“Please … pleasedon’t kill them, Darren,” I pleaded softly, squeezing my eyes shut.“Please. I’ll do anything.”
I could hearDarren release aslow,heavybreath through his nose before he brought his lips to my head andkissed my temple.
“Shhh … of course,you will,” he replied softly. “Now, go tosleep.”
Ofcourse, I will … because I’m already supposedto.
That night I criedmyself to sleep in Darren’s arms while he comforted me with kissesand a gentle touch. I wanted to berate him, I wanted to push himaway, and I wanted to fight him until the end of my days—untilthere was nothing left of me—but even the thought of all that wasexhausting. So instead I closed my eyes and pretended to drift offto better times when I was happy and loved. Not owned andimprisoned.
ChapterThirty-Six
Plan
The next morning,I woke up alone and sore as fuck. My entire body hurt while a stingof tenderness throbbed between my legs. I turned my body, restingmy headonthe pillow, andstared out the window. The sun was low in the sky, just risingabove the water and creating a soft, warm glow in my room. Ilistened to the birds chirp and sing outside, their songsserenading me into a calm I wanted to drown myselfin.
I laid there likethat for the longest time, just listening and enjoying a smallmoment of peace that I rarely got to experience since coming intoDarren’s life. I never thought it was possible to hate someone somuch yet need them at the same time. Darren comforted me through mytears last night, never saying a word as he rubbed my back andkissed my temple. I didn’t know how he could comfort me knowing hewas the cause of my pain, knowing he would continue to cause mypain when he could avoid it altogether. How he could even stand tolook at himself in the mirror was a mystery tome.
He had to be asociopath. It was the only explanation. How could he not feel asingle ounce of remorse for me? There was no sympathy. Nocompassion. Just his never-ending will. What Darren wants, Darrengets, no matter the cost. I wanted to cost him everything—hismoney, his reputation, his heart, his mental status, and then hislife. I wanted him to regret the day he ever laid eyes on me … andone day soon, I swore I would see that.
Some hours later,itwas past8 a.m., and Idecided it was time to get ready for the day. I rolled out of bedand stretched my body like a cat, rolling my shoulders and neckuntil the tension in my muscles eased away. I stood and padded overto the bathroom, used the toilet, and showered. I did everything Icould to avoid my face in the mirror, but I knew I would have tolook at myself eventuallyin order tocover the giant bruise I knew was thereon the side of my cheekbone.
When I stepped outof the shower, I towel dried my hair and went to my vanity to beginthe cover-upprocess, butwhen I raised my eyes to my reflection, I almost broke down intears. Dark purple, green, and red smudged the side of my face in amassive bruise the size of a baseball, and I could see the exactspot where Darren’s knuckles had made contact. They had broken theskin. I almost wanted to leave it uncovered just to spite him, toshow him the damage he had done, hoping he might display a humanside and express a little fucking guilt foronce.
But unfortunately,I couldn’t stand the sight of myself. I layered on the concealer,covering it up as best I could, but the dark shadow of purple stilllingered under it all. I parted my wet hair so that my bangs wouldhang over the same side of my face that harbored the bruise inanother attempt to hide it. I dried my hair and styled itintosoft,loose curls,fanning them out around my shoulders and down my back. My hair wasgetting longer. It now reached well past my shoulder blades. Ididn’t typically grow it this long, preferring it to be only a fewinches below my collarbone. It was easier to manage that way andwas less annoying.
I chose a silkysoft silvery blue sundress to wear and the nude flats I had finallybroken in months before. I looked down at the diamond studdedinfinity ring from Tiffany’s that Darren had gifted me so long ago.I wanted to chuck it into his mouth so he’d choke on it, but thatwasn’t gruesome enough of a death for me.
At 8:55 a.m., Islowly made my way down the stairs and found Darren sitting at thetable with some paperwork in his hands. He was reading with afocused face when I finally sat down. When I scooted my chair in,he looked up from his work and smiled at me.
“Good morning,” hesaid.
“Morning,” Imumbledbackand began to makemyself some tea.
I could feel hiseyes on me, scrutinizing me, but thankfully, my hair fell down theside of my face and blocked his vision from myeyes.
“Did you dosomething different with your hair?” he askedme.
I shrugged withoutlooking at him. “I switched the part.”
His eyes narrowedthen for a moment before he finally leaned forward, reaching outwith his hand and tucked my hair behind my ear to expose my bruisedcheek. I didn’t look at him. Not even when he gently gripped mychin and tilted my face up so he could get a better look at whathe’d done. I managed to catch a glimpse of his bruise on his cheek,and it was actually healing rather quickly. Darren was silent for amoment as he analyzed the damage, his thumb softly grazing theskin, causing me to reveal the tiniestwince. He released aheavy sigh as he stared at me, and for some reason, it sounded likeregret.
“I’m sorry,” hesaid gently. “But I warned you what could happen if you didn’tlisten to me.”
I scoffed at him.Like I actually gave a shit about his apology.
“I don’t want yoursorry. I want you to let me go.”
Darren released anirritated sigh as he sat backinhis chair, glaring at me.
“And that littlerequest is exactly why I’m doing what I’mdoing.”
“I’m sorry,” Isaid, not sure I even understood him, “but you’re going to kill myentire family because I want you to let me go? The fuck kind oflogic is that?” I seethed.
“Watch yourmouth,” he warned with a serious glare in his eye. “And I alreadytold you. I’m eliminating the element that is causing you toregress from your life with me. I need you focused on the future,not the past.”
“And you thinkkilling my family will ensure that I give in to you? Again, thefuck kind of logic is that!”
“Cuss one moretime and your ass with match your cheek,” Darren growled, histhreat causing me to curl my fists in my lap until they shook. “Iexpect that once you’re over your mourning period, you’ll realizethere is nothing left for you to hold on to, no reason for you totry to escape me, and you will finally give up this senseless fightand givein tome.”
