him a barely-there smirk as he sat down.

  David then brought out our dinner and set the plates down in front of us, returning silently to the kitchen. I reached out for my table napkin next to my plate and saw Darren’s eyes light up. He promptly grabbed my wrist and examined my knuckles and busted manicure.

  “What the fuck did you do to your hand?” he scowled at me.

  I shrugged. “Well, Darren, you see, that’s what happens when you punch a heavy bag over and over again without proper hand protection. The same hand protection I asked you for several weeks ago.”

  “So you thought you’d damage your beautiful skin just to spite me?” he nearly roared. My gut was flipping around like a damn roller coaster, but I remained steadfast.

  “No, that was not my intention. I was angry, and I needed an outlet. It’s not healthy for me to keep all that rage bottled up, so I took it out on the bag. It’s not my fault I didn’t have the proper gear.”

  Darren glared at me fiercely, on the rise of some horrible threat, but I beat him to it.

  “Oh, what’s the matter, Darren? Jealous that something else left bruises on my skin and not you?” I taunted him. Yeah, I knew that was stupid, but I was in a mood.

  He abruptly stood and slammed my bruised cheek down on the table. I groaned out loud as the pain radiated throughout my face. I kept my hands on the table and tried to push myself up to release some of a pressure, but Darren wasn’t letting up.

  “Careful, princess. I just may leave you with a couple more.”

  “Yeah? Go ahead. Keep reminding me of why I hate you so much.”

  Darren leaned in low, getting closer to my ear as he stood above me.

  “You still think I give a shit about how you feel about me? Your feelings do not matter unless I decide they do. And if this is the way you’re going to train to inevitably harm yourself, then your time in my gym will be revoked until you learn to control your so-called “rage.” Now, keep your mouth shut, and we might actually have a pleasant dinner together for once. Otherwise, you can spend the rest of the night in your cage.”

  I grunted underneath him as I fought my hardest not to spit any shit back at him.

  “Have I made myself clear?” he gritted.

  “Yes, Darren,” I seethed through clenched teeth.

  “Good girl,” he approved and released me, returning to his seat and unbuttoning his suit jacket.

  He sent a quick text on his phone and began to eat his dinner while I sat there pissed off and stared at my water glass. I pushed my food around on my plate, my appetite now completely absent.

  “Eat, Jaden,” Darren ordered with a glare.

  I released an irritated sigh and took a small bite of my lemon chicken, tasting absolutely nothing as I chewed. Darren went back to eating his dinner, satisfied I had listened to him.

  Dinner was quiet, awkward even, but thankfully uneventful. I somehow managed to finish most of my dinner and Darren only grumbled a little bit about it. When we were finished, he wiped his mouth and stood up.

  “I have some work to do. I’ll find you later,” he said as he kissed the top of my head and disappeared upstairs.

  I sat there for a while, leaning back against the chair with my hands splayed out on the table. I didn’t even care to move when David came out to clear our plates and didn’t even bother to look at him.

  Eventually, I got up and went outside and onto the patio. I sat on the long, cushioned couch and laid down to look up at the sky, ignoring the guard who remained off to the side. The sky was starting to darken as the sun was already setting beyond the clouds. There was a slight chill in the wind, so I reached over to turn on the gas fire pit, watching as the flames licked at the fake wood that quickly surrounded the patio in warmth.

  I felt my heart begin to race as I thought about the impending and very real opportunity of escape tomorrow. I knew Darren would schedule the Russians to come back as soon as possible. They would definitely be here tomorrow, which means I might actually get the fuck out of here. I didn’t expect to escape Darren completely, that would be too much to ask for. All I wanted was enough time to contact and warn my family. That was my only goal. If I could accomplish that, then Darren’s wrath, when he found me, would be worth it. I just prayed to God that Jason would answer the phone when I called.

  I tried to decide what would be better: to flee with one of Darren’s sports cars or bikes. A car would be less dangerous but more difficult to hide and it would be easier for them to run me down. If I were on a bike, it would be more dangerous for them to apprehend me because I could fall off and die and then Darren wouldn’t have anyone to obsess over anymore. I could maneuver in ways a car couldn’t, and I could easily hide it behind a dumpster or something while I ran to find a phone. I could just imagine revving up the engine now, the soft roaring purr echoing through my ears and bringing a smile to my face. Thankfully, the keys all hung on the wall next to the door. Easy access.

  I would probably do it at night when the guards thought I was asleep and unsuspecting. I could turn the headlights off the bike and disappear into the night. Hopefully, it would be cloudy tomorrow. Darren would also already be in his new location by then, wherever the fuck that would be, so he’d be useless from where he was. He’d probably even take Scott with him and just leave me with the guards.

  But there was no way I could slip away undetected. I would have to create some kind of distraction. The heat of the fire caught my attention and then I smiled. What better way than by burning Darren’s house down? He did have a sprinkler system installed inside, but I didn’t need to burn the whole thing down. Just enough to cause a distraction. There was a giant plastic bottle of rubbing alcohol in my bathroom. There were matches in my dresser for the candles in my room. And there was a glass bottle-like vase for the fresh flowers on my vanity.

  Yep, I had everything I needed to make a Molotov cocktail …

  The wheels in my head turned with devious determination as I mapped out my entire escape plan. All I needed now was the glue to hold it all together … more specifically, the nail glue my Russian friends would have when they repaired my broken nail.

  Tomorrow could very well be one of the most important days of my life, as it could mean the life or death of everyone I held dear. Tomorrow … I might actually save them.

  After an hour of laying out and pondering my escape route and potential setbacks, the sun had finally set and the stars now speckled the sky in a diamond-like radiance and I randomly wondered if Jason was looking up at the same sky as I was right now. I kind of hoped not. I hoped he was getting some actual sleep in our bed right now since he was several hours ahead of me back home.

  A few minutes later, Darren walked out on the patio and my shiver instantly returned.

  “There you are.” He smiled deviously.

  “Here I am,” I replied blankly, not taking my eyes from the stars.

  “You’ve been out here quite a while,” he said, sauntering over to me with his hands in his pockets.

  I shrugged. “It’s nice out.”

  With my body lying completely across the patio couch, there was no place left for Darren to sit, but of course, he didn’t let that stop him as he lifted me up by my shoulders and sat down under them, resting my head in his lap. He nonchalantly tucked my hair behind my ears and began to lightly play with my loose strands. Fuck, if that didn’t make me want t
o grow a tail and start purring.

  I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation of his fingers through my hair, attempting to relax under his touch. He seemed to be in a better mood, and I did not intend to disrupt that, not when I was so close to getting out. I needed all of my privileges while I still had them. I was sure they would completely disappear again once Darren had recovered me. Things would be bad. I could feel it like a fog rolling in and surrounding me. But I didn’t care about the consequences because the consequences of doing nothing would be far greater than any punishment Darren would subject me to.

  “What are you thinking about?” he suddenly asked me softly.

  As if I was going to honestly tell him I was conspiring my escape plan. But I had a much better lie on the tip of my tongue.

  “I’m thinking about what makes you tick,” I replied matter-of-factly.

  “I told you that would be a waste of your time,” he said, looking down at me.

  “I’ll decide when my time is wasted or not, thank you very much,” I countered with a bit of humor in my voice.

  Darren actually chuckled above me. Thank fuck. We were silent for a moment until I finally got the courage to speak again.

  “You were groomed for this life,” I stated as I looked out at the horizon.

  “Yes, I was,” he answered.

  “Are you happy with it? The way your life turned out?”

  Darren scrutinized me with his eyes, and I changed the angle of my head to meet his gaze.

  “I suppose,” he replied, yet there was uncertainty in his voice. “But for a while, something was missing and I didn’t know what it was.”

  He started to curl a strand of my hair around his finger, but it wasn’t meant to be sentimental. It was a possessive gesture. Everything he did was. Like Gollum when he held his “precious” in his hands.

  “And you’re hoping I’ll fill the void?” I asked without looking at him.

  “I think it’s pretty clear you already have.”

  “And what about the void in my life?”

  “I will do everything I can to fill it,” he answered with conviction.

  I slowly sat up from his lap and looked him right in the eye. He was never going to fill it. He would only make it bigger.

  “And what do you plan to fill it with? More rules? Chains … blood, death?”

  “Jaden …” he warned.

  “I’m not trying to fight,” I spoke quickly, my open palms up in the air in surrender. “But I do have a hard time following your logic. If I understood where it came from, I wouldn’t have to question it as often as I do.”

  “Jaden,” he started, pressing his hand on his knee and leaning in on it, his eyes completely focused on mine. “I grew up in a world that breeds monsters. I was taught how to fight, fuck, and rule without fear or regrets, and I’ve never looked back. I know what I do is wrong, but I simply do not care. The world is mine for the taking, and I already own so much of it as it is.” And then his face got real serious. “I do not have time for weakness, Jaden. I will do whatever it takes to secure my interests and investments and should a problem ever dare present itself, I will eliminate it without prejudice.”

  I just stared at him intently, trying to piece him together. His hand gently caressed my bruised face, his thumb tracing along my cheek as his eyes softened their gaze at me.

  “To put it bluntly, I am simply a man who takes what he wants, when he wants, because he can, princess. I can’t make it any plainer than that.”

  And then his eyes could no longer hold my gaze. I looked away from him, suddenly sad and somewhat disappointed. But Darren didn’t let my mind wander far as he slowly leaned in for a deep and sensual kiss – the kind of kiss that made me forget my own name.

  Both of his large hands now held my face in place as his tongue dipped into my mouth, claiming everything it could touch. Before I realized it, he had me pinned underneath him with my hands against the side of his muscled rib cage. He kissed me with a gentle urgency, telling me that he would miss me tomorrow when he left.

  After dismissing the guard, he fucked me under the stars in a way that I could almost describe as making love. He was soft and gentle, caressing me and kissing my entire body with love and adoration. It felt strange to me, but I didn’t object, preferring a light rainstorm to a thunderstorm for once.

  I didn’t argue with him for the rest of the night, and when we were both thoroughly satisfied, he carried me up to his room where we fell asleep without a word. He held me close to his chest for the entire night as if he was afraid to let go; as if he was afraid I might slip away. He had no idea how right he was.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Prepare

  The following morning, Darren and I had breakfast together after another long fucking session. He informed me that the Russians would arrive around 1 p.m. to fix my nail and fill in the rest as well as trim my hair. I tried hard not to smile at the sweet smell of victory knowing my manipulation could still work.

  I asked if I could pick the color again, but this time, he said no. Apparently, he didn’t care too much for the dark blood red color I chose last time. Darren also confirmed that nothing in my schedule would change while he was gone. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner would still be at the same times, and I was to listen to the guards unless I wanted to spend the remainder of his absence in my room. I was to be in bed by eleven, and he forbade me to use his gym until my hands healed. Too bad I had the slowest healing skin ever. It was my stupid porcelain pigmentation.

  But it didn’t really matter. After today, he probably wouldn’t allow me to do anything ever again.

  When breakfast was finished, Darren stood, buttoning his suit jacket and reaching out for my hand. I reluctantly took it, and he swiftly pulled me from my chair to him. He looked down at me with a serious look in his eyes, and it almost made me retreat into myself, but I refused to show it. Darren then took my face in his hands and kissed me. I could sense the anxiety in his kiss as this would be the first time he would be gone for this amount of time. A lot could happen in three days, and I was going to make sure of it.

  When he released me, an intense glare emanated from his eyes.

  “Please, behave yourself, Jaden,” he practically pleaded. “Because if you try anything while I’m gone, I swear to God …” He let it waver for a second and continued on, shaking his head. “If you think I’m bad now, you have no idea how much worse it will get should you try anything foolish. Do not disappoint me,” he finished.

  None of this was a surprise and my mind was already prepared for it. What it wasn’t prepared for was the loss of my family.

  “I understand,” I finally answered.

  “Good girl,” he approved, placing his lips against my temple.

  He finally kissed the top of my head and pulled back. “I’ll see you in three days,” he said and then walked out the door.

  And as soon as I heard the door shut behind him, I released a gigantic breath of relief. Come nightfall, I would be the fuck out of here. I felt all my anxiety begin to build inside of me, and I needed to get a hold of my nerves before they destroyed me. I had a couple of hours before the Russians would be here, and since Darren had uplifted my ban on going outside, I went for a run on the beach to clear my head.

  I ran until I could hear my heartbeat drumming away in my ears. My blood was rushing, and I felt myself begin to panic. What if I failed? What if I got caught before I managed to get my message out? I didn’t even want to think about how bad it could get then.

  To cool myself off, I literally just plopped myself in the water and floated over the sand. I pulled my ponytail out and let my hair flow through the water, my wet strands now floating around my face. The water felt perfect as it cooled down my core temperature and relaxed my anxiety.

  My body drifted along the shore with the water. As it pushed me toward the sand and pulled me back into the waves, I closed my eyes to listen to the sound of the ocean and the birds above me. I was c
alm, peaceful, and ready for what had to be done. But after a few minutes of pure serenity, I was interrupted.

  “Miss Jaden!” I heard one the guards call out to me. “You are not wearing proper swim attire! Please exit the water!”

  Say what? I actually had to be in a bathing suit to go swimming? Since the fuck when?

  I looked up at the guard who was standing just beyond the sand and almost told him to fuck off. But I didn’t need the aggravation. Not right now. I rolled my eyes and stood up from the water, wringing my hair out and then shaking it like a dog would. I walked over toward the grass to find the guard, whom I had recognized as the same guard who addressed me yesterday, holding a towel out to me. I think his name was Eric? I took the towel from him and immediately began drying off.

  “Since when do I need to be in a bathing suit to go swimming?” I asked him as I dried my hair with the towel.

  “Since Mr. Davis said so. Now, come on,” he replied, ushering me toward the grass.

  I swear to God, Darren cared about the dumbest shit sometimes.

  “What time is it?” I asked him as he escorted me back to the patio.

  “11:56. Pascal is preparing your lunch for you now,” he said sharply.

  I nodded. “I’ll just have it on the patio,” I said.

  “I’ll inform the staff,” he replied.

  My lunch consisted of a small Cobb salad with a lot of avocado and barely any ranch dressing. I also had a cup of mixed fruit and a yogurt with granola. I fucking hated how my food selections were always healthy. I typically ate healthy even before Darren, but there were plenty of times when I would let loose and put myself in a diabetic food coma. What I wouldn’t give for a giant bacon cheeseburger and a fucking beer.

  After lunch, I had about a half an hour before my appointment, so I went upstairs to wash the salt water from my hair and body. I grabbed a black t-shirt and black skort from my drawers and walked over to my bed to pretend to get a good look at the time on my clock. I then bent down, placed my clothes on the floor next to the bed and pretended to scratch and observe my ankle. I then quickly slipped my hand under my bed and grabbed the two soles of my shoes, sneaking them between my clothes and heading into the bathroom. I placed my clothes on the counter and proceeded to take a shower. When I was done, I made it seem like I simply changed my mind and put on a loose gray dress. Since Darren wouldn’t be around, I didn’t bother with much makeup, just enough to cover my bruised face.